Explosive Price Surge: Daily‑Changing Chemical Raw Materials Fuel New Round of Price Hikes

International oil prices have jumped sharply amid geopolitical tensions. On September 3, WTI crude oil settled at 91.83 USD per barrel, Brent crude hit 96.57 USD per barrel, and Dubai crude futures stood at 91.42 USD per barrel. Driven by soaring crude benchmarks, domestic energy‑chemical futures rallied across the board. Ethylene glycol main contract climbed 3.37 %, while styrene main contract rose 2.9 %. Strong futures sentiment lifted spot markets, triggering widespread price increases across China’s chemical spot sector.

Higher upstream feedstocks squeeze production margins, pushing manufacturers to lift ex‑factory offers. Traders hold bullish expectations and keep lifting spot quotations, yet end‑users remain cautious. Most downstream buyers only place rigid‑demand orders and resist aggressive chase‑up purchases. This cost‑pass‑through wave also ripples through concrete‑chemical additives, directly affecting market pricing for Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Powder, Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Liquid, High performance defoamer, Polycarboxylate Ether Monomer, Naphthalene Based Superplasticizer, and Lignosulfonate/Lignosulphonate. Raw material volatility forces additive producers to re‑evaluate offer levels amid tight profit margins.

Isopropanol market moved markedly higher. Jiangsu closing prices reached 7850‑7900 CNY/ton, with hikes ranging from 225 to 350 CNY per ton. Upstream cost pressure forced producers to raise prices, and trader bullish sentiment lifted market centres of gravity. Downstream end‑users avoided over‑buying and stuck to essential replenishment.

Toluene kept climbing, supported by crude oil and pure benzene gains plus solid regional supply‑demand fundamentals. Prices advanced 100‑390 CNY per ton, with mainstream deals at 7700‑8110 CNY/ton. Once prices moved to high levels, downstream purchasing cooled and negotiation activity softened.

Cyclohexanone saw widespread mark‑ups. Shandong quotes stood at 9500‑9600 CNY/ton (+200 CNY/ton); East China 9700‑9800 CNY/ton (+200 CNY/ton); South China 9650‑9800 CNY/ton (+175 CNY/ton). Rising pure benzene spot and refinery listed prices fuelled strong market bullish sentiment.

Xylene extended its upward trend. Soaring international crude oil and tight product supply boosted trading activity. Jiangsu isomeric xylene rose 310 CNY/ton to 8000‑8130 CNY/ton. Jiangsu solvent‑grade xylene added 325 CNY/ton to 7900‑8000 CNY/ton. South China isomeric xylene increased 290 CNY/ton to 7900‑8130 CNY/ton. Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei isomeric xylene gained 300 CNY/ton to 7950‑8050 CNY/ton. Shandong isomeric xylene climbed 265 CNY/ton to 7980‑8150 CNY/ton.

Industrial‑grade dimethyl carbonate manufacturers firmly defended prices. Feedstock costs kept moving up and available spot volume stayed limited. Shandong added 125 CNY/ton near 5015 CNY/ton; East China rose 200 CNY/ton to 5250 CNY/ton; South China advanced 200 CNY/ton to 5500 CNY/ton.

East‑China ethylene glycol butyl ether real transactions hit 10900‑11000 CNY/ton, up 100 CNY per day. Diethylene glycol butyl ether in East China faced tight supply with low‑cost lots vanishing; mainstream trades reached 12600‑12900 CNY/ton (+50 CNY/ton).

Pure benzene maintained its upward momentum. Major refineries lifted listed prices and spot goods followed higher with improved trading activity. East China pure benzene increased 185 CNY/ton to 8775 CNY/ton; Shandong rose 215 CNY/ton to 8505 CNY/ton. This pure‑benzene rally exerts indirect pressure on the whole additive value chain, including key building‑block chemical for Polycarboxylate Ether Monomer.

Propylene glycol advanced on stronger feedstock costs. Factory offers moved up while overall market supply remained stable. Fears of further price hikes stimulated downstream buying interest and improved negotiation atmosphere. Shandong industrial‑grade propylene glycol rose 250 CNY/ton to 9150 CNY/ton; East China added 225 CNY/ton to 8975 CNY/ton; South China gained 150 CNY/ton to 8900 CNY/ton.

Butyl acrylate trended firm. Mainstream producer offers stood at 9000‑9200 CNY/ton with partial 100‑CNY‑per‑ton increases. Regional supply gaps created divergent market performances. North China indicative deals at 8925 CNY/ton; East China mainstream at 9000 CNY/ton; South China reference at 9075 CNY/ton.

Sec‑butyl acetate kept moving higher. Rising acetic acid and liquefied petroleum gas strengthened cost support. Several operating units went offline and tightened market availability. East China, North China and Shandong lifted prices by 150 CNY/ton to 6800‑7000 CNY/ton. South China marked up 125 CNY/ton to 6900‑7100 CNY/ton.

