Chemical Prices Today (August 26, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals showed a broadly mixed trend, with Aniline, Acetone, and Ethyl acetate among the strongest gainers, while Propylene glycol, Methanol, and Ammonium sulfate came under significant pressure. Aniline rose 3.87% day-on-day to CNY 13,425/ton, with weekly and monthly gains reaching 6.60% and 11.14%, respectively, as firm benzene costs, delayed restarts of previously idled units, and tighter spot availability supported the market. Acetone also advanced 2.27% to CNY 7,300/ton, bringing its weekly and monthly gains to 6.63% and 15.80%; recent producer price increases and a relatively firm phenol-acetone chain have provided additional support, while the benchmark acetone price had already risen more than 19% from the beginning of August. Ethyl acetate climbed 4.19% to CNY 5,873/ton, supported by higher acetic acid costs, although rising operating rates and cautious downstream purchasing are limiting the upside. In contrast, Propylene glycol plunged 16.67% to CNY 8,500/ton after major Shandong producers cut prices by around CNY 100/ton, reflecting high absolute price levels and limited room for further gains. Methanol fell 4.78% to CNY 2,847/ton despite remaining 3.53% above last week and 3.29% higher month-on-month, while weakness in crude oil and broad selling pressure across the chemical futures complex weighed on sentiment. Ammonium sulfate declined 5.20% amid weaker international urea prices, slower exports following China's inspection requirements for fertilizer exports, and relatively ample domestic availability. Overall, the chemical market remains characterized by strong cost-driven support in selected chains but increasingly cautious downstream demand and profit-taking after the sharp August rally.

Fine chemicals showed a mixed but generally firm trend on August 26, led by a sharp rebound in Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and continued strength in Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and Potassium citrate, while PTMEG and Potassium permanganate weakened. DMSO surged 12.64% day-on-day to CNY 12,250/ton, although it remained 1.01% below last week and 2.88% lower on a monthly basis, suggesting that the latest jump was driven more by short-term supply and spot-market tightness than by a fully established upward trend. DMC increased 0.74% to CNY 4,617/ton, extending its weekly and monthly gains to 2.08% and 12.26%; recent market quotations continued to move higher, with SMM reporting that the August 26 DMC average price increased by CNY 250/ton from the previous update, reflecting firmer market sentiment and tighter pricing in the silicone-related chain. Potassium citrate also rose 2.46% to CNY 9,050/ton, bringing its monthly increase to 3.54%, supported by relatively firm demand for food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Meanwhile, Citric acid remained stable at CNY 6,200/ton but was still 3.14% higher on a monthly basis; China's July export volume remained very strong, highlighting the country's dominant position in global citric acid supply and providing a relatively solid fundamental backdrop. In contrast, PTMEG slipped 0.97% to CNY 17,000/ton and was down 11.84% week-on-week, with current producer quotations around CNY 17,000/ton indicating continued pressure after the recent decline. Potassium permanganate fell 1.59% to CNY 15,500/ton, while Retinol declined 1.79% to CNY 55/kg and remained 3.57% lower on a monthly basis, reflecting weaker short-term pricing momentum. Overall, the fine chemicals market remains highly differentiated, with supply-sensitive specialty chemicals showing sharp short-term movements while larger-volume products such as citric acid and DMC retain a firmer medium-term price structure.

Energy, plastics, and rubber markets showed a mixed performance on August 26, with WTI Crude Oil weakening sharply while downstream fuels and asphalt remained relatively resilient. WTI crude oil fell 3.53% day-on-day to USD 82/barrel in the dataset, extending recent losses as expectations for improved navigation through the Strait of Hormuz reduced the geopolitical supply premium. Official data showed that WTI ultimately settled at USD 82.23/barrel on August 26, while Brent crude settled at USD 87.84/barrel; easing supply concerns and continued negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz weighed on prices, although only a modest increase in U.S. crude inventories limited the downside. Asphalt, however, rose 1.53% to CNY 4,660/ton, supported by relatively tight spot availability despite the decline in crude oil. Recent market assessments indicated that asphalt spot prices increased across most major Chinese regions, while supply-side tightness continued to provide stronger support than the weakening crude market. Gasoline edged up 0.13% to CNY 9,109/ton and remained 8.73% higher on a monthly basis, with domestic gasoline wholesale prices continuing to rise and expectations for an increase in retail fuel prices improving market sentiment. In plastics, ABS remained unchanged at CNY 10,283/ton but retained weekly and monthly gains of 1.03% and 3.83%, suggesting a relatively firm market despite limited day-on-day momentum, while HDPE slipped 0.35% to CNY 10,613/ton as downstream buying remained cautious. In rubber-related chemicals, Silica increased 0.56% to CNY 6,067/ton and Carbon Black was stable at CNY 8,914/ton, with both markets showing modest weekly gains. Carbon remained unchanged at CNY 12,167/ton but was still slightly lower on both weekly and monthly bases. Overall, the market is characterized by a divergence between falling upstream crude prices and relatively firm downstream products, with asphalt and gasoline benefiting from product-specific supply and pricing factors while plastics remain range-bound and rubber-related materials maintain a mildly firm tone.