Chemical Prices Today (August 27, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals traded with a mixed but generally firm tone, as supply-side constraints and higher feedstock costs supported several products despite continued weakness in selected solvents. Benzoic acid recorded the strongest daily increase, surging 17.17% to CNY 6,600/ton, while Ammonium chloride rose 6.51%, Formic acid gained 5.00%, and Propylene glycol increased 4.75%. Meanwhile, Ethyl acetate advanced 3.90%, supported by tighter operating rates and firmer acetic acid costs. The broader market continues to benefit from relatively tight availability in several chains, although downstream demand remains uneven.

Benzoic acid was the standout mover, climbing 17.17% day on day despite remaining 5.46% below its level one month earlier, suggesting a sharp short-term rebound rather than a broad monthly uptrend. Ammonium chloride also strengthened significantly, rising 6.51% to CNY 900/ton, while Formic acid increased 5.00% to CNY 2,100/ton. The gains in these products point to firmer spot transactions and tighter regional availability, although the relatively large monthly declines in Formic acid and Benzoic acid indicate that supply-demand conditions remain volatile rather than structurally bullish.

Propylene glycol rose 4.75% to CNY 9,733/ton, reversing its recent weakness and bringing its monthly gain to 4.86%. The market has been sensitive to movements in propylene oxide and upstream crude oil costs, while periodic plant maintenance has provided temporary supply support. Recent market analysis also points to higher crude oil and feedstock costs as an important factor behind the strength of the ethylene- and propylene-based chemical chains.

Ethyl acetate gained 3.90% to CNY 5,857/ton, while Acetic acid and Acetic anhydride also edged higher. The move is consistent with the recent pattern of supply-side support in the acetate chain. Industry data indicate that maintenance at some ethyl acetate plants reduced operating rates, while firmer acetic acid feedstock costs provided additional support.

By contrast, Isopropyl alcohol fell 4.67% to CNY 7,742/ton and Acetone declined 1.89% to CNY 7,113/ton. The corrections appear to reflect profit-taking and uneven downstream demand after substantial earlier gains: Isopropyl alcohol is still up 7.11% on a weekly basis and 8.59% over the month, while Acetone remains 7.74% higher weekly and 15.80% higher monthly. The latest benchmark data put Isopropyl alcohol at around CNY 7,742/ton on August 27, up more than 14% from the beginning of the month.

Acetone remains a key product to watch despite the latest daily decline. Recent Chinese market analysis has highlighted supply-side tightening from phenol-ketone plant maintenance and lower port inventories as major drivers of the earlier rally. In addition, INEOS declared force majeure on phenol and acetone following a July fire at BP's Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany, after the incident disrupted benzene feedstock supply and led to sales allocation measures.

Benzene increased 0.41% to CNY 8,014/ton, while Aniline remained unchanged at CNY 13,425/ton. Both products retain strong weekly and monthly gains, with Aniline up 7.98% weekly and 11.14% monthly. Recent industry analysis points to improving downstream margins and higher operating rates in styrene, phenol/acetone, aniline and caprolactam, while benzene supply recovery has lagged expectations and East China inventories have remained relatively low. These conditions have provided continued support to the aromatics chain.

Ethylene glycol edged up 0.05% to CNY 5,628/ton but remained one of the stronger monthly performers, with a 12.73% monthly increase. Recent market commentary attributes the rally primarily to supply contraction and higher feedstock costs rather than a fundamental recovery in downstream demand. Rising crude oil prices have lifted naphtha and ethylene costs, while domestic plant operating rates have provided additional supply-side support.

Among other notable movements, Dichloromethane slipped 1.54% on the day but remained up 16.56% weekly, while Toluene fell 1.50% despite a 7.81% monthly gain. Propylene declined 1.29% to CNY 8,694/ton, consistent with the broader global propylene market's continuing oversupply and weak downstream-demand concerns. Industry analysis has pointed to high inventories and subdued demand as persistent challenges for the propylene market.

At the lower end of the monthly performance range, Cobalt remained under pressure at CNY 307,800/ton, down 11.79% over the month. Hydrogen peroxide, Formic acid, and Sulfuric acid were also down more than 10% monthly, at -10.75%, -10.70%, and -10.15%, respectively. Titanium dioxide was another weak performer, falling 7.21% monthly. These declines highlight the contrast between products benefiting from temporary supply tightness and those still facing relatively weak downstream demand or ample availability.

