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

China's Basic Chemicals market showed mixed performance on August 3, with upstream energy and aromatics remaining volatile while downstream purchasing stayed relatively cautious. Acetone, Ethylene glycol, and Propylene glycol recorded notable daily gains, supported by tighter spot availability, improved polyester chain demand, and lower port inventories for ethylene glycol. Recent market reports also indicate delayed vessel arrivals and declining East China port inventories, providing additional support for glycol prices. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Meanwhile, Benzene, Acetic acid, Hydrochloric acid, Hydrogen peroxide, and Formic acid moved lower as downstream buyers maintained a wait-and-see attitude amid ample supply and weaker procurement interest. In the battery materials segment, Lithium carbonate continued to decline on both a daily and monthly basis due to persistent oversupply and soft cathode demand, despite several Chinese producers announcing maintenance plans for August and September that may partially tighten future supply. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} Overall, although several products posted short-term rebounds, most monthly performance remained mixed, suggesting the chemical market is still driven by selective restocking rather than a broad-based recovery.

The Fine Chemicals market remained relatively stable overall on August 3, although individual products recorded divergent movements. Oleic acid experienced a sharp daily decline of 9.59%, largely driven by active supplier destocking, sufficient spot availability, and cautious replenishment from downstream sectors including surfactants, lubricants, and personal care products. Despite the significant one-day correction, the product still maintained a 2.5% monthly gain, indicating that prices remain above levels seen earlier in the month. Recent industry reports suggest that global oleochemical markets continue to be influenced by fluctuations in palm oil-based feedstock costs and demand-side purchasing strategies, with buyers generally adopting a need-based procurement approach amid adequate supply. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} Meanwhile, Sodium metabisulfite remained essentially unchanged, posting only a marginal 0.08% daily increase as balanced supply-demand fundamentals limited price volatility. Demand from food processing, water treatment, and pulp & paper industries remained steady, while easing logistics pressures and improving product availability continued to keep the market well supplied. Market participants generally expect prices to remain range-bound in the near term unless raw material costs or downstream consumption improve materially. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

The Energy, Plastics, Rubber and Other Chemicals markets presented a mixed trend on August 3, with energy prices remaining relatively firm while downstream materials showed selective adjustments. WTI Crude Oil rose 1.19% on the day and remained nearly 8% higher than a month earlier, supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions, expectations of tighter global crude supply, and resilient seasonal fuel consumption. The stronger crude market also continued to underpin Gasoline, which extended its monthly gain to 6.46% amid peak summer transportation demand. In contrast, Asphalt edged lower despite elevated crude prices, as infrastructure procurement remained cautious and road construction activity slowed in several regions due to seasonal weather conditions, limiting downstream demand. In the plastics sector, ABS posted a modest 0.52% increase, benefiting from relatively stable feedstock styrene prices and steady purchasing from the home appliance and automotive industries. Within the rubber value chain, Carbon Black rose 0.97% as higher energy costs supported production expenses, although its monthly performance remained negative, reflecting soft tire manufacturing demand. Meanwhile, Activated Carbon remained largely stable with a slight decline, as balanced supply and demand from water treatment and environmental protection sectors kept price fluctuations limited. Overall, the market continued to reflect strong upstream energy support but cautious downstream consumption, resulting in divergent pricing trends across energy-related chemical products.