ECHEMI Analysis

In January 2026, the price of polyester bottle chips first weakened and then strengthened, with a surge at the end of the month followed by a decline On the supply side, plant maintenance led to a decrease in the capacity utilization rate On the cost side, fluctuations in crude oil and PTA supported the prices On the demand side, stockpiling before the Chinese New Year was completed, but the off-season suppressed price increases

• Polyester bottle flakes
• price fluctuation
• maintenance shutdowns on the supply side
• off-season for demand

On January 30, the average market price of pure benzene in China rose to 6186.67 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 1.92%. Affected by the significant rise in international crude oil futures, the support for pure benzene prices was evident, and refineries in Shandong raised their quotations, continuing the bullish sentiment in the market. In the short term, the trend of pure benzene is expected to remain firm.

• Pure benzene prices
• market prices rise
• international crude oil futures
• quotes from Shandong local refineries

In January, the price of caustic soda continued to decline. In Shandong Province, the average price of caustic soda dropped from 738 CNY/ton to 636 CNY/ton, representing a price decrease of 13.82%. The supply remains ample, but downstream demand has been moderate, driving the price drop. It is expected that caustic soda prices will continue to remain weak in the coming period.

• Caustic soda prices
• market trends
• supply-demand relationship
• import and export data

This week, the styrene market price continued to rise, climbing from 7,196 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 7,650 CNY/ton by the weekend, representing a price increase of 6.31%.

• Styrene
• market price
• weekly price increase
• chemical products

In January 2026, the butadiene market price in China surged by 29.01%, rising from 8,187.5 CNY/ton to 10,562.5 CNY/ton. The price increase was driven by tight supply, rising foreign markets, and pre-holiday stockpiling by downstream customers. However, at the end of the month, demand weakened due to cost pressure, leading to a market correction. It is expected that the market will mainly experience high-level fluctuations in February.

• Butadiene prices rise
• supply is tight
• downstream demand fluctuates
• high-level oscillation.

In 2025, the epichlorohydrin market experienced volatile price increases, with an annual price hike of 28.18%. By year-end, prices reached 11,600 CNY per ton. Raw materials glycerol and propylene saw significant price fluctuations. New production capacity added approximately 295,000 tons per year, bringing total capacity to 2.385 million tons. Weak demand has led to oversupply, and the market is expected to continue experiencing wide-ranging fluctuations in 2026.

• Epichlorohydrin
• Market Conditions
• 2025 Review
• 2026 Outlook

In January, the price of activated carbon rose from 12,766 CNY/ton to 12,883 CNY/ton, representing a price increase of 091% The factory price of coconut-shell activated carbon for water purification ranged between 11,000 and 13,500 CNY/ton The import volume of nutshell charcoal reached 17,98377 tons, up 21% month-on-month and 52% year-on-year

• Activated carbon prices
• market demand
• policy changes
• rising costs

On January 30, the DMF market remained stable, mainly due to insufficient downstream demand. There were no significant changes in price trends, and the overall market continued to maintain a steady state.

• DMF market
• downstream demand
• price trends
• market remains stable

In January 2026, the Chinese bisphenol A market showed a "stable first, then strong" trend At the beginning of the month, the market was stable with slight fluctuations In the middle and late part of the month, driven by multiple positive factors such as rising costs, tight supply, and recovering demand, prices quickly rebounded to nearly 8,000 CNY per ton

• Bisphenol A market: stable initially
• then strengthening
• cost support
• demand recovering

In January, the soda ash market in China experienced a fluctuating downward trend. The average market price of light soda ash decreased from 1,250 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 1,208 CNY/ton at the end of the month, a price decrease of 3.36%. The increase in supply and weak demand led to the decline in prices. It is expected that the soda ash market will continue to operate with narrow fluctuations.

• Soda ash prices
• Market supply and demand
• Glass industry
• Future market forecast

In January 2026, the market price of pure benzene in the Shandong region increased from 5268.67 CNY/ton to 6070 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 15.21%. Affected by the rise in international crude oil futures and foreign market prices, the market confidence for pure benzene in China has strengthened, and it is expected that the market will operate on the stronger side in the short term. Sinopec has raised the price of pure benzene to 6000 CNY/ton.

