Chloroform

Chloroform Market Dynamics Report (Recent Commodity Market Intelligence)

I. Price Trends
- Recent Price Fluctuations: As of April 28, 2026, the price of premium-grade chloroform (purity ≥99.90%) stood at RMB 2,800 per metric ton, representing a 3.45% decline from RMB 2,900/ton on April 1. At the beginning of April, the mainstream transaction price reached RMB 3,100/ton; prices gradually declined to RMB 2,900/ton by mid-month and stabilized at RMB 2,800/ton by month-end, with the high-end negotiation range remaining at RMB 2,800–2,900/ton.
- Historical Comparison: In 2025, chloroform prices exhibited a volatile downward trend, hitting an annual low of RMB 1,533/ton in June–July and rebounding modestly to approximately RMB 1,966/ton by year-end. For 2026, the expected price center is projected to range between RMB 1,800–2,300/ton; current pricing remains relatively high within this band.

II. Supply-Demand Dynamics
- Supply Side:
- Chloromethane plant operating rates declined slightly to 79% in April, as some producers conducted routine maintenance; however, overall supply remained largely unaffected.
- Total 2026 production is forecast at 1.05–1.10 million tons, with an average operating rate of 70–75%; new capacity additions are proceeding at a slower pace.
- Demand Side:
- Core downstream demand for refrigerant R22 has declined by 3–5% year-on-year due to quota reductions; procurement remains limited to small, just-in-time orders.
- Demand from pharmaceuticals and electronics sectors remains stable but relatively small in scale, insufficient to drive broad-based market demand growth.

III. Cost Support
- Raw Material Prices:
- Methanol prices remained elevated: the spot price on April 23 was RMB 3,256.67/ton, up 4.38% from the beginning of April; the 2026 annual price center is projected at RMB 2,100–2,300/ton.
- Liquid chlorine prices strengthened due to chlor-alkali plant maintenance, holding steady at RMB 400–450/ton; the 2026 annual price center is forecast at RMB 50–250/ton.
- Cost Pass-through: Rising raw material costs provide strong support for chloroform pricing; however, weak demand constrains upward price momentum.

IV. Policy & Industry Environment
- Environmental Regulations: Chloroform (CFC-11), with an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 1.0, has been fully phased out under the Montreal Protocol. As a Group 5 country, China completed the elimination of all controlled uses of CFC-11 by the end of 2023. Current policy priorities focus on monitoring illegal production, managing existing inventories, and supporting the development of alternatives.
- Industry Trend: The chloroform market has transitioned from an industrial chemical commodity to a strategically vital, environment-governance-supporting material. Although its market scale is small, it remains irreplaceable in ozone layer protection compliance, ODS (ozone-depleting substances) illegal-production enforcement, and related regulatory activities.

V. Import-Export Situation
- Imports: In November 2025, import volume totaled 1,800.074 metric tons; December 2025 data remain undisclosed. Import dependency remains high at 86.2%, while domestic substitution is currently limited to non-standard reagent grades (purity <99.5%).
- Exports: Export volume in December 2025 amounted to 84 metric tons. Full-year 2025 exports showed a declining trend, with India accounting for 77.9% of total exports, followed by South Korea and Argentina.

Analysis & Outlook

I. Short Term (1–2 months)
- Price Trend: With the onset of the refrigerant peak season in May, downstream restocking may gradually commence. Should methanol and liquid chlorine prices remain elevated and no significant supply increase emerge, chloroform prices are expected to rebound modestly to the RMB 2,900–3,000/ton range.
- Supply-Demand Balance: Maintenance schedules may temporarily tighten supply, yet continued quota restrictions in the refrigerant sector will cap upside potential.

II. Medium Term (3–6 months)
- Price Range: In the second half of 2026, prices are projected to oscillate within the RMB 1,800–2,300/ton range. Clear cost-floor support exists, but persistent demand weakness will limit upward movement.
- Industry Risks: Accelerated adoption of refrigerant alternatives (e.g., HFO-1234yf) could further erode chloroform demand, exerting additional downward pressure on prices.

III. Long Term (1+ years)
- Market Positioning: The chloroform market will gradually contract. Growth drivers will shift toward policy-driven compliance services (e.g., ODS detection, recovery technologies) and scientific research support tools (e.g., high-precision isotopically labeled reagents).
- Investment Opportunities:
- Compliance Services Segment: Demand for ODS compliance management SaaS platforms and import/export regulatory consulting services is expected to grow steadily.
- Technology R&D Segment: Areas including high-precision isotopic labeling of CFC-11 and industrial-scale commercialization of non-hazardous recycling technologies for retired refrigeration equipment hold strong investment potential.
- Environmental Infrastructure Segment: ODS legacy-waste remediation services (e.g., catalytic cracking technologies) are poised for expansion, aligned with China’s dual-carbon goals.