Introduction: Driven by increased production, DOTP exports continued to grow in 2026. Thanks to enhanced product competitiveness and rising global market demand, China’s share in the international DOTP market has steadily climbed. Additionally, exports have become a crucial mechanism for alleviating domestic supply pressure. By September, cumulative exports of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" reached 261,000 tons, representing a 37% year-on-year increase.
From 2020 to 2021, the rapid release of new DOTP capacity led to oversupply in the domestic market. Exports became the key channel for absorbing excess capacity and balancing market supply and demand. As the impact of the global health crisis diminished abroad and demand gradually recovered, favorable conditions were created for domestic DOTP exports. Consequently, from 2021 to 2026, export volumes of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" rose continuously year after year, with growth rates accelerating significantly. According to customs data, China's exports of this category grew from 89,000 tons in 2020 to 272,000 tons in 2025, an increase of 206%. In the first nine months of 2026, export volume already reached 261,000 tons, approaching the full-year level of 2025, which is a 37% year-on-year increase compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, due to domestic oversupply, DOTP import volumes plummeted rapidly. Between 2020 and 2025, China's imports of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" fell from 102,000 tons to 5,000 tons, a decrease of 95%. In the first nine months of 2026, import volume was only 3,000 tons, down 29% year-on-year.
As global environmental awareness continues to rise and regulations on plastic products tighten worldwide, the market space for eco-friendly plasticizers like DOTP has expanded significantly. Both domestic and international demand strengthened simultaneously, leading to a steady rise in export volumes. This trend is particularly evident in emerging markets, where economic development and the implementation of stricter environmental laws have driven rapid growth in DOTP demand.
Southeast Asia has now become the core growth segment for China's DOTP exports, with Vietnam standing out prominently. From 2020 to 2026, China's exports of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" to Vietnam have risen annually. Since 2024, Vietnam has firmly held its position as the top export destination. The primary drivers behind this are: since 2019, amid trade friction and overseas clients' need to diversify supply chains via a "China+1" strategy, many labor-intensive industries have shifted to Vietnam. These relocated enterprises continue to rely on procurement from within China, boosting export volumes to Vietnam. In the first nine months of 2026, exports to Vietnam reached 66,000 tons, matching the total volume for all of 2025.
South Korea, which was the largest destination for this category in 2020, has slipped to second place, but export volumes remain in growth mode. Exports to South Korea in the first nine months of 2026 totaled 25,000 tons, also equaling the full-year level of last year.
Thailand has emerged as a high-growth market in recent years. Prior to 2024, Thailand consistently ranked outside the top five export destinations; however, it surged to third place in 2026. Multinational manufacturers continuing to establish production capacity in Thailand have stimulated local supply chain demand for high-quality eco-friendly plasticizers, further expanding the incremental market space for DOTP.
In addition to these, Chinese Taipei, India, and the United States remain important export markets for "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)."
New DOTP capacity is expected to come online in China in 2027. However, the pace of domestic demand growth lags significantly behind capacity expansion, exacerbating the industry's overcapacity situation. Constrained by limited downstream absorption capabilities domestically, exports will remain a vital avenue for companies to alleviate capacity pressure, thereby sustaining high motivation for DOTP exporters. Furthermore, as global environmental awareness increases and emerging economies continue to develop, international demand for DOTP is expected to maintain its growth trajectory. Domestic companies will leverage their advantages in capacity, quality, and cost to continuously expand their market share. It is projected that China's exports of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" will continue their upward trend in 2027.
Regarding imports, the persistent overcapacity in the domestic DOTP sector fully covers internal consumption needs. Compared to domestic sources, imported DOTP generally lacks price advantage for most of the time and performs weaker in terms of delivery timeliness and supply stability. Coupled with ongoing technological iterations and quality upgrades by domestic producers, the import volume of "Other aromatic polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, and derivatives (including DOTP)" is expected to remain at low levels in the long term.
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