Overall, the basic chemicals market remains characterized by diverging supply-demand conditions. Aromatics and several oxygenated chemicals continue to receive support from constrained supply, maintenance activity and higher feedstock costs, while solvents such as Acetone and Isopropyl alcohol are undergoing short-term corrections after strong previous gains. The broader petrochemical sector is also facing structural pressure from overcapacity and softer domestic fuel demand; Sinopec reported that its chemical segment remained loss-making in the first half of 2026, with ethylene output down 15.5% year on year.

Fine chemicals showed a clearly differentiated trading pattern, with Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) emerging as the strongest daily mover, surging 12.64% to CNY 12,250/ton. Dimethyl carbonate also extended its upward trend, gaining 0.71% on the day and 12.26% over the month, while Oleic acid remained significantly higher on a monthly basis despite a 2.56% daily correction. In contrast, Lauric acid fell 6.15%, Potassium permanganate declined 3.13%, and Sodium acetate slipped 0.54%. Overall, the market remained mixed, with supply tightness supporting selected solvents and intermediates while oleochemicals and some downstream-oriented products experienced profit-taking and demand-related pressure.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was the key highlight, rising 12.64% day on day to CNY 12,250/ton. The move represents a sharp rebound from relatively low spot levels earlier in August, although the product remains 2.88% below its level one month ago. Market quotations have shown a wide spread across China, with ECHEMI reporting domestic prices around CNY 12,250/ton on August 26 and regional quotations ranging from roughly CNY 9,500 to CNY 17,500/ton. Earlier August quotations also show that standard-grade DMSO was available near CNY 9,500/ton at several Shandong suppliers, indicating that the latest benchmark jump is being driven by a rapid tightening in spot quotations rather than a uniform structural repricing across all grades.

The DMSO market had already displayed strong short-term volatility earlier in August, with benchmark prices rising sharply in mid-month and individual suppliers quoting substantial premiums for higher-purity material. Tight spot availability and significant grade-to-grade price dispersion appear to be the main reasons for the latest acceleration, while demand from pharmaceutical, agrochemical and electronics-related applications provides a relatively firm underlying consumption base. The latest move should therefore be viewed as a supply-driven rebound, although the negative monthly change suggests that the market has not yet established a sustained upward trend.

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) advanced 0.71% to CNY 4,650/ton, bringing its weekly and monthly gains to 2.44% and 12.26%, respectively. The current price is broadly consistent with recent domestic market quotations, with ECHEMI reporting a China domestic benchmark of approximately CNY 4,617/ton on August 26 and regional prices ranging from CNY 4,400 to CNY 5,100/ton. Battery-grade material has also been quoted above the industrial-grade market, reflecting differentiated demand and quality premiums.

Despite the monthly rally in DMC, the fundamental picture remains mixed. Earlier market reports highlighted high inventories, new or restarted capacity and relatively subdued battery-sector restocking as constraints on the upside, particularly as lithium-battery chemistry continues to shift toward LFP and downstream buyers remain cautious. The latest price strength therefore appears to reflect a recovery from earlier depressed levels and regional supply-demand balancing rather than a broad-based demand boom.

Oleic acid fell 2.56% to CNY 9,500/ton, but its monthly gain remained as high as 14.72%, making it one of the strongest performers in the Fine Chemicals basket over the past month. Recent market data also place Chinese oleic acid around CNY 9,500/ton, while the broader oleochemical market has remained firm and mixed, with more products recording increases than declines. The current daily correction is therefore more consistent with short-term profit-taking and downstream resistance after a strong monthly rally than with a fundamental reversal.

Lauric acid experienced a much sharper correction, falling 6.15% to CNY 16,800/ton. The decline follows a period of relatively strong imported and domestic quotations: recent market data showed China domestic lauric acid around CNY 17,350-17,750/ton, with imported and higher-purity grades quoted materially higher. The latest drop likely reflects weakening spot transactions and profit-taking after the earlier firming in imported oleochemical feedstocks. Nevertheless, the weekly indicator remains positive at 1.66%, suggesting that the short-term correction has not yet completely reversed the recent recovery.

PTMEG increased 0.98% to CNY 17,167/ton, but remained down 12.13% on a weekly basis. The combination of a daily rebound and a deeply negative weekly change indicates that the latest move is primarily a technical recovery following a sharp previous correction. Current industry reports continue to focus on the BDO/PTMEG chain, with BDO prices maintaining a firm trend and several BDO units undergoing maintenance, providing some upstream cost and supply support to PTMEG. On August 27, domestic PTMEG quotations were reported around CNY 17,000-17,500/ton, broadly consistent with the benchmark in the supplied dataset.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) remained unchanged at CNY 19,000/ton but retained a solid 6.06% weekly increase, despite being down 4.11% over the month. Market data show domestic SDS quotations around CNY 17,900-19,000/ton in late August, while earlier August data also recorded sharp increases in some grades. This suggests that short-term supply tightness has improved seller pricing power, although the negative monthly performance indicates that demand has not yet been strong enough to sustain the earlier price spike.

