ECHEMI Analysis

In mid-November, the Chinese ABS market continued to be weak, with spot prices decreasing. The supply side saw small fluctuations in operating rates but remained generally loose overall. The cost side was under pressure due to the weak performance of the three upstream raw materials. In terms of demand, downstream factories operated at average loads, and there was no significant improvement in end consumption. In the short term, downward pressure on ABS prices still exists.

• ABS market
• supply-demand contradiction
• cost factors
• weak demand

This week, the butadiene market in China showed an upward trend, with prices increasing from 6,900 CNY/ton to 6,96667 CNY/ton, a price increase of 097% In terms of supply, major manufacturers' facilities are operating normally, with Sinopec's listed price at 7,000 CNY/ton On the demand side, the polybutadiene rubber market saw a slight increase, but downstream tire production only recovered slightly, showing resistance to higher-priced supplies

• Butadiene market
• price increase
• supply side
• demand side

Recently, the price of formic acid has strengthened As of November 17, the benchmark price for 85% industrial-grade formic acid in China was 2,910 CNY per ton, an increase of 283% from last week The main reason is that the two major production areas, Liaocheng and Feicheng, are about to start maintenance plans, leading to an expected reduction in market supply Although downstream demand remains stable, the expectation of maintenance has supported the price increase

• Formic acid prices
• maintenance plans
• market supply
• downstream demand

This week, the average market price of acetic acid in China increased to 243333 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 055% The capacity utilization rate on the supply side decreased, and inventory pressure was reduced Enterprises have a bullish mentality, but downstream demand is limited The raw material methanol market fluctuated and was consolidated, with an average price of 2070 CNY/ton

• Acetic Acid Market
• Market Analysis
• Methanol Trends
• Acetic Anhydride Market

This week, the price of ethyl acetate in China has been adjusted to 5,340.00 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.62%. Despite the high operating rate, downstream demand is moderate, and market transactions are weak. The price of raw material acetic acid has increased, leading to greater cost pressure. It is expected that in the short term, the price of ethyl acetate will be relatively strong, and attention should be paid to the raw material market and downstream follow-up situations.

• Ethyl acetate: price cut
• market activity sluggish
• rising cost pressures

On November 17, the average market price of light-grade soda ash was 1,224 CNY per ton, up 0.82% from the previous week. Despite moderate downstream demand, a reduction in supply and rising costs helped support a slight price increase. Meanwhile, the glass market experienced weak demand, leading to a 1.78% drop in prices. In the short term, soda ash prices are expected to remain rangebound, with a slight upward bias.

• Soda Ash Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Analysis
• Cost Pressure

This week, the prices of gasoline and diesel from Shandong's independent refineries slightly increased, with 92# gasoline and 0# diesel prices rising by 0.89% and 0.76%, respectively. The rise in crude oil market prices has driven up the prices of refined oil products, but supply-side risks have not been eliminated. It is expected that oil prices will remain weak and volatile in the short term, with limited cost support for China's refined oil market and a steady but slightly increasing demand.

• Crude oil market trends
• refined oil prices
• Shandong independent refineries
• supply-demand dynamics

This week, the transaction center of China's propylene oxide market has risen, with the benchmark price reaching 8133.33 CNY/ton, an increase of 5.63%. The price of raw material propylene is relatively strong, with obvious cost support; the supply side is tight due to some companies reducing their load; the demand side shows high purchasing enthusiasm, and the sales are smooth. It is expected that the propylene oxide market will remain stable and slightly strong in the short term.

• Propylene oxide
• market price
• tight supply
• demand-side support

This week, the market transaction focus for epichlorohydrin in China shifted upward and then stabilized As of November 14, the benchmark price was 11,400 CNY/ton, an increase of 27% from the beginning of the month The price of raw material propylene was strong, providing significant cost support; downstream demand was boosted by concentrated restocking, but subsequently weakened

• epichlorohydrin
• market analysis
• price trend
• supply and demand changes

This week, the PTA market in China first declined and then rose On November 14, the spot price in the East China region was 4,671 CNY/ton, up 055% from the beginning of the week In terms of supply, Sichuan Energy Investment has shut down for maintenance, with the industry operating at around 76% The downstream polyester industry load slightly decreased to 87%, and terminal demand declined

• PTA prices
• crude oil market
• supply surplus
• declining terminal demand

This week, the acrylonitrile market supply in China was generally loose, with the price range fluctuating The mainstream ex-tank price at East China ports was 8,000-8,150 CNY/ton, and the short-distance delivery price in the Shandong market was 7,800-8,000 CNY/ton The weekly capacity utilization rate of acrylonitrile plants in China was 7868%, with an inventory of about 52,800 tons Downstream demand slightly increased but remained limited

• Supply is loose
• demand growth is limited
• costs are declining
• the market is fluctuating within a range.

