Introduction: Supported by reduced supply and downstream restocking for essential needs, domestic durene prices have risen to 14,000–15,000 RMB/ton, up 2,000–3,000 RMB/ton from last week. The average weekly processing profit for the carbon-ten method has climbed to 5,800 RMB/ton, a 64.96% increase week-on-week. However, high profit margins are expected to drive previously idled units back into operation, while downstream buyers remain cautious in raw material procurement. As a result, further upward momentum in the durene market has weakened.
According to Chempricehub, the durene market saw active inquiries early this week, with multiple crude anhydride and pyromellitic anhydride manufacturers expressing procurement interest. One reason is the maintenance shutdowns at refineries such as Yangzi and Fuhai Chuang. The industrial C10 heavy aromatics released by these idle facilities contain a high proportion of durene, serving as the primary raw material source for carbon-ten method durene producers. Downstream crude anhydride and pyromellitic anhydride makers are concerned that tight spot supply of carbon-ten method durene will be difficult to alleviate in the short term.
On the other hand, end-market restocking for essential needs, such as in polyimide (PI) film production, along with low operating rates at pyromellitic anhydride units, has pushed market prices higher. Producers have become more motivated to increase output, and with some companies holding low durene inventories, the buying sentiment in the durene market has improved. Consequently, the combination of tight supply and downstream stockpiling has once again driven durene prices up to 14,000–15,000 RMB/ton, an increase of 2,000–3,000 RMB/ton.
Although the supply of industrial C10 heavy aromatics has decreased, end-market demand for high-boiling aromatic solvent SA1500# remains under pressure, with low market prices at 5,550–5,750 RMB/ton. As a result, the average weekly processing profit for carbon-ten method durene stands at 5,800 RMB/ton, up 64.96% from the same period last week. Meanwhile, other grades of high-boiling aromatic solvents are also trending downward. For fractionation plants, where high-boiling aromatic solvents account for over 95% of processing output, profit margins are inverted. According to Chempricehub data, processing only high-boiling aromatic solvents results in a loss of approximately 200 RMB/ton.
Therefore, durene has become the sole product enabling fractionation plants to turn losses into profits. The planned maintenance shutdown of a durene unit scheduled for the end of June has been postponed. Additionally, entering July, the mainstream price of domestic isomeric xylene stands at 5,800–5,900 RMB/ton, lifting the processing profit for the synthetic method durene unit to around 3,000 RMB/ton. A synthetic method durene plant in Shaanxi has resumed operation, alleviating the tight supply situation.
Unit: RMB/ton
| Product | Region | Current Average | Previous Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial C10 heavy aromatics | East China | 4,900 | 5,133 | -233 |
| High-boiling aromatic solvent SA1500# | East China | 5,625 | 5,660 | -35 |
| Durene | National | 12,000 | 14,000–15,000 | +2,000/+3,000 |
| Pyromellitic anhydride | Shandong | 28,000 | 28,000 | 0 |
| Pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) | Shandong | 38,000 | 38,000 | 0 |
Source: Chempricehub
In the near term, although the supply of domestic industrial C10 heavy aromatics continues to shrink, the resumption of the synthetic method durene unit has eased the spot supply tightness. Moreover, downstream crude anhydride and pyromellitic anhydride markets are only procuring raw materials for essential needs. Consequently, further upside in the durene market appears limited, and the market sentiment has turned cautious, with transaction activity cooling. The operating rates of crude anhydride and pyromellitic anhydride units will become a key factor influencing durene price movements.
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