Chloroform

Trichloromethane (Chloroform) Recent Commodity Market Intelligence Report

Price Trend
- Recent Price Movement: In June 2026, the domestic trichloromethane market in China exhibited stability in the early month followed by a decline later. As of June 30, the mainstream price in the Shandong region stood at approximately RMB 2,300 per metric ton, representing a 17.86% decrease from RMB 2,800 per metric ton at the beginning of the month.

Cost-Driven Changes
- Methanol Price: In early June, methanol prices rose, while liquid chlorine prices remained stable—providing strong cost support and enabling trichloromethane prices to hold steady near their yearly highs. Mid-month, however, both futures and spot methanol prices weakened significantly; by June 30, the spot methanol price had declined to RMB 2,777 per metric ton, down 12.10% from RMB 3,160 per metric ton at the start of the month. This theoretical reduction in production costs exerted downward pressure on trichloromethane pricing.
- Liquid Chlorine Price: Liquid chlorine prices remained relatively stable throughout June, trading within a range of RMB 50–250 per metric ton, thus exerting only limited influence on trichloromethane production costs.

Supply Situation
- Plant Operating Rates: In June, operating rates for methane chlorination plants remained stable at 75–80%, with few major enterprises scheduling maintenance shutdowns—resulting in ample capacity utilization and sufficient supply.
- Inventory Levels: Industry-wide inventory levels remained low during the first half of the month, with limited spot availability and no concentrated selling pressure from producers—partially offsetting the market’s perception of oversupply driven by high operating rates.

Demand Situation
- Downstream Refrigerant R22: Strict quota management has led R22 producers to control output and maintain pricing discipline, ensuring stable, demand-driven procurement of trichloromethane—providing fundamental floor support. However, R22 quotas continue to shrink annually: demand has declined by 3–5%, and its share of total trichloromethane consumption dropped from 45% in 2025 to 40–42% in 2026. Consequently, growth potential for R22-related demand remains severely constrained and continues to act as a key limiting factor for the trichloromethane market.
- Other Downstream Sectors: Pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates maintained routine procurement volumes, underpinning baseline demand. Nevertheless, with the onset of traditional off-season conditions, downstream manufacturers refrained from bulk restocking, and new purchasing momentum weakened—reducing supportive effects on trichloromethane demand.

Import/Export Situation
- Exports: Steady procurement from Southeast Asia and India has diverted part of domestic supply, alleviating domestic oversupply pressures and serving as an important buffering support.

Analysis & Outlook
- Short-Term Outlook: In the near term, the significant downward shift in the trichloromethane cost center exerts bearish pressure. Although export demand helps absorb some domestic output, lack of incremental downstream purchasing continues to weigh on sentiment. The overall supply-demand balance remains relatively loose, suggesting continued downward pressure on prices.
- Medium-to-Long-Term Outlook: Looking ahead, structural overcapacity in the industry persists. Annual contraction in R22 quotas continues to suppress demand growth. Only modest incremental demand is expected from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fluoropolymers and fine chemical intermediates—insufficient to trigger a sustained upward price trend throughout 2026.

Forecast
- Price Range: Overall, the trichloromethane price floor will remain anchored by production costs. Assuming a methanol price midpoint of RMB 2,100–2,300 per metric ton and liquid chlorine priced between RMB 50–250 per metric ton in 2026, cost-based support for trichloromethane will persist. Taking into account factors such as plant maintenance and supply-demand dynamics, trichloromethane prices in 2026 are projected to fluctuate within a range of RMB 1,800–2,300 per metric ton.
- Market Trend: Future demand growth for trichloromethane will increasingly depend on emerging applications in fluorinated high-performance polymers (e.g., PTFE), fourth-generation refrigerants (e.g., HFOs), and fine chemical intermediates for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Should demand from these sectors increase markedly, they may offer meaningful support to the trichloromethane market. However, given the persistent backdrop of overcapacity, substantial price appreciation remains unlikely.