2-tert-Butylphenol

# Market Intelligence on o-tert-Butylphenol: Recent Commercial Dynamics (Mid-October to November 12, 2026)

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## I. Price Overview

| Date | Quoting Enterprise | Price (Tax Included) | Purity | Packaging | Delivery Location |
|------|--------------------|----------------------|--------|-----------|-------------------|
| 2026-11-10 | Jiangsu Xinsu New Materials Co., Ltd. | **CNY 20,000/ton** | 99% | 190 kg/drum | Suzhou, Jiangsu |
| 2026-10-30 | Hubei Chengfeng Chemical Co., Ltd. | **CNY 10,000/ton** (CNY 10/kg) | 99% | National Standard | Wuhan, Hubei |

**Price Trend Characteristics:** Jiangsu Xinsu maintained a locked price of CNY 20,000/ton for seven consecutive days from November 4 to November 10, exhibiting strong rigidity and support. In contrast, Hubei Chengfeng’s quote is only half of that, reflecting significant divergence in regional markets, brand premium, and channel hierarchy.

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## II. Market Supply and Demand Fundamentals

1. **Production Capacity and Scale:** The Chinese market for o-tert-Butylphenol is approximately 20,000–30,000 tons per year. Within the tert-butylphenol family, it is of medium scale—significantly smaller than 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (approx. 130,000 tons/year) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (approx. 90,000 tons/year), but higher than the by-product share of p-tert-butylphenol (70,000–80,000 tons/year).
2. **Downstream Drivers:** Core applications cover four sectors: pesticides, chemical industry, perfumes and fragrances, and resins. Antioxidants and hindered phenol products serve as anchors for rigid demand.
3. **Industry Landscape:** Major domestic producers include TASCO Group, Kewei Chemical, SI Group, and Jiyi Holdings Group. Market concentration is moderate, with a clear competitive hierarchy.

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## III. Price Comparison and Trend Analysis

| Period | Price Range (CNY/ton) | Remarks |
|--------|-----------------------|---------|
| 2023 Annual Average | 13,000–14,000 | Industry baseline |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | 10,000–20,000 | Significant price divergence |

**Key Judgments:**

- **Upward shift in price center is inevitable.** The current mainstream quote of CNY 20,000/ton represents a surge of approximately 43%–54% compared to the 2023 average. Even the low-end quote of CNY 10,000/ton is roughly on par with historical averages, indicating that the overall industry cost increase and tight supply-demand structure are irreversible.
- **Price rigidity implies tightening supply.** Jiangsu Xinsu’s decision not to adjust prices for seven consecutive days typically indicates high upstream raw material costs (phenol, isobutylene) and tight supply, with producers adopting a stable pricing strategy to lock in profits.
- **Regional price gaps expose market stratification.** Hubei’s quote being half of Jiangsu’s likely reflects small-batch, low-brand-premium channel prices, whereas Jiangsu’s quote is closer to the mainstream industrial-grade bulk transaction price.

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## IV. Analysis of Influencing Factors

| Factor | Direction of Impact | Intensity |
|--------|---------------------|-----------|
| Upstream phenol price increase | Cost push | ★★★★★ |
| Fluctuations in alkylation raw materials (e.g., isobutylene) | Cost transmission | ★★★★ |
| Steady growth in downstream antioxidant/pesticide demand | Demand support | ★★★ |
| Industry average profit margin of 4%–5% | Limits room for price cuts | ★★★ |
| Pace of new capacity release | Long-term suppression | ★★ |

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## V. Future Market Forecast

1. **Short-term (1–3 months):** Prices are likely to remain in a high-level oscillation range of CNY 18,000–22,000/ton. Absent sudden negative factors, Jiangsu Xinsu’s CNY 20,000/ton quote will serve as a phase anchor. The price gap with Hubei’s low-priced supply may gradually narrow as logistics and inventory are digested.
2. **Medium-term (3–6 months):** If new upstream phenol capacity is released as scheduled and raw material costs decline, prices may correct by 5%–10%. However, given the industry’s thin profit margins (4%–5%), the potential for a sharp drop is limited.
3. **Long-term (6–12 months):** With the upgrade of domestic fine chemical industries and the continued expansion of demand for hindered phenol antioxidants, o-tert-Butylphenol, as a key intermediate, will maintain steady demand growth. The price center is expected to remain stable with a slight upward trend.

**Core Conclusion:** The current o-tert-Butylphenol market is in a phase of \"cost-driven high-level consolidation.\" There is no risk of a sharp drop in the short term, while the medium-to-long term features a moderate upward logic. It is recommended that buyers lock in volumes at lower prices and producers control volumes to maintain prices.