How is China's BDO capacity expansion impacting global trade flows for chemical intermediates?

How is China's BDO capacity expansion impacting global trade flows for chemical intermediates?
China's BDO capacity expansion has shifted global production to the Asia-Pacific region, with domestic capacity reaching 5.79 million tons by 2025. This has transformed trade patterns: Chinese BDO exports fell 40% year-on-year to 180,000 tons in 2025, with major destinations including Vietnam, Italy, Malaysia, Belgium, South Korea, and Japan. Export prices held in the $1,800–2,200 per ton range. Meanwhile, imports dropped 60% to just 36,400 tons, mainly from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Japan. For specialty intermediates like 1,4-butanediyl bismethanethiosulfonate, this means more domestic BDO availability at lower prices, potentially making Chinese-produced derivatives more competitive globally. However, the industry's deep losses may force rationalization, reducing future export availability.