ECHEMI Analysis

This week (1222-26), the PVC spot market in China rebounded, with the average price of calcium carbide method SG-5 type reaching 4,450 CNY/ton, a weekly increase of 195% The futures market drove the spot market to rebound, with trading volume increasing and inventory continuing to decline, although supply remains ample The price of calcium carbide decreased slightly but remained at a high level

• PVC market
• price rebound
• ample supply
• improved market sentiment

This week, the styrene market in China saw a slight increase, rising from an average price of 6,636 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 6,688 CNY/ton by the end of the week, with a price increase of 0.78%.

• Styrene
• Market Analysis
• Price Trends
• Chemical Products

As of December 26, the price of hydrofluoric acid was 12,733.33 CNY/ton, an increase of 1.6% from the end of last month. The high prices of raw materials, sulfuric acid and fluorspar, support the cost, but the demand side is weak. The stable export market has alleviated some of the pressure. It is expected that the market price of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride will rise by about 350 CNY/ton in the later period.

• cost support
• market demand
• price trends
• export support

In December, the price of titanium dioxide in China increased, with the average price of sulfate process rutile titanium dioxide rising from 13,500 CNY/ton to 13,740 CNY/ton, a price increase of 178% In the middle and late part of the month, several companies issued letters to raise prices, and the market trend was stable and improving In November, China's titanium dioxide import volume was 5,300 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 20

• Titanium Dioxide Market
• Price Increase
• Production Costs
• Import and Export Data

This week, the isopropanol market price in China remained stable, with the national average at 519333 CNY/ton Manufacturers' quotations remained steady, and traders mostly adopted a wait-and-see attitude Downstream buyers purchased according to their needs, with transactions mainly driven by essential demand In Shandong, the quotations ranged from 5100 to 5150 CNY/ton, while in Jiangsu, they ranged from 5200 to 5300 CNY/ton

• Isopropanol market
• prices stable
• downstream demand average
• transactions moderate

In 2025, the DMF market price hit bottom, and the industry faced severe challenges. Looking ahead to 2026, with the recovery of demand and the adjustment of supply structure, DMF prices are expected to see a turnaround, but it is still necessary to pay attention to the impact of changes in the macroeconomic environment on the market.

• DMF price
• price trends
• market turning point
• 2025 economy

In 2025, the Chinese acetone market continued to decline, with a cumulative price decrease of 3237% for the year, dropping from 5,992 CNY/ton at the beginning of the year to 4,050 CNY/ton by the end of the year The market weakness was due to factors such as supply-demand mismatch, weakened cost support, and negative feedback in the industry chain

• Acetone Market: Prices Decline
• Supply-Demand Imbalance
• Impact on the Industrial Chain

In December, the average market price of ammonium sulfate in China fell from 1,173 CNY/ton to 1,080 CNY/ton, a decrease of 7.95%. The market was stable in the first half of the month but showed a weaker trend in the second half, with sluggish transactions. The operating rate of the coke grade remained stable, while the operating rate of the caprolactam grade decreased. It is expected that the market for ammonium sulfate will remain weak and consolidate in the short term.

• Ammonium sulfate market
• price decline
• weak market demand
• future forecast

In December 2025, the Chinese bisphenol A market stopped falling and started to rise, with supply contraction, improved demand, and cost support driving up prices. Multiple companies reduced their load due to plant maintenance, resulting in a 15% decrease in supply, with inventories at low levels. Demand from downstream PC and epoxy resins industries has picked up, with increased orders. Prices are expected to remain high in the short term, but there is a risk of a correction in the medium term.

• Bisphenol A market: shrinking supply
• improving demand
• cost support

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Chinese phenol market saw a significant decline, with prices falling from 6,912 CNY/ton to 5,845 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 15.44%, reaching a five-year low. The market's weakness was due to multiple factors including an imbalance in supply and demand, weakened cost support, and industry chain transmission. With increased supply and weak demand, prices were under pressure and fluctuated in the short term.

• The phenol market is declining
• supply and demand are out of balance
• cost support is weakening
• downstream demand is weak.

In 2025, China's general-purpose plastics industry saw a significant increase in production; however, due to the impact of the global trade environment and geopolitical factors, prices declined. Chinese demand continued to grow steadily, import dependency kept declining, and export markets faced challenges. It is expected that the supply-demand imbalance will persist in 2026, keeping prices at low levels.

