Lead: In May 2026, China's monthly export volume of dichloromethane was 13,400 tons, a sharp decrease of 45.32% compared to the previous month. From January to May 2026, China's total exports of dichloromethane amounted to 88,300 tons, down 4.00% year-on-year.

The decline in export volume was mainly driven by the following factors: On one hand, rising feedstock costs had pushed up export quotes, weakening price competitiveness. Overseas buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach and delayed orders, while core markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East only maintained small-lot purchases for essential needs. On the other hand, logistics disruptions along the Red Sea route and high shipping costs, combined with sufficient inventory built up earlier by overseas importers and tighter environmental and trade controls abroad, led to persistently weakening external demand. The cumulative export volume for January–May showed a slight year-on-year decline, attributed to the slower-than-expected recovery of overseas demand and order diversion by local competitors in foreign markets.

From the perspective of trading partners, China exported chloromethanes to 60 countries in May. The top five export destinations were South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and Nigeria, accounting for 42% of the total May export volume. The high-risk management measures in the Strait of Hormuz pushed up shipping costs on Middle East routes and lengthened voyage times, curbing China's chemical and energy exports to the Middle East—a significant logistical bearish factor behind the sharp drop in dichloromethane exports in May.

In terms of enterprise registration locations, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Guangxi remained the main regions, followed by Shanghai and Henan, with the top five accounting for 89% of the total. Domestically, 85% of chloromethane production capacity is concentrated in these key export regions, where enterprises and traders leverage advantages in scale, cost, and channels to enhance export competitiveness.

In June, the cost side saw a significant decline in methanol prices and low-level oscillations in liquid chlorine, easing cost pressures on enterprises. This provided ample room for profit concessions, lowering export FOB prices and restoring price competitiveness. On the supply side, despite some plant maintenance, overall industry operating rates remained high. Coupled with new capacity coming on stream, domestic supply was ample, and enterprises had a strong willingness to offload inventory through exports. On the logistics front, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz gradually recovered, significantly improving shipping costs and transit times on Middle East routes—a favorable factor for the return of Middle East orders. However, constraints remained: overseas markets entered a traditional demand off-season, limiting bulk replenishment by downstream buyers, and local competitors abroad continued to divert orders. It is unlikely that export volumes will see a major surge. Overall assessment: In June, dichloromethane exports may rebound month-on-month compared to May, but suppressed by the overseas off-season, year-on-year growth is unlikely to be impressive.