Chemical Prices Today (July 15, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals traded broadly higher on July 15, supported by improved sentiment across upstream petrochemical and energy markets. Acetone, Benzene, Propylene, PET, and Glycerol recorded notable daily gains, reflecting stronger feedstock costs, restocking demand, and tighter spot availability. Copper sulfate surged more than 11% on the day, likely driven by active procurement from agriculture and industrial sectors alongside higher copper raw material costs. In contrast, Methanol, Dichloromethane, Sodium hydroxide, and Titanium dioxide weakened as downstream purchasing remained cautious and supply stayed relatively sufficient. On a monthly basis, Magnesium sulfate continued to show exceptional strength with gains approaching 45%, while Acetone, Methanol, and PET remained below last month's levels despite the latest rebound, indicating that recovery momentum has yet to fully offset earlier market corrections. Industry News: Recent strength in aromatic hydrocarbons and olefin-related products has been supported by firmer crude oil and feedstock pricing, while seasonal replenishment by downstream manufacturers has also improved spot market activity. Meanwhile, China's continued tightening of controls on certain precursor chemicals has reinforced regulatory oversight across parts of the chemical supply chain, contributing to cautious inventory management and procurement strategies among market participants.

Fine Chemicals market experienced heightened volatility on July 15, with both sharp gains and steep corrections across specialty chemical products. Activated carbon recorded the strongest increase, surging 31.47% day-on-day and nearly 47% on a weekly basis, supported by tight spot availability and robust demand from water treatment, air purification, and industrial filtration sectors. Azelaic acid, Castor oil, and Dimethyl carbonate also posted moderate gains, reflecting stable demand from personal care, specialty polymers, and lithium battery applications. On the downside, Potassium sorbate plunged 49.00%, representing the largest decline of the day, likely driven by specification adjustments or the normalization of previously elevated quotations rather than a broad deterioration in market fundamentals. Sorbitol, Sodium thiosulfate, Poly(ethylene glycol), and Dimethyl sulfoxide also weakened amid cautious downstream purchasing and ample market supply. Industry News: Global specialty chemical markets continue to benefit from resilient demand in new energy materials, environmental treatment, and personal care ingredients, while oversupply in selected food additives and industrial intermediates has resulted in increased pricing divergence across the fine chemicals sector. Market participants remain focused on inventory management and raw material cost movements as demand recovery remains uneven across downstream industries.

Energy and Plastic Chemicals maintained a firm upward trend on July 15, supported by continued strength in crude oil markets and improving cost fundamentals across the petrochemical value chain. WTI Crude Oil rose a further 1.28%, extending recent gains as supply concerns and resilient global energy demand continued to underpin market sentiment. Higher feedstock costs lifted downstream products, with Kerosene increasing 2.44%, ABS advancing 1.17% to its highest level in recent weeks, and Gasoline edging up 0.47% amid stable seasonal fuel consumption. Weekly gains in ABS exceeded 6%, suggesting stronger procurement activity from manufacturing sectors despite prices remaining slightly below month-ago levels. Industry News: Global energy and petrochemical markets remain supported by firm crude oil prices, expectations of healthy summer fuel demand, and disciplined production from major oil producers. However, downstream plastics demand continues to recover gradually, with market participants closely monitoring macroeconomic conditions and export orders for signs of a more sustained recovery during the third quarter.