Recently, the mainstream major manufacturers of refrigerant R32 in East China have maintained high-level quotations with limited adjustments. Plant operating rates have been low and declining, with inventory primarily supplied to OEM manufacturers. End-users began entering summer maintenance schedules in mid-July, resulting in limited procurement volumes. As of press time, the reference quotation from major manufacturers in East China is 65,500 RMB/ton (coordinated domestic and foreign trade quotation); the reference pricing for the third quarter of 2026 long-term contract is 65,100 RMB/ton (accepted payment), while the mainstream market quotation in East China ranges from 63,500 to 64,500 RMB/ton.
The East China market for fluorine-based refrigerant R32 has shown a pattern of "slow price hikes with supply assurance." In terms of price trends, the current mainstream price of R32 in East China is within the range of 63,500–64,500 RMB/ton. This week, trade channels have seen a slight recovery compared to earlier periods, but the pace of price increases is slower than the same period in 2025. On the supply side, the industry operating rate is only around 40%, with major factories primarily ensuring supply to air conditioner manufacturers. Plants are operating normally but have no plans for large-scale capacity increases, making it difficult for supply to expand significantly. As a result, the inflow of refrigerant products into the market remains limited.
The raw material dichloromethane market has been fluctuating upward, with prices adjusting in stages based on short-term macro factors and changes in supply and demand. In the Shandong region, some production enterprises have increased operating rates, leading to a rise in market supply. Companies have flexibly adjusted their quotations based on their own shipment conditions, resulting in a narrow and weak price trend in Shandong. However, as macro factors have gradually intensified, the price of raw material methanol has risen. Coupled with medium-to-low inventory levels at some methane chloride enterprises, companies have become more inclined to support price hikes, causing the market center of gravity to shift upward overall. Overall, macro factors and phased replenishment have been key influences on dichloromethane price trends this cycle.
Fluorine-based refrigerant R32 has remained at a high level with consolidation. As for key raw materials, the HF procurement bidding price from mainstream plants in the East China market is referenced at 13,600–14,300 RMB/ton (delivered). The average weekly price of dichloromethane rose by 7.17% week-on-week. Under the combined effect of price and cost, the price increase of R32 in this period drove theoretical profit growth, with the average weekly profit rising 0.84% week-on-week. Industry online monitoring data shows that July 2026 domestic air-conditioner production scheduling for internal sales is down 15.6% year-on-year, with overall scheduling down 12.8%. Chempricehub expects the ex-factory quotation for fluorine-based refrigerant R32 to be referenced at 65,500 RMB/ton (coordinated domestic and foreign trade quotation).
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