According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of the Business Society, the domestic aggregated MDI market fluctuated and rose in August. From August 1st to 31st, the domestic aggregated MDI market price increased from 17150 yuan/ton to 17516 yuan/ton, with a price increase of 2.14% during the cycle and a maximum amplitude of 3.60%. The price increased by 18.36% year-on-year.

At the beginning of the month, production enterprises controlled the quantity of shipments, but the market supply was insufficient. Traders’ quotations were skyrocketing, leading to stronger follow-up. In mid month, due to the impact of factory maintenance by production enterprises, the spot filling is limited, the market atmosphere is high, and the support capacity is relatively outstanding. The domestic aggregated MDI market price is slowly driving. In the latter half of the month, the overall supply is still relatively limited, and the overall market price fluctuation is slow, with a narrow range of consolidation.

On the supply side, the overall supply is relatively limited. The supply side is influenced by favorable factors.

On the cost side, raw material pure benzene: The domestic pure benzene market remained at a high level in August. The rise in crude oil has boosted refinery prices, with downstream and traders actively following suit and the transaction is still acceptable. Raw material aniline: The aniline market fluctuated and rose in August. The fundamentals of aniline are relatively strong, and the bidding prices of northern factories have increased, with strong cost support. The follow-up on the demand side is normal, and with the fulfillment of Wanhua’s maintenance plan within the past month, the market’s positive guidance is obvious. There is no pressure on aniline factory shipments, and the quotation continues to rise. The cost side of short-term aggregated MDI continues to be strong.

On the demand side, under the traditional peak season of the pipeline industry, the overall performance is average, while other industries have not changed much recently. The demand for short-term aggregated MDI is mixed.

In the future market forecast, the cost side is supported by high levels, and the overall support capacity of the supply side is strengthening. With the downstream cold industry still in a state of follow-up, analysts of Business Society’s aggregated MDI predict that the domestic aggregated MDI market is mainly high and volatile

Product name: Sulfuric acid

Latest price (September 1st): 312.00 yuan/ton

On September 1st, the domestic sulfuric acid market price significantly increased, with a price increase of 18 yuan/ton compared to August 31st, an increase of 6.12%, and a year-on-year increase of 23.81%. The upstream sulfur market has continued to rise recently, with increased cost support. The downstream market for hydrofluoric acid and titanium dioxide has slightly increased, and downstream customers have a good enthusiasm for purchasing sulfuric acid. Duo Zhong Li is good, and the product trend is upward.

In the future, it is expected that the domestic sulfuric acid market price may fluctuate slightly, with an average market price of around 340 yuan/ton.

Since the domestic phenol market rose in July, it has been fluctuating at high levels in August. According to the market analysis system of the Business Society, the national market average price was 8207.5 yuan/ton on August 1st, with a rise and fall within the month. On the 31st, it closed at 8207.5 yuan/ton. The major mainstream markets are as follows:

On August 31st, the phenol offers in various markets across the country were as follows:

Region/ Quotation/ Monthly fluctuations

East China region/ 8230./-200

Shandong region/ 8150./100

The surrounding area of Yanshan/ 8200./50

South China region/ 8300./-150

In early August, although the cost side cost increased, the support for phenol was limited. The increase in domestic plant construction combined with port inventory dropping to 15000 tons, and the market was operating in a mixed cycle of ups and downs.

In mid to late August, firstly supported by cost, the factory raised the overall listing price, and the prices quoted by the holders were higher. However, terminal procurement was limited, and shipments were not smooth. Most traders reported higher prices but lower prices. Subsequently, Jiangsu Ruiheng stopped, and the contract volume was tight towards the end of the month. The pressure on holders to ship goods was not significant, pushing up again. However, terminal enterprises still needed to follow up, with limited trading volume and limited growth.

From the perspective of the business community, the raw materials sector remained strong in September. Domestic units Wanhua Chemical and Changchun Chemical have maintenance plans, but downstream configuration units are also undergoing maintenance, which has little impact on market supply. Downstream phenolic resin has become weak during the high temperature off-season, and demand may improve. It is expected that the market will not fluctuate much in September and will continue to fluctuate at high levels, with negotiations ranging from 7900 to 8400 yuan/ton.

