Chemical Prices Today (July 28, 2026): Daily Market Trends & Price Changes

China's Basic Chemicals market remained predominantly weaker on July 28, with broad declines across major petrochemical feedstocks including Acetone, Benzene, Propylene, Toluene, Xylene, and Isopropyl alcohol, reflecting persistent downstream purchasing caution and limited spot trading activity. Acetone fell 3.76% day on day as oversupply from recovering phenol-ketone operating rates and sluggish demand from BPA and MMA sectors continued to weigh on prices, while Benzene declined 2.71% amid weaker crude-linked aromatics sentiment and softer downstream styrene demand. Propylene also retreated 3.31%, tracking declining petrochemical futures and expectations of ample domestic supply. In contrast, Ethylene Oxide (+4.29%), Magnesium sulfate (+4.00%), and Dichloromethane (+1.88%) recorded gains, supported by localized supply tightness and stable industrial procurement. Despite the broad daily weakness, several products including Magnesium sulfate (+43.16% MoM), Heptane (+10.14% MoM), and Dichloromethane (+8.25% MoM) continued to maintain solid monthly performance, indicating that selected specialty and inorganic chemical segments remain relatively resilient despite the softer macro market backdrop. Recent industry news also indicates that declining petrochemical futures, recovering upstream operating rates, and continued oversupply across aromatics and solvent chains have kept market sentiment cautious, with buyers largely maintaining just-in-time procurement strategies while waiting for clearer demand recovery signals.

China's Fine Chemicals market turned increasingly volatile on July 28, with sharp price movements driven primarily by supply-side adjustments rather than broad demand recovery. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) recorded the strongest gain, soaring 36.36% day on day and nearly 54% month on month, reflecting tight spot availability, replenishment buying, and firmer procurement from pharmaceutical, personal care, and specialty materials sectors. Creatine monohydrate (+11.72%), Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (+11.63%), and Petroleum Jelly (+10.75%) also advanced significantly as buyers replenished inventories amid constrained supply and improving demand from health supplements, pharmaceutical intermediates, and cosmetics applications. On the downside, Sorbitol (-18.03%), PTMEG (-11.96%), Oleic acid (-9.59%), and Sodium acetate (-9.35%) posted notable declines, reflecting cautious downstream purchasing, competitive market supply, and continued weakness across textile and industrial consumption. Industry news indicates that the PTMEG value chain remains under pressure despite stable BDO feedstock prices, as downstream spandex producers continue to purchase only on demand while inventories remain comfortable, limiting upward price momentum. Meanwhile, specialty chemical segments linked to pharmaceutical and personal care applications continue to outperform commodity fine chemicals, highlighting an increasingly fragmented market where localized supply tightness and application-specific demand are driving price performance rather than a broad-based recovery across the sector.

China's Energy and Plastics markets softened overall on July 28 as weaker international crude oil prices weighed on upstream sentiment, while downstream demand remained cautious. WTI Crude Oil dropped 6.74% day on day, reflecting concerns over easing geopolitical risk premiums, expectations of ample global crude supply, and renewed uncertainty surrounding fuel demand growth. The sharp decline in crude prices pressured domestic energy products, with Asphalt (-0.53%) and Gasoline (-0.31%) edging lower as refiners faced weaker feedstock sentiment and downstream buyers largely maintained just-in-time purchasing. In contrast, Kerosene rose 2.44%, supported by seasonal aviation fuel demand and relatively tighter regional supply. The Plastics sector also remained under pressure, with ABS and HDPE both declining 1.88% as lower feedstock costs, sufficient market inventories, and subdued purchasing from the home appliance, construction, and packaging industries limited price support. Despite the daily correction, HDPE (+3.53% MoM) and ABS (+2.61% MoM) continued to post moderate monthly gains, suggesting that earlier supply-side support has not been fully reversed. Recent industry news indicates that global crude markets remain focused on increasing production expectations and softer macroeconomic sentiment, while China's polymer market continues to face pressure from adequate domestic supply and cautious downstream procurement, leaving prices highly sensitive to further movements in international energy markets.