Chemical Prices Today (July 22, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

China's Basic Chemicals market presented a mixed performance on July 22. Strong gains were recorded in Ferrous sulfate (+21.74%), Ammonium chloride (+10.00%), and Ethylene Oxide (+4.48%), supported by tighter spot availability, restocking demand, and firmer downstream procurement. Meanwhile, Acetone (-2.04%), Dichloromethane (-2.93%), Formic acid (-2.56%), and Phosphoric Acid (-1.40%) moved lower as cautious buying interest and sufficient market supply continued to weigh on sentiment. Benzene (+0.39%) and Methanol (+0.41%) edged higher, benefiting from relatively firm feedstock costs and improving trading activity, while Acetonitrile rose 1.34%, extending its weekly gain to nearly 10% despite remaining below last month's level. Overall, the market remained characterized by selective replenishment and balanced supply-demand fundamentals, with most participants maintaining a wait-and-see attitude ahead of further downstream demand recovery. Recent industry trends indicate that solvent markets continue to be influenced by seasonal demand weakness, while tighter inventories and production adjustments are providing support to selected products such as ethylene oxide and benzene. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

China's Fine Chemicals market strengthened overall on July 22, with several specialty products posting double-digit daily gains driven by tightening supply and active downstream replenishment. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) surged 13.69%, while Creatine monohydrate, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and PTMEG advanced 11.72%, 11.63%, and 10.53%, respectively, supported by improving demand from pharmaceutical, nutrition, and high-performance materials sectors, as well as firmer production costs and reduced spot availability. In contrast, fatty acid products weakened, with Oleic acid falling 5.88% and Lauric acid declining 3.45%, reflecting softer edible oil feedstock sentiment and cautious purchasing from downstream surfactant and personal care manufacturers. Other products such as Sodium thiosulfate (+3.45%) and Dimethyl carbonate (+0.82%) recorded moderate gains, while Sodium metabisulfite remained broadly stable. Overall, the fine chemicals market continued to benefit from selective inventory replenishment and resilient demand in pharmaceutical and advanced materials applications, although buyers remained cautious toward products linked to weaker consumer and oleochemical markets. Recent industry developments, including continued investment in pharmaceutical raw materials and specialty chemical innovation showcased during major industry events, have also reinforced confidence in higher-value fine chemical products despite a still mixed macroeconomic environment. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

China's Energy, Plastics and Other Chemicals market showed mixed performance on July 22, with energy prices remaining firm while plastics diverged amid varied downstream demand. WTI Crude Oil climbed 2.44% and Gasoline edged up 0.12%, supported by stronger international crude benchmarks amid supply concerns and resilient summer transportation fuel demand. Asphalt also posted a slight gain of 0.18%, benefiting from stable road construction activity and higher feedstock costs. In the plastics sector, PVC increased 1.62% as production controls and steady construction-related procurement provided support, whereas ABS slipped 0.51% and POM fell 4.68% following recent sharp gains, reflecting profit-taking and cautious purchasing from downstream manufacturing industries. In the metals segment, Lead declined 0.79% amid softer battery-sector demand and continued pressure from ample refined metal supply. Overall, firmer crude oil prices continued to lend cost support to energy-related products, while plastics remained differentiated according to end-user demand, with construction-linked materials outperforming engineering plastics. Recent market attention has remained focused on global crude supply expectations, refinery operating rates, and the pace of recovery in manufacturing demand, all of which continue to shape sentiment across the energy and chemical value chain.