Chemical Prices Today (July 8, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

The Basic Chemicals market showed a mixed performance on July 8, with upstream energy-linked products rebounding while several downstream chemicals remained under pressure. Acetone (+6.40%), Benzene (+4.47%), Methanol (+3.39%), PET (+2.25%), and Propylene glycol (+2.26%) recorded notable daily gains, supported by stronger crude oil prices and firmer aromatics sentiment after renewed Middle East supply concerns lifted Asian petrochemical markets. Benzene and related aromatics also benefited from tighter spot availability in Asia and improved buying interest, while Chinese chemical futures, including benzene and methanol, rallied sharply during the trading session. Meanwhile, Phosphoric Acid (-1.08%), Sulfur (-1.15%), Titanium dioxide (-1.34%), and Ammonium sulfate (-0.87%) continued to soften amid cautious downstream purchasing and sufficient domestic supply. Despite the daily rebound in several solvents and feedstocks, monthly performance remained weak for products such as Acetone (-24.46%), Methanol (-17.01%), Xylene (-11.30%), and Phosphoric Acid (-12.60%), indicating that demand recovery has yet to fully offset the broader oversupply pressure across the basic chemicals sector.

The Fine Chemicals segment strengthened significantly on July 8, led by a sharp rebound in Tetrahydrofuran (THF), which surged 13.59% day-on-day to CNY 19,500/ton. The rally was primarily driven by tightening spot availability following reduced operating rates at several domestic producers, together with higher production costs stemming from firmer upstream 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) prices. Although THF remained slightly lower on both a weekly (-1.28%) and monthly (-1.63%) basis, the latest rebound suggests that the market has entered a restocking phase after several weeks of price consolidation. Market sentiment has also been supported by resilient downstream demand from PTMEG, spandex fibers, lithium battery electrolyte solvents, and high-performance coatings, where THF remains a key intermediate. Industry reports indicate that rising BDO costs, tighter regional supply, and improving downstream operating rates continue to provide upward support for THF prices, while recent capacity adjustments by major global producers have reinforced expectations of a more balanced supply-demand environment. Overall, the Fine Chemicals market is showing early signs of recovery, with specialty chemical products benefiting from stronger cost support and gradually improving demand fundamentals despite lingering macroeconomic uncertainty. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The Energy and Plastics market showed a modest recovery on July 8, supported by firmer crude oil prices and improving sentiment across the petrochemical value chain. WTI Crude Oil rose 1.45% to USD 70/barrel after renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and expectations of tighter global supply lifted international oil benchmarks. The rebound in crude prices provided cost support for downstream petroleum products, with Gasoline advancing 1.09% on the day as refiners responded to higher feedstock costs and stable seasonal transportation demand. In contrast, Asphalt edged down 0.23%, reflecting subdued infrastructure procurement and ample domestic inventories despite stronger crude prices. Within the plastics sector, ABS recorded a solid 3.04% daily increase, supported by higher upstream styrene and acrylonitrile costs, improved trading activity, and restocking from appliance and automotive manufacturers. Nevertheless, monthly performance remained negative across the category, with WTI Crude Oil (-15.85%), Gasoline (-4.85%), ABS (-4.97%), and Asphalt (-2.21%) all below their levels of one month ago, indicating that the recent rebound is largely driven by short-term supply-side developments rather than a sustained recovery in end-user demand. Recent industry reports also suggest that OPEC+ production discipline, geopolitical risks, and stronger petrochemical feedstock prices are improving market sentiment, although concerns over global economic growth and downstream consumption continue to limit the upside potential for both energy and plastics markets.