What is the current development status and investment outlook for DOP plasticizer in China?

What is the current development status and investment outlook for DOP plasticizer in China?
China's DOP market is undergoing structural change. Output fell from 2019 through 2021, bottoming at 1.144 million tons, before recovering to 1.245 million tons in 2023. The shift is driven by regulatory pressure in the EU, US and Hong Kong restricting phthalate use, pushing converters toward DOTP and other non-phthalate alternatives. Trade data confirms this transition: 2023 imports collapsed to just 1,700 tons while exports reached 67,300 tons, and 2024 exports accelerated to 106,600 tons in the first eleven months. Domestic production is increasingly geared toward export markets, especially Asia and Africa where phthalate restrictions are less stringent. Feedstock costs, particularly for 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride, remain the key margin driver. The industry faces a dual challenge: defending traditional PVC applications while investing in cleaner production technologies to remain competitive.