Chemical Prices Today (August 6, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals showed a mixed performance today, with most solvent and petrochemical products remaining under pressure amid cautious downstream purchasing and uneven demand recovery. Acetone, Benzene, Isopropyl alcohol, and Methanol prices weakened slightly, reflecting softer spot trading and limited buying interest. Meanwhile, selected industrial chemicals including Ammonium chloride, Ethyl acetate, and Sulfur recorded gains supported by tighter regional supply conditions or improved procurement activity. Market sentiment remained influenced by supply-demand rebalancing across chemical chains, while recent industry data indicated continued volatility in major production materials, with supply adjustments and downstream recovery playing key roles. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Among aromatic chemicals, Benzene declined 1.33% day-on-day to CNY 7,418/ton, while Xylene edged up 0.26%. The divergence reflected weaker short-term buying for benzene derivatives despite relatively stable feedstock expectations. Phenol also slipped 0.57%, although it maintained a weekly gain of 4.15% and a monthly increase above 7%, indicating that downstream restocking has provided some support after previous supply tightening.

Acetone prices decreased 0.50% today to CNY 6,125/ton but remained 10.35% higher month-on-month, suggesting that the recent correction is occurring after a strong upward movement. The decline was mainly related to weaker downstream solvent demand and profit-taking after previous price increases. Similar pressure was observed in Isopropyl alcohol, which fell 0.30% on the day and 1.34% over the week as buyers adopted a more cautious purchasing strategy.

Energy-linked chemicals remained mixed. Ethylene glycol was broadly stable at CNY 5,117/ton, maintaining a monthly increase of 10.65% despite limited daily movement. The market continues to balance improving polyester demand against relatively sufficient supply, with global oversupply concerns and competitive export flows still influencing sentiment. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} Propylene rose marginally by 0.12%, while PET dropped 3.74% as downstream polyester demand remained uneven.

Industrial salts and inorganic chemicals experienced significant volatility. Ammonium chloride surged 10.00% day-on-day to CNY 880/ton, likely supported by short-term supply tightening and active replenishment demand. In contrast, Ferrous sulfate plunged 22.22%, reversing part of its recent gains as supply availability improved and buyers became more price-sensitive. Hydrogen peroxide increased slightly by 1.19% but remained down nearly 5% weekly, indicating continued pressure from weak downstream consumption.

Sulfur was one of the strongest performers today, rising 2.18% to CNY 9,369/ton, supported by firmer industrial demand and tighter supply expectations. The movement also reflects broader attention on sulfur-related supply chains, as sulfur remains a key raw material for sulfuric acid and fertilizer production. Meanwhile, Sulfuric acid prices declined 3.34% today, showing regional differences between upstream raw material strength and downstream purchasing conditions.

Fine chemicals showed a generally stable-to-firm trend today, supported by supply-side adjustments and selective downstream restocking. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) recorded the strongest daily increase, while PTMEG continued its upward movement amid improving demand expectations from specialty polymer applications. Meanwhile, Oleic acid and Potassium permanganate experienced minor corrections after recent gains, reflecting short-term profit-taking and balanced market supply. Overall, the fine chemicals sector remained supported by relatively resilient industrial demand, although individual products continued to show differentiated price movements based on inventory levels and downstream consumption conditions.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) posted a significant rebound, rising 11.63% day-on-day to CNY 12,000/ton. Despite remaining down 5.45% on a weekly basis and 2.67% lower monthly, the sharp daily increase indicates renewed buying activity after previous price weakness. The recovery was likely driven by tighter spot availability, improved procurement from pharmaceutical and electronic chemical industries, and inventory replenishment after prices moved to relatively attractive levels. DMSO continues to benefit from its applications as a high-performance solvent in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials, with supply stability remaining a key market factor.

PTMEG (Polytetramethylene ether glycol) strengthened further, increasing 3.51% to CNY 19,667/ton, with weekly gains reaching 8.19%. The continued upward movement was mainly supported by firmer demand from polyurethane elastomers, spandex, and specialty fiber producers. Market participants have noted that improving downstream operating rates and relatively limited inventory pressure have provided additional support to PTMEG prices. The product remains one of the better-performing fine chemical materials during the current period.

Oleic acid declined slightly by 1.37% to CNY 9,000/ton after maintaining a strong monthly increase of 7.66%. The correction appears to be related to short-term supply-demand balancing following recent price increases. Oleic acid markets remain influenced by fluctuations in vegetable oil feedstocks, including palm oil and soybean oil, as well as downstream demand from surfactants, lubricants, and personal care industries. Current pricing suggests that buyers are adopting a more cautious approach after recent gains.

Potassium permanganate edged down 0.80% to CNY 15,500/ton, while still maintaining a slight monthly increase of 0.54%. The market remained relatively stable as supply and demand stayed balanced. Demand from water treatment, chemical oxidation processes, and pharmaceutical intermediates provided fundamental support, while limited downstream expansion prevented stronger upward momentum. The recent decline is considered a normal adjustment rather than a major trend reversal.

Sodium metabisulfite remained largely unchanged, rising only 0.10% to CNY 3,987/ton. Weekly and monthly movements were also limited, indicating a relatively balanced market environment. The product continues to face stable but moderate demand from water treatment, food processing, mining, and chemical industries. Current market conditions suggest sufficient supply availability and limited short-term price volatility.

Energy and plastics markets showed a moderately weaker performance today, with crude oil prices declining amid short-term demand concerns and market participants closely monitoring global supply developments. WTI Crude Oil fell 1.32% to USD 75/barrel, while refined energy products including Gasoline and Kerosene also moved lower. In the plastics sector, ABS prices decreased slightly as downstream purchasing remained cautious. Despite today's corrections, most products maintained positive monthly gains, indicating that the market is still supported by relatively firm energy costs and gradual demand recovery expectations.

WTI Crude Oil declined 1.32% day-on-day to USD 75/barrel, extending its weekly decline to 1.19%, although prices remained 5.13% higher on a monthly basis. The correction was mainly driven by short-term profit-taking after recent gains, together with renewed concerns over global demand growth and inventory fluctuations. Market participants continue to focus on production policies from major oil-producing countries, geopolitical risks, and the balance between supply growth and consumption recovery. The recent pullback appears to represent a market adjustment rather than a fundamental change in the medium-term outlook.

Refined petroleum products showed mixed but generally softer movements. Gasoline edged down 0.19% to CNY 8,509/ton, while maintaining a weekly increase of 0.99% and monthly growth of 6.39%. The market continued to receive support from seasonal transportation demand and relatively firm crude oil prices compared with earlier periods. However, weaker downstream margins and cautious inventory management limited further upside momentum.

Kerosene experienced a larger decline, falling 2.38% to CNY 8,200/ton. The weakness was mainly associated with softer aviation fuel demand expectations and reduced buying activity following previous price increases. Although the product remained slightly positive on both weekly and monthly performance, the latest decline reflects pressure from balancing inventories and uncertainty surrounding global air travel fuel consumption.

In the plastics sector, ABS prices decreased 0.87% to CNY 9,417/ton, with weekly performance slightly negative at -0.32%. The decline reflected cautious downstream procurement, particularly from appliance, electronics, and consumer goods manufacturers where demand recovery remains uneven. However, ABS prices were still 1.26% higher on a monthly basis, supported by relatively stable raw material costs and gradual improvement in supply-demand conditions. Market participants are watching styrene and butadiene feedstock trends closely, as changes in upstream costs will continue to influence ABS pricing.