Chemical Prices Today (July 16, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals showed mixed performance on July 16, with aromatics and solvent products generally strengthening while several energy-linked feedstocks remained under pressure. Propylene Glycol posted the strongest gain of the day, rising 11.27%, supported by tighter spot availability and firmer downstream demand from the unsaturated polyester resin, pharmaceutical and food additive sectors. PX advanced 6.33%, while Acetone, Ethyl Acetate, Dichloromethane, and Toluene also moved higher as replenishment buying and improved cost support from the aromatics chain lifted market sentiment. Recent industry reports indicate that producers continue to operate under tight margins, keeping supply relatively disciplined despite persistent global oversupply concerns.

On the downside, Butane recorded the largest daily decline, falling 14.03%, while Hexane, Calcium Carbide, Methanol, and Lithium Carbonate also weakened amid cautious downstream procurement and sufficient market supply. Although Acetone has rebounded strongly this week with a cumulative gain of 12.93%, its monthly price remains nearly 18.5% lower, highlighting ongoing volatility in the phenol-acetone value chain. Meanwhile, the Asian PX market continues to face pressure from softer energy costs and sluggish polyester demand, even as today's domestic price recovered on short-term restocking activity.

Fine chemicals traded with heightened volatility on July 16, led by a strong rebound in Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which surged 14.00%, and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), which climbed 11.63%. The gains were supported by improved replenishment demand from pharmaceutical and specialty chemical manufacturers, together with tighter spot availability following previous inventory reductions. PTMEG also extended its upward trend, rising 2.63% on the day and 6.26% over the week, reflecting gradually improving demand from the spandex and elastane industries. Meanwhile, Stearic Acid and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) posted moderate gains, benefiting from steady procurement in the personal care, detergent, and rubber processing sectors.

On the downside, Activated Carbon recorded the largest decline of the segment, falling 14.29% after the previous session's sharp rally, suggesting profit-taking and normalization following temporary supply tightness. Melamine remained broadly stable with only a marginal decline, as adequate domestic supply continued to offset relatively soft demand from the wood panel and laminate industries. Recent market developments indicate that specialty chemical demand remains resilient in high-value applications such as pharmaceuticals, personal care, and advanced materials, although buyers continue to adopt cautious purchasing strategies amid uncertain global economic conditions. Overall, the fine chemicals market continues to exhibit selective strength, with demand-driven products outperforming bulk specialty chemicals.

Energy markets remained on a firm footing on July 16, supported by stronger crude oil prices and resilient transportation fuel demand. WTI Crude Oil edged up 1.27%, extending its weekly gain to 7.04%, as concerns over global supply disruptions and improving seasonal fuel consumption continued to support market sentiment. Domestic Gasoline prices increased 0.82%, while Asphalt rose 0.76%, benefiting from higher refinery feedstock costs and steady infrastructure-related demand during the summer construction season. Although monthly prices remain below levels seen a month ago, the recent rebound suggests energy markets are gradually stabilizing following earlier weakness.

The Plastics market showed a mixed tone, with ABS declining 2.15% after recording strong gains earlier in the week. Despite today's correction, ABS prices remain 6.84% higher on a weekly basis, indicating that short-term supply support and previous restocking activity are still influencing the market. However, downstream demand from the home appliance, automotive, and consumer electronics sectors remains relatively cautious, limiting further upside potential. Looking ahead, fluctuations in upstream styrene and crude oil prices are expected to remain the primary drivers of ABS market sentiment, while buyers are likely to continue purchasing on a just-in-time basis amid uncertain manufacturing demand.