Chemical Prices Today (June 3, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

Basic chemicals showed a mixed performance on June 3, with Ammonium chloride, Borax, Dichloromethane, Phenol, and Methanol posting notable gains, supported by supply-side adjustments, restocking activity, and firmer procurement from downstream industrial users. Meanwhile, Acetone, Ethyl acetate, Propylene glycol, Isopropyl alcohol, and Hexane continued to weaken as demand from solvents, coatings, and chemical intermediates remained cautious. Among the major movers, Magnesium sulfate surged sharply on daily trading activity, while Hexane recorded the steepest decline, reflecting ongoing pressure across the petrochemical solvent chain. In the battery materials segment, Lithium carbonate fell 2.3% day-on-day to CNY 170,000/ton amid continued inventory liquidation and cautious sentiment in the EV supply chain, despite expectations for stronger battery production schedules in June and July. Recent market reports indicate that hidden lithium inventory selloffs and tighter trader liquidity have weighed on spot prices, while downstream demand remains relatively resilient. At the same time, broader petrochemical markets received limited support from improving feedstock availability, as increased naphtha exports from the Middle East contributed to softer Asian petrochemical pricing and restrained cost-push momentum across aromatics including Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene. Overall, the sector remains characterized by selective restocking, uneven end-market demand, and continued pressure on oversupplied chemical value chains.

Fine chemicals experienced significant volatility on June 3, with several products recording sharp price swings driven by supply disruptions, inventory adjustments, and uneven downstream purchasing activity. On the upside, Lactic acid, Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Sorbitol, and Sodium thiosulfate posted strong gains, supported by tightening spot availability, temporary supply constraints, and replenishment demand from food additives, pharmaceutical intermediates, and specialty materials sectors. Lactic acid emerged as the strongest performer, surging more than 54% day-on-day and nearly 50% month-on-month, reflecting continued tightness in domestic supply and stronger procurement from biodegradable plastics and food ingredient manufacturers. PEG and DMSO also rebounded sharply following previous weeks of declines, suggesting short-term restocking activity and correction from oversold levels. Meanwhile, downside pressure remained concentrated in industrial intermediates, with Tetrahydrofuran (PTMEG), Trichloroethylene, Water Softener Salt, and Stearic Acid posting notable losses. PTMEG fell nearly 17% on the day as downstream spandex producers maintained cautious purchasing strategies amid weak textile demand and elevated inventory levels. Similarly, Trichloroethylene declined almost 14%, reflecting sluggish consumption from metal cleaning and industrial solvent applications. Recent industry reports indicate that China's textile and apparel export growth remains uneven despite seasonal order recovery, limiting demand momentum for upstream specialty chemical chains. At the same time, broader chemical markets continue to face pressure from conservative purchasing behavior and ample inventories, although selective supply shortages in bio-based chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates are creating localized price spikes. Overall, the fine chemicals sector remains highly fragmented, with supply-side disruptions driving gains in niche products while demand-sensitive industrial chemicals continue to face downward pressure.

Energy, plastics, rubber, and related chemical markets delivered mixed performance on June 3, with strength concentrated in selected engineering plastics and energy feedstocks, while commodity polymers remained under pressure. WTI Crude Oil advanced 2.17% to USD 94/barrel, supported by renewed geopolitical risk concerns and expectations of tighter near-term crude balances, providing modest cost support across downstream petrochemical chains. In the plastics sector, POM recorded the strongest gain, surging 10% day-on-day as spot supply tightened and distributors replenished inventories following several weeks of price weakness. HDPE also edged higher, reflecting relatively stable demand from packaging and industrial applications. In contrast, ABS and PVC continued to weaken amid cautious purchasing activity from construction, consumer goods, and manufacturing sectors. ABS prices remain more than 11% lower than a month ago, highlighting persistent oversupply and weak downstream order intake. Within the rubber value chain, Carbon Black rose nearly 4%, supported by firmer feedstock costs and restocking demand from tire manufacturers, partially offsetting losses recorded earlier in the month. Meanwhile, Asphalt softened slightly despite stronger crude prices, as road construction demand remained stable but lacked significant seasonal acceleration. Recent industry developments indicate that global energy markets have been closely monitoring supply disruptions and OPEC+ production discipline, while China's manufacturing sector continues to show uneven recovery, leading downstream buyers to maintain conservative inventory strategies. Overall, the sector remains influenced by a combination of energy-cost fluctuations, selective supply tightness in engineering plastics, and still-fragile demand fundamentals across commodity polymer markets.