Production: n-Butanol operating rate was 84%, with output reaching 62,400 tons.
Demand: Butyl acrylate capacity utilization was 61.49% (output: 53,700 tons); butyl acetate capacity utilization was 52.21% (output: 15,600 tons); Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) capacity utilization was 38.85% (output: 8,100 tons).
Domestic n-Butanol Mainstream Regional Price Trend Chart (CNY/ton)
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
Domestic n-Butanol Market Price Weekly Change Table
Unit: CNY/ton
| Region | This Week's Closing | Last Week's Closing | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shandong | 7,840 | 8,450 | -610 | -7.22% |
| East China | 7,900 | 8,550 | -650 | -7.60% |
| South China | 7,900 | 8,450 | -550 | -6.51% |
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
During this period, the price center of domestic n-butanol continued to decline. It is reported that the raw material propylene saw a significant drop in price driven by falling international crude oil prices. Additionally, the tight supply of propylene eased, leading to consecutive sharp decreases in propylene market prices. This reduced production costs for n-butanol and weakened support for its pricing. Meanwhile, bearish sentiment among downstream buyers intensified, increasing resistance to high prices. Purchasing became cautious, with demand primarily focused on essential needs at lower price points, resulting in sluggish inquiries and transactions. Furthermore, previously shut-down units resumed production, increasing market supply. Poor sales performance led to rising inventories at production plants, prompting them to proactively cut ex-factory prices consecutively to stimulate shipments. However, these measures had limited effect, causing the market price center to fluctuate downward.
Downstream operating rates increased, leading to higher n-butanol supply.
The weekly average profit margin for n-butanol was -379 CNY/ton this week, a decrease of 217 CNY/ton compared to the previous period, representing a 134% drop.
Domestic n-butanol output was 62,400 tons, an increase of 1,000 tons from last week (a 1.63% rise). The unit capacity utilization rate was approximately 84%, up 1 percentage point from the previous week.
Next Week Market Forecast
Supply: Units restarting next week are expected to raise their operating loads, leading to an anticipated increase in supply.
Demand: Downstream butyl acrylate operating rates are expected to decline, suggesting a decrease in demand next week.
Cost: Raw material propylene prices are expected to remain stable with minor fluctuations, implying little change in cost structure next week.
Overall, the price center of raw material propylene is expected to remain stable at high levels in the near term, providing only moderate cost support for n-butanol. With downstream operating rates likely to decline, demand for n-butanol is trending downward. Market inquiries and transactions are expected to focus mainly on opportunistic buying at low prices. Meanwhile, n-butanol plant operations are still expanding, keeping the market in a state of oversupply. Combined with poor sales performance and rising inventories at production facilities, significant selling pressure persists. Therefore, the domestic n-butanol market is predicted to trade weakly with minor fluctuations next week.
For more detailed weekly market analysis, please refer to the Chempricehub Oxols Weekly Report.
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