Weekly Data Analysis of China's Methanol Production and Capacity Utilization (July 3–9, 2026)

1. Qualitative Analysis of Production and Capacity Utilization Trends

In the current week (July 3–9, 2026), China’s methanol production output totaled 1,997,405 tonnes, a decrease of 33,710 tonnes from the previous week. The plant capacity utilization rate was 88.58%, down 1.79% week-on-week.

Table 1: China methanol production output and capacity utilization rate weekly comparison (unit: tonne, %)

Source: Chempricehub Information

During the current period, units that newly entered maintenance included Shanxi Lanhua, Inner Mongolia Rongxin, Sinopec Great Wall, and one unit in Shandong. In addition, one unit in Inner Mongolia and one unit in Xinjiang reduced output. In the same period, units that resumed operation after maintenance or output reduction included Xinjiang Xinye, Shandong Lianmeng, Shanxi Lanhua, and one unit in Shandong. As the total output loss exceeded the restored volume, production output decreased and the capacity utilization rate declined.

2. Forecast Analysis of Production and Capacity Utilization Trends

For next week, China’s weekly methanol production output is expected to be approximately 1.9573 million tonnes, with the capacity utilization rate at approximately 86.80%, down from the current period. The capacity involved in next week’s planned maintenance and output reduction is greater than the capacity involved in restarts, leading to lower production output and a decline in the capacity utilization rate.

3. Comparison of Capacity Utilization Rate and Price Movements

This week, China’s methanol capacity utilization rate stood at 88.58%, down 1.79% week-on-week and up 5.41% year-on-year. Domestically, the methanol capacity utilization rate declined during the week, and actual output decreased. However, downstream purchasing enthusiasm remained subdued, and the supply-side positive factor could not provide substantial support to the market. As a result, transaction prices in the major production areas continued to trend lower during the week.

Sample description: The weekly China methanol production output and capacity utilization rate data from Chempricehub Information are primary statistics. The sample covers 178 methanol production enterprises in China, with a sample coverage rate of 100%. The statistics cover the period from Friday of the previous week to Thursday of the current week, and the data are released every Thursday at 14:30.

Glossary: Production output generally refers to the quantity of standard-compliant products actually produced by a manufacturer within a certain period (not in terms of commercial quantity but rather product weight or volume under a specified unit of measurement), i.e., actual output.

Capacity utilization rate: Indicates the degree to which an enterprise’s capacity is utilized, also known as operating load. It is generally calculated as the ratio of product output or raw material processing volume to effective capacity.

Statistical calibre: The weekly production output and capacity utilization rate statistics cover the period from Friday of the previous week to Thursday of the current week, and the data are released every Thursday at 14:30.