What is driving the recent price surge for diethyl carbonate in China?

What is driving the recent price surge for diethyl carbonate in China?
Diethyl carbonate prices have tracked a sharp rally across the carbonate solvent complex, driven by firm electrolyte demand. Industrial-grade DMC, a key feedstock for DEC via transesterification, jumped from 5,000 yuan/ton in late May to 6,500-7,000 yuan/ton by late June, up roughly 50% from April lows. Battery-grade material reached 7,500-8,000 yuan/ton. Transesterification margins from PC-based routes were around 3,000 yuan/ton, while EO-based routes hovered near breakeven. The upward trend was expected to extend into Q3, supported by downstream lithium-ion battery output growth and tight supply of upstream carbonate intermediates.