Entering June, domestic acrylonitrile prices continued to decline, with the drop widening slightly compared to earlier. Spot prices in the Shandong market have now fallen below the 10,000 yuan/ton mark, with major regional suppliers quoting 9,900 yuan/ton ex-factory. In the short term, while both supply and demand show some increases, overall supply is clearly ample, and the industry's supply-demand gap has widened. Local sales pressure has also led to inventory buildup at some companies, driving the market further down.
This price decline has also narrowed the spread between northern and southern markets. In the East China market, persistently weak demand, especially a lack of spot buying interest, coupled with a notable drop in export negotiation prices, has prompted major suppliers to aggressively cut prices to promote sales. Although prices in the Shandong market have also fallen, the decline is more limited than in East China. On one hand, company inventories remain relatively manageable; on the other hand, regional factories primarily rely on externally purchased raw materials, leading to more prominent cost pressures and a stronger inclination to support prices.
Meanwhile, due to the limited decline in feedstock propylene prices, the price spread with acrylonitrile has also narrowed, meaning production losses are expanding significantly. Based on theoretical calculations, the production profit for acrylonitrile as a standalone product has dropped to approximately -1,000 yuan/ton. Looking at historical comparisons between profit and price fluctuations, losses exceeding 1,000 yuan/ton may trigger unplanned supply reductions, so acrylonitrile supply could face changes in the near future.
2026 Acrylonitrile Plant Maintenance Summary Table
| Company Name | Capacity (kt) | Current Operating Rate | Unit Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fushun Petrochemical | 92 | 0% | Shut down since March 1; restart date TBD |
| Jilin Petrochemical | 684 | 80% | Second unit shut down April 7; third and fourth units shut down for maintenance on April 15, resumed mid-May; one 130 kt line of the fourth unit shut down for maintenance on June 1, expected ~12 days |
| Daqing Petrochemical | 80 | 90% | None |
| Daqing Refining & Chemical | 80 | 100% | None |
| Anqing Petrochemical | 210 | 100% | Reduced load in late January, increased on March 13; planned major overhaul Sep-Nov |
| Shandong Haijiang | 130 | 100% | Shut down for maintenance Dec 25, 2025; restarted Feb 8, 2026 |
| Korul | 260 | 0% | Shut down for maintenance on April 23 for two months |
| Shanghai SECCO | 520 | 50% | Running only one unit since 2025; one line under maintenance May 6-21 |
| Sierbang | 1,040 | 50% | Third unit shut down Jan 20; resumed three units in late March; reduced to two units in June |
| Lanzhou Petrochemical | 35 | 90% | None |
| Zhejiang Petrochemical | 520 | 75% | SAR unit maintenance in late January, acrylonitrile unit reduced load, gradually increased in February; one unit shut down due to incident on March 31, one line resumed mid-May |
| Li Huayi | 260 | 100% | None |
| Tianchen Qixiang | 130 | 80% | Reduced load in late March; planned shutdown for maintenance at end of June |
| Liaoning Jinhua | 260 | 100% | Planned shutdown for maintenance 15-20 days at end of June |
| Jihua (Jieyang) | 130 | 100% | Temporary shutdown on Jan 20 due to malfunction; restarted Feb 10 |
| CNOOC Fudao | 200 | 95% | Shut down for maintenance on March 29; one line resumed end of April, other line resumed May 6 |
| Yulong Petrochemical | 260 | 100% | Second line successfully started in early February |
| Sinochem Quanzhou | 260 | 0% | Full shutdown on Sep 10, 2025; restart planned in June |
| Zhenhai Refining & Chemical | 400 | 90% | Reduced load in late January |
| Total | 5,551 | 68.1% |
Data source: chempricehub
Currently, the acrylonitrile industry operating rate has fallen back to below 70%, with Sierbang cutting to 50%, Jilin Petrochemical having one line under maintenance, Zhejiang Petrochemical still operating at 75% load, and Korul, Fushun Petrochemical, and Sinochem Quanzhou still shut down. In the second half of June, plant startups and shutdowns will coexist: Korul and Sinochem Quanzhou are expected to restart, while Liaoning Jinhua and Tianchen Qixiang have maintenance shutdowns planned for end of June. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, given the current losses, unplanned shutdowns or load reductions are possible. Overall, the acrylonitrile industry operating rate is expected to remain at 70% or below in the coming period.
On the demand side, aside from a notable recovery in the acrylic fiber sector, other major downstream sectors such as ABS and acrylamide continue to operate at low rates, with potential for further declines. Consumption in small and medium downstream sectors will also gradually enter the off-season. Therefore, there is little expectation of significant demand improvement in the near term. Market participants can only continue to hope for a rebound in exports, though overseas demand has also shown signs of weakening. Overall, although supply is also expected to contract, this is essentially driven by proactive production cuts based on low demand. The supply-demand relationship may only achieve a weak balance, providing limited support for product prices, perhaps only in the form of a bottom. Additionally, Zhejiang Petrochemical's 660 kt plant is scheduled to come online in the second half of the year, keeping long-term market expectations bearish and further capping acrylonitrile price fluctuations.
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