Chemical Prices Today (July 23, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

China's Basic Chemicals market traded mixed on July 23, with sentiment supported by selective restocking while downstream demand remained differentiated. Acetonitrile recorded the strongest daily gain, surging 8.75% as tight spot availability and active procurement from pharmaceutical and fine chemical sectors lifted prices. Hydrochloric acid, Propylene glycol, Hexane, and Dichloromethane also advanced on improved buying interest and firmer feedstock costs. Meanwhile, Acetone, Isopropyl alcohol, Sodium hydroxide, and Silicon declined amid sufficient supply and cautious downstream purchasing, while Acetic acid and Ethyl acetate remained broadly stable with limited trading momentum. On a weekly basis, Toluene, Xylene, and Acetonitrile continued to outperform, whereas monthly performance remained under pressure for products including Methanol, Phosphoric Acid, and Acetone, reflecting persistent oversupply in parts of the bulk chemicals chain despite recent short-term rebounds. Recent industry developments indicate that sulfur and sulfur-related products continue to attract market attention due to tighter raw material flows and changing trade dynamics, while official market data also show mixed pricing trends across China's bulk chemical sector, highlighting an uneven recovery in downstream industrial demand.

China's Fine Chemicals market strengthened overall on July 23, driven by selective supply tightening and improving procurement across specialty chemical segments. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Creatine monohydrate posted the strongest daily gains, surging 11.63% and 10.19%, respectively, supported by tighter spot availability and sustained demand from pharmaceutical, nutrition, and health supplement industries. PTMEG, Lauric acid, and Dimethyl carbonate also advanced as downstream manufacturers replenished inventories and production costs remained firm. In contrast, Trichloroethylene fell 9.00% amid weak industrial solvent demand and ample market supply, while Oleic acid continued to soften due to sluggish consumption from downstream surfactant and chemical sectors. Sodium acetate remained largely stable, reflecting balanced supply-demand fundamentals. Market sentiment was further supported by continued activity across China's pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries, with recent CPHI China 2026 highlighting sustained investment in high-value pharmaceutical intermediates and fine chemicals, while PTMEG quotations have also shown firmer pricing in recent weeks, indicating resilient demand from the spandex and engineering materials supply chain despite broader market volatility.

China's Energy and Other Chemicals market moved broadly higher on July 23, supported by rising international energy prices and improved procurement sentiment across selected commodities. Anthracite led the gains, jumping 11.11% on tighter regional supply and stronger replenishment demand from industrial users. WTI Crude Oil climbed 3.57% to USD 87/barrel, providing cost support for the downstream energy chain, while Gasoline extended its weekly rally on the back of stronger refinery quotations and seasonal transportation fuel demand. In the industrial materials segment, Lead edged higher as steady battery-sector consumption and firmer non-ferrous metal sentiment supported prices. By contrast, Asphalt remained slightly weaker, reflecting sufficient spot supply and cautious procurement from infrastructure projects despite firmer crude oil costs. Market sentiment was also influenced by recent geopolitical developments, with renewed concerns over Middle East supply disruptions lifting global crude prices, although expectations of additional OPEC+ production increases continue to limit upside potential for the broader energy market.