Potassium permanganate declined 3.13% to CNY 15,500/ton, reversing some of its recent strength. Market quotations around mid-August were concentrated near CNY 15,500-16,000/ton, while average prices had already moved higher from June and July levels. The latest correction therefore appears to reflect short-term inventory adjustment and weaker buying interest rather than a collapse in supply fundamentals. The monthly change remains slightly positive at 0.54%.

Melamine edged up 0.21% to CNY 6,163/ton and remained 3.31% higher on a monthly basis, but the market continues to face pressure from weak downstream demand. Recent industry analysis points to falling urea costs, stable operating rates and limited restocking from board and coating manufacturers, leaving supply-demand conditions relatively loose. As a result, the latest marginal increase should be interpreted as market stabilization rather than the beginning of a strong upward cycle.

Sodium acetate fell 0.54% to CNY 5,357/ton and remained the weakest monthly performer in the basket, down 8.74% over the month. The sustained decline contrasts with the relative stability of Citric acid, Lactic acid and several inorganic fine chemicals. The market appears to be facing limited downstream replenishment and sufficient availability, keeping sellers under pressure despite the absence of a sharp daily move.

Citric acid remained stable at CNY 6,200/ton, but its monthly gain of 3.14% indicates that the market has retained a relatively firm underlying tone. Recent China domestic market data also place citric acid around CNY 6,200/ton, with enterprise quotations generally ranging from approximately CNY 6,000 to CNY 6,800/ton. The lack of a daily change suggests that the current market has entered a period of price consolidation after earlier gains, rather than experiencing another acceleration.

Overall, the Fine Chemicals market remains highly segmented between supply-driven rallies and demand-led corrections. DMSO is the clearest example of a rapidly tightening spot market, while DMC and Oleic acid continue to show strong monthly appreciation despite signs of short-term resistance. PTMEG is attempting to stabilize after a substantial weekly correction, whereas Lauric acid, Potassium permanganate and Sodium acetate are experiencing more visible downward pressure. Going forward, the key factors to monitor are spot availability, plant operating rates and maintenance, upstream feedstock costs, and the pace of downstream restocking.

Energy, plastics and rubber markets remained broadly firm but highly sensitive to crude oil and geopolitical developments. WTI Crude Oil held at USD 82/barrel in the supplied benchmark, up 5.13% over the month, while Gasoline remained elevated at CNY 9,097/ton, gaining 8.73% monthly. Asphalt advanced 1.39% to CNY 4,725/ton and remained supported by higher crude costs and improving infrastructure-related demand. In plastics, ABS eased 0.49% but retained a 3.83% monthly gain, while HDPE remained stable. Rubber-related products were comparatively steady, with Carbon Black unchanged on the day but up 2.83% weekly. Overall, the market continues to balance higher energy costs and geopolitical risk against relatively cautious downstream demand.

WTI Crude Oil remained around USD 82/barrel in the benchmark, although the crude market has experienced substantial volatility during the week. On August 27, Reuters reported that WTI settled at USD 83.53/barrel, up 1.6%, while Brent rose 2.1% to USD 89.70/barrel. The rebound followed reports that the U.S. administration had rejected a proposed renewal of the Iran ceasefire arrangement, increasing uncertainty over the timing of any normalization of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, diplomatic efforts involving Qatar, Iran and Oman continued, keeping the market highly sensitive to geopolitical headlines.

The oil market therefore remains caught between supply disruption risk and expectations of a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier in the week, optimism over an Iran-Oman arrangement had pushed WTI below USD 81/barrel, while subsequent geopolitical developments triggered a sharp rebound. The Strait normally carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows, making any progress toward reopening a potentially significant source of downside pressure on crude. Conversely, a breakdown in negotiations could quickly restore the geopolitical risk premium.

Gasoline edged down 0.13% to CNY 9,097/ton but remained one of the strongest monthly performers in the basket, with an 8.73% gain. The product continues to benefit from the elevated crude-price environment and persistent concerns over refined-product supply. Internationally, gasoline markets remain unusually firm: AAA reported on August 27 that the U.S. national average regular gasoline price was USD 4.09/gallon, only slightly below the previous week, with August potentially setting a new record monthly average.

