Tight Supply and Rising Costs Drive Another Strong Rally in Durene Prices

[Lead]: Multiple durene (1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene) units, including those of Anhui Yunjia and Shaanxi Huahaoxuan, have shut down, pushing the durene industry operating load down to 16.8%. Combined with signs of recovery in downstream pyromellitic dianhydride and end-use demand, favorable factors have driven another strong rally in the market prices of durene and downstream products, with active buying and selling sentiment.

I. Durene Operating Load Falls to 16.8%

According to Chempricehub information, entering September, multiple domestic durene units underwent maintenance and load reductions, bringing the overall operating load down to 16.8%, a week-on-week decline of 2.4%. Among them, Anqing Yicheng shut down in sync with the maintenance at Anqing Petrochemical; the C10-based durene units of Anhui Yunjia and Shandong Sai'er were shut down due to raw material supply shortages; the durene units of Liaoyang Yifang and Yunnan Xianfeng suspended external sales due to process adjustments; and most other operating enterprises are running at reduced loads. As a result, spot supply in the durene market is extremely tight, with some producers delivering only against previously placed orders, and market sentiment strongly bullish.

II. Downstream Crude Anhydride and Pyromellitic Dianhydride Market Prices Rose Sharply

Table 1: Domestic PMDA and Upstream/Downstream Product Prices (20260905–0910)

Unit: yuan/tonne