According to monitoring data from Business Society, as of August 30, 2023, the factory price of domestically produced industrial grade dimethyl carbonate was set at 4300 yuan/ton. Compared with August 1 (the reference price of dimethyl carbonate was 4666 yuan/ton), the price was reduced by 333 yuan/ton, a decrease of 7.86%.

From the data monitoring chart of the Business Society, it can be seen that from August 8.1 to August 30, the overall market situation of dimethyl carbonate in China showed a weak decline. This month, the overall operating rate of dimethyl carbonate plants in China has increased, and the overall on-site supply has increased. The supply side is under pressure, coupled with average downstream demand performance. The electrolyte solvent market is cautious in stocking, with few transactions, and the market atmosphere is cold. The demand side provides limited support for dimethyl carbonate, and the supply and demand transmission is slow. In order to stimulate shipment, dimethyl carbonate factories have successively lowered the factory price of dimethyl carbonate, The cumulative decrease within the month is around 200-400 yuan/ton, and the overall center of gravity of dimethyl carbonate is weak and moving downwards. As of August 30th, the domestic market price of dimethyl carbonate is referenced around 4100-4500 yuan/ton.

Analysis of Future Market Trends

At present, the trading of new orders for dimethyl carbonate on the market is cautious, with a focus on maintaining just demand. The overall downstream operating rate is low, and the support provided to dimethyl carbonate is limited. The dimethyl carbonate data analyst at the Business Society believes that in the short term, the domestic market for dimethyl carbonate is mostly weak and the operation is mainly adjusted. The specific trend still needs to pay more attention to changes in supply and demand news.

According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of Business Society, the domestic asphalt market was weak and declined in August. From August 1st to 29th, the average price of asphalt producers in Shandong Province decreased from 3809 yuan/ton to 3726 yuan/ton, a decrease of 2.19%, and the price decreased by 15.91% year-on-year.

At the beginning of the month, the impact of international crude oil decline factors weakened cost support, and the supply side remained stable while increasing. At the same time, weather factors have affected an increase in precipitation in some regions of China, resulting in slightly flat demand.

In the first half of this month, international crude oil remained strong, but cost support was limited. The supply side continued to maintain a high level, and demand remained average. The asphalt market was weak in the short term.

In the latter half of the month, there was still an imbalance between supply and demand, with significant supply pressure and a short-term weakness in the asphalt market.

On the cost side, the crude oil market in August was relatively high and volatile. As of the close on August 28th, the settlement price of the main contract for WTI crude oil futures in the United States was at $80.10 per barrel; The settlement price of the main contract for Brent crude oil futures is at $84.42 per barrel. The first half of the month continued to ferment due to market supply concerns, coupled with a period of positive oil consumption during the peak season. International crude oil futures continued their upward trend, reaching a nearly 9-month high; In the second half of the month, the number of active oil drilling rigs in the United States decreased, driven by the sharp rise in diesel prices. However, weak economic data and the suppression brought by the strengthening US dollar limited the increase in oil prices.

On the supply side, the main production enterprises have slightly increased production, driving an overall increase in supply in the area. The comprehensive operating rate of the asphalt industry has increased month on month, with negative impacts on the supply side.

On the demand side, the demand for asphalt in the market is relatively flat, with varying demand in different regions. The market has slowly recovered in the early stages of demand, and demand in some regions has gradually increased. However, some regions are still difficult to show significant improvement due to the impact of rainfall. The demand side of the asphalt market has a relatively stable impact.

As of the close of August 29th, the oil asphalt futures market has declined. The main asphalt contract 2311 opened at 3739 yuan/ton, with a maximum price of 3739 yuan/ton and a minimum price of 3688 yuan/ton. It closed at 3715 yuan/ton in the end, a decrease of 33 yuan/ton compared to the previous trading day, a decrease of 0.88%. The trading volume is 223808 hands, the holding volume is 221188 hands, and the daily increase is 23159.

In the future market forecast, the supply continues to be high, and from the demand side, there will be short-term rainfall in the northeast region of North China, which may hinder demand. Business Society asphalt analysts predict that the domestic asphalt market will be mainly weak in the short term.