Chemical Prices Today (July 20, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

China's Basic Chemicals market turned broadly firmer on July 20, supported by stronger upstream energy and aromatics sentiment, although performance remained uneven across individual products. Benzene (+5.53%), Methanol (+5.76%), Xylene (+5.04%), Toluene (+4.35%), Acetone (+3.00%), and Ethylene Oxide (+3.08%) all recorded notable daily gains, reflecting tighter spot availability and improved trading sentiment. Recent market reports indicate that China's benzene port inventories have fallen to historically low levels, while methanol inventories also remain relatively tight, providing strong cost support for downstream chemical products. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Meanwhile, Aniline, Ethylene Glycol, and Sulfur also moved higher amid stable downstream procurement and firmer feedstock prices. On the downside, Formic Acid (-9.09%), Sodium Carbonate (-3.85%), Hydrogen Peroxide (-2.50%), Cobalt (-2.42%), and Propylene (-1.65%) weakened as oversupply and cautious buying interest continued to pressure parts of the market. Despite the day's rebound, several major commodities including Acetone, Methanol, Toluene, and White Phosphorus remain significantly below their monthly levels, suggesting that the market is recovering from previous corrections rather than entering a sustained upward cycle. Looking ahead, participants are expected to closely monitor feedstock availability, refinery operating rates, and downstream demand recovery, which will remain the primary drivers of short-term price direction. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

China's Fine Chemicals market remained largely stable on July 20, with only marginal price movements across the monitored products, indicating a balanced supply-demand environment. Melamine edged down by 0.03% as sufficient domestic supply and cautious purchasing from the wood panel and laminates industries continued to weigh on market sentiment. Recent industry reports suggest that downstream construction and furniture demand remains subdued during the seasonal off-peak period, limiting upward momentum despite stable production costs. Meanwhile, Sodium Acetate posted a slight 0.12% increase, supported by steady procurement from wastewater treatment and pharmaceutical sectors, while Sodium Metabisulfite slipped 0.15% amid adequate market supply and relatively muted demand from food processing and industrial applications. Overall, both weekly and monthly price fluctuations remained within a narrow range, highlighting that the Fine Chemicals market is currently trading in a consolidation phase. Market participants are expected to continue monitoring downstream industrial consumption, operating rates, and raw material cost trends for clearer price direction in the coming weeks.

The Energy, Plastics and Other Chemicals market showed a broadly positive tone on July 20, primarily supported by a rebound in global energy prices. WTI Crude Oil climbed 5.13% on the day, while Gasoline rose 4.63%, reflecting stronger international crude benchmarks amid tightening supply expectations and improved market sentiment. The recovery in oil prices also provided cost support for downstream petrochemical products, helping ABS increase by 2.96% as producers benefited from firmer feedstock prices and steady procurement from the automotive and home appliance sectors. Meanwhile, Asphalt edged up 0.73%, tracking higher crude oil costs despite relatively moderate infrastructure demand. In contrast, Anthracite declined sharply by 10.00%, suggesting continued weakness in the coal market as sufficient domestic supply and softer industrial consumption weighed on prices. Activated Carbon also eased 0.28% amid balanced supply and demand conditions. Overall, the latest market developments indicate that energy-related products are regaining upward momentum following the rebound in crude oil, while downstream materials continue to exhibit mixed performance depending on end-user demand. Market participants are expected to closely monitor global oil market developments, refinery operating rates, and seasonal industrial demand, which will remain the key factors influencing short-term price trends across the Energy, Plastics and Other Chemicals sector.