• Pure benzene price
• crude oil futures
• market analysis
• chemical raw materials

This week, the Chinese anhydrous hydrogen fluoride market showed a slight upward fluctuation, with the latest tender prices in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions ranging from 11,900 to 12,100 CNY per ton. The high prices of raw materials, such as fluorspar and sulfuric acid, provide cost support, but the demand for downstream refrigerants is weak. It is expected that the hydrogen fluoride will maintain a steady and slightly strong operation before the holiday.

• Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
• market price
• raw material cost
• weak demand

In January, the price of titanium dioxide in China increased, with the average price of sulfate process rutile titanium dioxide rising from 13,740 CNY/ton to 13,900 CNY/ton, a 1.16% increase. Cost pressure pushed prices to remain firm. In December 2025, the export volume of titanium dioxide grew by 8.49% year-on-year, but the annual export volume decreased by 4.46%. It is expected that the market will remain stable and improve in the short term.

• Titanium dioxide
• market price
• cost pressure
• export data

In January, 85% of industrial-grade phosphoric acid prices in China rose steadily, increasing from 6,840 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 6,890 CNY/ton at the end of the month, a price increase of 0.73%. The rise in the price of raw material yellow phosphorus and its tight supply supported the cost of phosphoric acid. The market supply and demand were balanced, and transactions were stable. It is expected that the phosphoric acid market will remain strong in the short term.

• Phosphoric acid market
• price trends
• raw material yellow phosphorus
• supply-demand balance

In January, acetic acid prices first rose and then fell, with the average price increasing from 2,750 CNY/ton to 2,830 CNY/ton—a price increase of 2.91%. Prices rose in the first half of the month due to tight supply and increased demand, but fell in the second half as production capacity expanded and demand remained moderate. Next month’s market trend is expected to start with a decline followed by a rise.

• Acetic acid prices
• market conditions
• supply and demand
• impact of methanol

In January, the market price of isopropyl alcohol rose from 5,176.66 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 5,716.67 CNY/ton at the end of the month, representing a price increase of 10.43%. The prices of raw materials acetone and propylene rose by 17.29% and 12.13%, respectively, providing strong cost support. It is expected that the isopropyl alcohol market will remain relatively strong in the short term.

• Isopropyl alcohol market prices
• rising raw material costs
• cost support
• enhanced market confidence

In January 2026, the Chinese phenol market showed a rebound trend. The mainstream quotation in the East China region increased from 5750 CNY/ton to 6250 CNY/ton, a price increase of about 8.7%. The rise in the prices of raw materials such as benzene and propylene provided support, and the supply and demand situation shifted towards a tight balance, driving prices upward. In the short term, the market will maintain a high-level fluctuation, but there is a risk of a correction after the holiday.

• Phenol market
• price hikes
• supply-demand changes
• cost support

Recently, the prices of gasoline and diesel from Shandong local refineries have increased, with 92# gasoline and 0# diesel rising by 112% and 084%, respectively The rise in crude oil market prices is driven by supply disruptions and geopolitical risks, which dominate market sentiment Shandong local refineries are operating stably, and the supply of refined oil products is normal Gasoline demand has increased due to the Spring Festival travel rush, while diesel demand remains moderate

• Crude oil boost
• Shandong independent refineries
• gasoline and diesel prices
• market trend

As of January 28, the average market price of acetic acid in China was 287333 CNY/ton, a decrease of 103% compared to January 21 The increase in supply and weak demand from downstream sectors led to a decline in acetic acid prices Although the price of methanol, a raw material, increased by 316%, its impact on the cost of acetic acid was limited

• Acetic acid market
• price reduction
• methanol prices
• acetic anhydride market

The DMF market in China has recently shown a stable and slightly strong trend, with prices remaining steady and showing a small upward trend.

• DMF market
• price trend: stable with a slight upward bias