• General plastics industry
• market demand and capacity expansion
• import and export trade
• industrial upgrading and cost pressure

In 2025, the overall price of hydrogen peroxide in China increased by 10.95%, but the supply-demand contradiction limited the upward trend. The supply side added 4,850,000 tons of new capacity, while demand was weak. It is expected that in 2026, the market will still experience wide fluctuations, with a price range of 700-1000 CNY/ton, affected by overcapacity and slowing demand growth.

• Hydrogen peroxide market conditions
• supply-demand contradiction
• overcapacity
• price fluctuations

In 2025, the price of lithium carbonate followed a V-shaped trend: in the first half of the year, it fell to the cost line due to oversupply and weak demand; in the second half, it rebounded driven by the energy storage market By 2026, supply and demand are expected to tighten and reach a balanced state China will add approximately 500,000 to 600,000 tons of new capacity, while overseas additions will be around 300,000 to 350,000 tons

• Lithium carbonate prices
• growing demand for energy storage
• tight supply-demand balance
• slowing growth in new-energy vehicle sales.

In December, the maleic anhydride market in China continued to decline. As of December 24, the average market price was 5112.50 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.85% from the beginning of the month. In terms of supply, major factories have lowered their prices, and downstream users are mainly focused on digesting previous orders. Upstream n-butane has been fluctuating and rising due to the increase in Saudi CP. It is expected that the maleic anhydride market may see an upward trend in the near future.

• Maleic anhydride market conditions: prices are falling
• supply is decreasing
• market forecast

As of December 25, the price of phthalic anhydride in neighboring China was 5633.33 CNY/ton, an increase of 1.81% from December 22. Costs have stabilized, and the operating rate has increased to 75%, with ample supply. The operating load of downstream DOP enterprises has risen, increasing demand support. It is expected that the price of phthalic anhydride will continue to rebound and rise.

• Phthalic anhydride prices
• Market rebound
• Supply and demand changes
• Cost stability

In 2025, the price of acrylic acid continued to decline due to oversupply, with no effective rebound throughout the year The total capacity increased to 4,400,000 tons, and it is expected that 740,000 tons will be added in 2026 Exports provided limited relief for the oversupply pressure, and there was a high dependence on imported high-end products In the future, the industry needs to shift towards high-end, green technology, and integrated industrial chains

• Acrylic acid market
• Overcapacity
• Technological innovation
• High-end development

Recently, the price center of polyethylene has shifted downward, with the average prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE falling by 324%, 232%, and 323%, respectively Manufacturers' willingness to ship goods has increased, but demand is in the off-season, and downstream demand is weak The supply side has seen the release of new production capacity, and the rebound in crude oil prices has provided some support to the cost side

• Polyethylene prices decline
• weak demand
• increased supply
• cost factors provide support.

As of December 24, the average price of 85% industrial-grade phosphoric acid in China was 6,830 CNY per ton, down 0.44% from last week. In terms of the market, factory quotations in Hubei, Yunnan, and Sichuan regions are around 6,600-7,000 CNY per ton. On the cost side, the price of yellow phosphorus has decreased, and market demand is insufficient. It is expected that the phosphoric acid market prices will remain weak and consolidate in the short term.

• Phosphoric acid prices
• market analysis
• cost support
• future market forecast

As of December 24, the average market price of acetic acid in China rose to 2,720 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 2.26%. The supply side is recovering slowly from maintenance, and inventory levels are low. Downstream inquiries have increased, and market sentiment is positive. The price of raw material methanol is showing a strong fluctuation, supporting the rise in acetic acid prices. It is expected that the acetic acid market in China will continue to operate strongly in the later period.

• Acetic acid market: prices rise
• supply tightens
• methanol provides support.

In 2025, the melamine market in China first declined and then rebounded, ending the year with a 10.24% drop. At the end of the year, it rebounded to 5675.00, but weak demand and supply pressure dominated the market throughout the year. In 2026, demand will determine the market trend, which may show range-bound fluctuations. Exports will be a key variable; if exports are strong, prices are likely to rise; otherwise, they may bottom out again.

• Melamine Market
• Demand-Driven
• Price Trends
• Impact of Exports