Chemical Prices Today (June 24, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

The Basic Chemicals market remained under mixed pressure on June 24, with aromatic solvents including Acetone, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Isopropyl alcohol continuing to weaken amid sluggish downstream demand and cautious procurement activity. Propylene and Methanol also posted notable declines, reflecting weaker energy markets and softer feedstock sentiment following lower refinery operating rates and easing crude-related premiums. Meanwhile, selected products including Propylene glycol, Ethyl acetate, Sulfuric acid, Potassium chloride, and Heptane recorded daily gains, supported by replenishment demand and localized supply tightness. Lithium carbonate rebounded by 2.58% on the day despite remaining nearly 10% below month-ago levels, indicating improving battery material sentiment. Although Phosphoric Acid slipped slightly on the day, its monthly gain remained close to 18%, while Sulfur maintained an increase of nearly 25% from a month earlier, suggesting that sulfur-chain products continue to trade at historically elevated levels despite recent market corrections.

Recent industry news continues to provide mixed signals for the chemical market. China's refinery operating rates have remained relatively low due to weak fuel demand and high inventories, reducing feedstock consumption across several petrochemical chains and weighing on products such as Benzene, Propylene, Methanol, and Acetone. At the same time, sulfur-related products remain supported by tight supply conditions, helping sustain elevated prices for Sulfur, Sulfuric acid, and downstream phosphate products. In the battery materials sector, improving energy-storage demand and declining lithium inventories have contributed to renewed optimism, supporting the rebound in Lithium carbonate prices despite lingering concerns over oversupply.

The Fine Chemicals market showed significant volatility on June 24, with several specialty products experiencing sharp price movements driven by supply adjustments and downstream procurement activity. Poly(ethylene glycol) recorded the strongest increase, surging more than 38% on a daily basis and maintaining monthly gains, indicating temporary supply tightness and active replenishment demand from pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) also rebounded sharply by 12.64% after recent weakness, although prices remained more than 14% below month-ago levels, suggesting that the market is recovering from previous corrections. Meanwhile, Citric acid posted a solid gain of 7.47%, supported by steady export demand and improved food additive consumption. On the downside, Oleic acid declined sharply by more than 13% amid weakening feedstock sentiment and slower purchasing activity. Melamine continued to soften due to weak construction and wood-panel demand, while Potassium permanganate experienced a moderate correction after recent gains. Overall, the sector remained characterized by selective strength in specialty additives and pharmaceutical intermediates, while demand-sensitive products continued to face pricing pressure.

Recent industry developments continue to generate mixed signals across the fine chemicals market. Demand from pharmaceutical, personal care, and food additive sectors has provided support for products such as Citric acid, Sodium acetate, and Poly(ethylene glycol), while intermittent supply constraints have contributed to short-term price spikes in selected specialty chemicals. In contrast, downstream construction materials and laminate industries remain relatively weak, limiting purchasing activity for Melamine. Feedstock fluctuations in vegetable oils and oleochemical markets have also increased volatility in Oleic acid pricing. Additionally, environmental treatment and industrial water treatment demand continue to support Sodium thiosulfate, which has maintained weekly and monthly gains.

The Energy and Plastics markets remained under downward pressure on June 24, as weaker crude oil sentiment and cautious downstream purchasing continued to weigh on both fuel and polymer products. WTI Crude Oil declined by 1.35% on the day and more than 13% from a month earlier, reflecting easing geopolitical risk premiums and concerns over global demand growth. The softer energy market subsequently pressured downstream products, with Gasoline and Asphalt posting moderate daily declines. In the plastics sector, both ABS and HDPE continued to weaken amid subdued manufacturing demand and conservative inventory replenishment. ABS remained the weakest performer, falling nearly 14% on a monthly basis, indicating persistent oversupply and sluggish consumption from household appliance and consumer goods sectors. Meanwhile, HDPE prices softened due to adequate market supply and weak purchasing activity from packaging and industrial applications. Overall, lower feedstock costs and cautious downstream sentiment continued to exert pressure across both energy and polymer markets.

Recent industry developments have further influenced market sentiment. International oil prices have retreated as supply concerns eased and traders increasingly focused on global economic growth and fuel demand expectations, contributing to weaker pricing across the energy chain. Lower crude costs have reduced production support for downstream fuels and petrochemical feedstocks, placing additional pressure on products such as Gasoline, ABS, and HDPE. In the plastics market, ample domestic supply capacity and slower recovery in manufacturing demand have limited purchasing interest, while export conditions remain relatively competitive. The construction and infrastructure sectors continue to provide some support for Asphalt, allowing prices to remain above month-ago levels despite recent corrections.