February 14th — On February 10th, Kangda New Materials (Group) Co., Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kangda New Materials (Dalian), plans to invest 646 million yuan to construct an annual production project of 30,000 tons of polyarylene ether (PAE). Upon completion, the project is expected to produce 30,000 tons of PAE annually, along with 8,050 tons of o-cresol as a by-product and 31,000 tons of the intermediate product 2,6-dimethylphenol (DMP). Chempricehub Analysis: Polyarylene Ether (PAE), Bull-Bear Score: -1 The article indicates that Kangda New Materials will add an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons of PAE. Once operational, this project is expected to increase market supply. As a high-performance engineering plastic, PAE is primarily used in electronics, automotive, and other fields. The increased supply may exert downward pressure on spot prices. Current market supply and demand conditions suggest a generally bearish outlook, with a score of -1 reflecting the price-suppressing effect of supply expansion. o-Cresol, Bull-Bear Score: -1 The project will produce 8,050 tons of o-cresol as a by-product, which will boost market supply. As a chemical raw material, o-cresol is commonly used in pesticide and pharmaceutical production. The additional supply may intensify competition in the spot market, creating downward pressure on prices. Based on the analysis of increased supply, a score of -1 indicates a generally bearish impact, with spot prices expected to face a slight decline. 2,6-Dimethylphenol (DMP), Bull-Bear Score: -1 The intermediate product DMP will have an annual production capacity of 31,000 tons, significantly increasing DMP supply. DMP is a key intermediate in polymer and dye production, and the supply growth may lead to a decline in spot prices. Considering the current market capacity, a score of -1 reflects a generally bearish effect, with analysis suggesting that the new capacity will drive spot prices downward.