How exposed is China's o-xylene supply to imported material?
China remains a net importer of ortho-xylene, though the balance is shifting. Domestic capacity grew at roughly 7 percent annually from 2008 to 2019, and self-sufficiency climbed sharply as new units came online. Import volumes fell hard in 2019 while exports jumped. The import book is concentrated: Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and Japan together account for nearly all inbound cargoes, with Singapore the largest single source. That concentration matters because tariff treatment differs by origin. When preferential terms for Taiwan material were withdrawn, its 2 percent duty put it at a cost disadvantage against zero-duty Singapore and 0.4 percent Korean cargoes, squeezing its competitiveness in the Chinese market.
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