China and the United States are the leading exporters of dimethyl sulfoxide (CAS 67-68-5), accounting for a substantial share of global shipments, while India, Germany, and South Korea rank among the top importers. Dimethyl sulfoxide prices have remained relatively stable amid steady cross-border flows, reflecting consistent industrial demand in pharmaceuticals and chemical synthesis. Exports from China have expanded moderately over the past three years, while Indian imports have grown at a faster pace than the global average, signaling increasing domestic downstream utilization.
Recent Market Dynamics
1. Price Trends
- Domestic Market: The price of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has recently shown a slight upward fluctuation. The mainstream transaction price in East China is between RMB 12,000 and 12,500 per ton, representing an increase of approximately RMB 300 to 500 compared to the beginning of the month. In South China, prices range from RMB 12,200 to 12,700 per ton, also reflecting an increase of about RMB 300.
- International Market: International prices have also risen, with the FOB price at Chinese ports reaching USD 1,600–1,700 per ton, an increase of approximately USD 50 from previous levels.
2. Supply Situation
- Domestic Production: The overall operating rate of domestic producers remains stable. However, production in some enterprises has slightly decreased due to equipment maintenance or environmental protection requirements. For instance, a large enterprise in Shandong shut down for one week due to environmental inspections, reducing market supply by approximately 500 tons.
- Imports: Recent import volumes have increased. However, due to rising international logistics costs, the CIF price of imported DMSO remains high, providing significant support to domestic market prices.
3. Demand Situation
- Pharmaceutical Industry: Demand is growing steadily. As a crucial pharmaceutical intermediate, DMSO is widely used in the production of antibiotics and vitamins. The peak season for winter influenza has increased demand for related drugs, thereby boosting DMSO demand.
- Electronic Chemicals: Demand is robust. DMSO is used as a solvent and cleaning agent in semiconductor manufacturing and LCD panel production. With the arrival of the peak consumption season for electronic products, demand in this sector continues to rise.
- Pesticide Industry: Demand remains stable. Although DMSO is used in pesticide synthesis, the overall pesticide market has seen little change recently, resulting in no significant fluctuation in DMSO demand.
4. Inventory Situation
- Domestic Producers: Inventory levels are low, with some enterprises holding stock sufficient for only 10–15 days of production and sales. Traders also maintain limited inventories, resulting in minimal overall market inventory pressure.
Analysis and Judgment
1. Reasons for Price Fluctuations
- Supply Side: The decrease in domestic production and the rise in import costs have reduced market supply, serving as a primary driver for the price increase.
- Demand Side: Growing demand from the pharmaceutical and electronic chemicals sectors has provided strong support for the price rise.
2. Market Supply-Demand Relationship
- The market is currently in a state of supply falling short of demand. The combination of reduced supply and increased demand has driven the upward trend in DMSO prices.
Forecast
1. Short-Term Forecast (1–2 Months)
- Prices are expected to continue rising. The price in East China is projected to reach RMB 12,800–13,200 per ton, while prices in South China are expected to rise to RMB 13,000–13,500 per ton. The international FOB price at Chinese ports is likely to exceed USD 1,750 per ton.
- On the supply side, as some enterprises complete their maintenance schedules, production will gradually recover. However, import costs are unlikely to drop in the short term, keeping overall supply tight. On the demand side, sustained robust demand from the pharmaceutical and electronic chemicals sectors will drive prices upward.
2. Medium-Term Forecast (3–6 Months)
- The pace of price increases may gradually slow, leading to high-level consolidation. As new production capacities come online and import volumes further increase, market supply will improve. However, demand will continue to grow, causing prices to fluctuate within a certain range. Prices in East China are expected to range between RMB 12,500 and 13,500 per ton, while South China prices are projected to range from RMB 12,700 to 13,700 per ton. The international FOB price at Chinese ports is forecast to range between USD 1,700 and 1,800 per ton.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a clear, colorless, hygroscopic liquid with a faint, garlic-like odor and high boiling point (189 °C); it is miscible with water and most organic solvents. It is classified as a polar aprotic organosulfur compound. DMSO serves primarily as a high-performance solvent in chemical synthesis, pharmaceutical formulation, and polymer processing, and functions as a reaction medium and cryoprotectant in biotechnology applications. Its principal industrial uses include solvent roles in agrochemical synthesis, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, electronic material processing, and specialty coatings. It is also employed in the production of polyacrylonitrile fibers and as a processing aid in membrane fabrication.
1. It can be used for the extraction of arene, also as the reaction medium used for resins and dyes, and applied to acrylic polymerization and spinning solvent. 2. It can be used as an organic solvent, reaction medium and the intermediates of organic synthesis. It is highly versatile. This product has a highly selective extraction capacity, and can be used as the polymerization and condensation solvent of acrylic resin and polysulfone resin, as the polymerization and spinning solvent of polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate, as the extraction solvent for separating alkanes and arenes, and as the reaction medium for the arenes, butadiene extraction, acrylic fiber, plastic solvents, organic and synthetic dyes, and pharmaceuticals industries. In the field of medicine, dimethyl sulfoxide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect with a strong capability of penetration through the skin, and thus being able to dissolve certain drugs and boost their penetration into the human body to achieve the therapeutic purposes. Taking this carrier property of dimethyl sulfoxide can make it be used as pesticide additives. Add a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide in some pesticides can facilitate the penetration of pesticides into the plant in order to improve the efficacy. dimethyl sulfoxide can also be used as the dye solvent, dye removing agent, and dye carrier for the synthetic fibers. It can also be used as the absorbent of recycling acetylene and sulfur dioxide and also the modifiers of synthetic fiber, antifreeze agent and the capacitor dielectric, brake oil, and extractant of the rare metals. 3. It can be used as analytic solvents and fixing agent of gas chromatography as well as the solvent for analyzing UV spectra.
It is colorless liquid, and is hygroscopic. It is almost odorless with a bitter taste. It can be dissolved in water, ethanol, acetone, ether, benzene and chloroform.
This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals - Fine Solvents. See more about what is Dimethyl sulfoxide and Dimethyl sulfoxide SDS information.
Find Dimethyl sulfoxide supply and Dimethyl sulfoxide suppliers on Guidechem to meet your sourcing needs from 605 trusted and certifedsuppliers.
Guidechem assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, fitness for purpose or timeliness.