On November 14, 2025, the spot price of polyester bottle flakes rose to 5,812 CNY per ton, primarily driven by the rebound in crude oil prices and tight PTA supply. However, weak demand limited the price increase, and the market is expected to remain largely range-bound in the near term.

• Polyester bottle flake prices rise
• cost pressures drive the increase
• supply remains tight
• weak demand

This week, the market price of pure benzene in the Shandong region of China slightly increased from 5205.33 CNY/ton to 5215.33 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.19%. The rise in crude oil and foreign market prices has boosted market confidence, with improved buying interest from downstream sectors. It is expected that the pure benzene market will remain strong in the short term.

• Pure benzene prices
• market analysis
• crude oil futures
• overseas pure benzene

This week, the caustic soda price showed a weak trend, with the market average price decreasing from 836 CNY/ton to 832 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 0.48%, and a year-on-year decrease of 18.51%. In Shandong and Jiangsu regions, the caustic soda prices weakened, while in Inner Mongolia, the prices remained stable. The downstream alumina demand was weak, and dealers had a pessimistic outlook, expecting the caustic soda prices to remain stable in the later period.

• Caustic soda prices
• market analysis
• chemical industry index
• supply-demand dynamics

This week, the styrene market in China first declined and then rose, with the US dollar external market and the main futures contract driving up the spot price. The average price at the beginning of the week was 6,686 CNY/ton, and the average price at the end of the week was 6,594 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1.38% within the week.

• Styrene Market
• Price Fluctuations
• Futures Main Contract
• U.S. Dollar Overseas Market

This week, the TDI market in East China continued to rise, with the average price increasing from 13,866 CNY/ton to 14,233 CNY/ton, a weekly increase of 264% The tightening supply from major manufacturers and frequent announcements of price increases supported the strong upward trend in the market The Wanhua facility in Fujian is operating at reduced capacity, while Hanwha in South Korea and Covestro in Shanghai have planned maintenance

• TDI market: prices rising
• supply tightening
• costs increasing

This week, the price of phthalic anhydride fluctuated and declined As of November 14, the price of ortho-xylene-based phthalic anhydride was 5,89333 CNY per ton, a decrease of 056% compared to last week The decline in ortho-xylene prices led to a reduction in the cost of phthalic anhydride, while the operating load of DOP enterprises in China slightly increased, and demand support still exists

• Phthalic anhydride prices fall
• costs decrease
• DOP demand supports
• supply is ample.

This week, the titanium dioxide market in China remained stable with an average price of 13,500 CNY per ton. Overall demand is weak, and end-users have limited willingness to replenish their inventories, resulting in a quiet trading environment. New orders for producers are not performing well, and quotations are flexible. It is expected that titanium dioxide will maintain a weak and stable operation in the short term, with actual transaction prices negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

• Titanium dioxide market
• prices temporarily stable
• weak demand
• cautious transactions

This week, the price of 2-ethylhexanol fluctuated and decreased, with a quoted price of 6,000 CNY per ton, a price decrease of 0.55%. The operating rate of enterprises is less than 70%, leading to a decrease in supply; after the cost of propylene stabilized, it increased slightly, and the demand for DOP still exists. It is expected that the price of 2-ethylhexanol will stabilize with fluctuations in the future.

• Isooctanol prices
• propylene costs
• DOP demand
• market volatility

This week, the price of activated carbon increased from 12,633 CNY/ton to 12,666 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.26%. Strong demand for coconut shell activated carbon in China, coupled with rising import costs, has supported the price increase. It is expected that the price of activated carbon will remain at a high level with fluctuations in the short term.

• Activated carbon prices
• coconut shell activated carbon
• import costs
• raw material supply shortages