China's gasoline market is also being influenced by changing domestic fuel demand. China's gasoline consumption is facing structural pressure from the rapid penetration of new-energy vehicles, while lower refinery throughput and tighter fuel-export policies have reduced crude-processing demand. Reuters reported that China's crude imports have fallen by around 400 million barrels compared with the previous year since the Iran war began, reflecting lower refining activity, fuel-export restrictions and increasing EV adoption. This creates an important counterweight to geopolitical supply risks in the crude market.

Asphalt rose 1.39% to CNY 4,725/ton, extending its weekly gain to 2.94% and monthly gain to 0.99%. The move reflects a combination of higher crude oil costs and improving seasonal demand from infrastructure and road construction. Global road-maintenance investment remains a supportive structural factor, with recent industry analysis projecting global tack-coat materials demand to grow at approximately 4.1% annually through 2035, driven by road maintenance and infrastructure spending.

The relatively strong performance of Asphalt compared with other energy products suggests that the market is receiving more direct support from the combination of feedstock costs and infrastructure demand. Unlike gasoline, whose long-term demand outlook is increasingly affected by EV adoption, asphalt demand remains closely tied to road construction, maintenance and infrastructure investment. This provides a more stable downstream demand base and may help keep asphalt prices relatively resilient even if crude oil volatility increases.

In plastics, ABS declined 0.49% to CNY 10,233/ton, but remained 1.16% higher weekly and 3.83% higher monthly. The latest correction appears relatively limited and is consistent with profit-taking after the recent rally. Domestic market quotations on August 27 showed a broad price range depending on grade, with mid-to-high-end domestic ABS around CNY 11,150/ton and mid-to-low-end material around CNY 10,450/ton. This price dispersion highlights the importance of product grade and application demand in the current ABS market.

The underlying ABS market remains supported by the cost side, but downstream purchasing is still cautious. Automotive, home-appliance and electronics demand remain important end-use drivers, while higher crude and aromatics costs provide a floor to polymer prices. However, the relatively small weekly and monthly gains suggest that the current market is better characterized as a cost-supported recovery rather than a strong demand-led upcycle.

HDPE remained unchanged at CNY 10,613/ton, with weekly and monthly gains of 0.65% and 0.93%, respectively. The relatively narrow price movement indicates a balanced market, with higher crude and naphtha costs offset by relatively restrained downstream demand. Compared with ABS, HDPE has shown less upward momentum, suggesting that the polyethylene market is still constrained by adequate supply and cautious procurement rather than facing an immediate shortage.

In the rubber chain, Carbon Black remained stable at CNY 8,914/ton, but was up 2.83% over the week. Recent market data place domestic carbon black around CNY 8,914/ton, confirming the relatively firm spot benchmark. The weekly increase indicates improving short-term pricing power, although the flat monthly performance suggests that the market has not yet entered a sustained upward cycle. Cost support from coal tar and improving tire-industry operating rates remain the key factors to monitor.

Silica remained unchanged at CNY 6,067/ton, while weekly and monthly gains were limited to 0.43% and 0.98%. Recent domestic market data show silica hydrate around CNY 6,033/ton in late August, broadly consistent with the supplied benchmark. The relatively stable pricing pattern indicates that rubber-grade silica is currently experiencing balanced supply and demand, with tire and rubber consumption providing support but without sufficient buying momentum to generate a significant price breakout.

Anthracite and Kerosene remained completely unchanged, reflecting relatively stable physical-market conditions. Activated carbon also remained flat at CNY 12,167/ton but was slightly lower on both weekly and monthly comparisons. These products currently appear less sensitive to the sharp geopolitical volatility seen in crude oil, suggesting that their pricing is being determined more by local supply-demand conditions and downstream consumption than by immediate energy-market movements.

Overall, the Energy, Plastics and Rubber markets remain cost-supported but demand-sensitive. Crude oil and gasoline continue to carry a substantial geopolitical premium, with the outlook dominated by developments around the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East. Asphalt is benefiting from both crude costs and infrastructure demand, while ABS and HDPE remain supported by feedstock prices but lack strong downstream momentum. In rubber, Carbon Black has shown the clearest weekly improvement, whereas Silica remains broadly stable. The key market risks for the coming sessions are changes in Middle Eastern oil flows, crude-price volatility, China's refinery utilization and fuel demand, and the pace of downstream polymer and tire restocking.

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