Ethyl acetate rose on higher production costs as factories raised quotations generally. Jiangsu +80 CNY/ton at 5650‑5800 CNY/ton; Guangdong +150 CNY/ton at 6000‑6100 CNY/ton; Central China +100 CNY/ton near 5772 CNY/ton; Shandong +85 CNY/ton at 5660‑5700 CNY/ton; Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei +100 CNY/ton at 5850‑5900 CNY/ton.

Epoxy resin market advanced. East China E51 water‑clear self‑pick‑up closed at 14300‑14600 CNY/ton (+350 CNY/ton). Sharp increases for two core raw materials burdened manufacturers. Downstream customers avoided chasing highs and only completed rigid‑demand restocking. Buyers and sellers remained in a wait‑and‑see game for further market signals.

Ethylene oxide went up broadly by 200 CNY/ton, with Central China hitting a 250‑CNY‑per‑ton jump. Local supply remained tight. End‑users placed only necessary orders and spot prices adjusted dynamically.

Ortho‑xylene gained 250 CNY per ton. Major maintenance‑halted units restarted slowly, keeping spot goods scarce and underpinning market values.

Phenol continued its climb. East China closed at 8400‑8500 CNY/ton (+125‑200 CNY/ton). Rebounding benzene delivered solid cost backing. Factories lifted ex‑factory prices and traders held optimistic market views.

Phthalic anhydride moved 50‑100 CNY/ton higher. Rising ortho‑xylene and industrial naphthalene pushed factory adjustments. Downstream participants placed small‑volume rigid‑demand lots and overall trading stayed steady.

Epichlorohydrin rose 100‑150 CNY/ton. East‑China mainstream acceptance‑included delivery reached 11350‑11450 CNY/ton. Low‑priced material became scarce, producers kept firm quotes, and downstream plus traders proceeded with caution.

Butadiene maintained its upward track. Shandong delivery 14400‑14500 CNY/ton (+150 CNY/ton); Jiangsu‑Zhejiang delivery 14000‑14200 CNY/ton (+100 CNY/ton); Shandong coastal 14250 CNY/ton (+175 CNY/ton); Jiangsu‑Zhejiang‑Shanghai 13800‑14000 CNY/ton (+100 CNY/ton).

Jiangsu Ruiheng New Material ran its combined 480 kt‑per‑year bisphenol‑A capacity at roughly 85 % operating rate. Most output supplied epoxy‑resin and long‑term contract clients, and bisphenol‑A offers moved up near 10100 CNY/ton.

Driven by rocketing crude oil, naphtha refinery offers expanded increases to 150 CNY per ton and transaction ranges shifted upward.

Maleic anhydride kept gaining ground. Jiangsu‑Zhejiang mainstream liquid anhydride closed at 7820‑7950 CNY/ton (+200 CNY/ton). Even with softer earlier transactions, firm crude‑oil momentum supported producer price hikes.

China PX CFR reference hit 1157 USD/ton, rising 14 USD against the prior session. Prices have surged rapidly within one month and touched the recent peak level.

MMLC battery‑grade lithium carbonate morning assessment added 350 CNY/ton, with the mid‑price at 155 950 CNY/ton.

Cost pressures cascade down industrial chains as upstream chemical inputs keep hiking. Many downstream manufacturing enterprises can no longer absorb inflated internal costs and have to raise finished‑product selling prices.

On September 2, Keshun Waterproof released an official price adjustment notice. The announcement pointed out volatile global energy markets, petrochemical‑chain swings and shifting supply‑demand balances. Core waterproof‑material feedstocks stayed high; asphalt hit all‑time highs while polymers and auxiliary chemicals grew more expensive, creating heavy production‑side cost burdens.

The company stated it had controlled product quality strictly and digested cost increases through multiple internal measures. However, persistently elevated raw‑material costs outpaced internal cost‑reduction capacity. After comprehensive evaluation, new pricing will take effect September 21, 2026. Asphalt‑based waterproof rolls and asphalt coatings will rise by 10 %. Polymer waterproof rolls will increase 3‑8 %. Polymer‑cement waterproof coatings will go up 5‑10 %. Other engineering waterproof products will see 3‑8 % price increases.

For concrete‑related chemical businesses, this widespread chemical inflation creates real challenges. Manufacturers trading Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Powder, Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Liquid, High performance defoamer, Polycarboxylate Ether Monomer, Naphthalene Based Superplasticizer, and Lignosulfonate/Lignosulphonate must monitor crude‑linked feedstock trends closely, balance inventory levels, and communicate openly with end‑users about inevitable cost‑driven price adjustments in the near‑term market environment.