This week, domestic phenol plants raised their prices by 100-150 yuan/ton for two times, including 7950 yuan/ton for Sinopec East China phenol and 8000 yuan/ton for Sinopec North China phenol. With the help of the factory’s centralized price adjustment, the traders are highly motivated to promote the price increase, and the focus of the negotiation continues to rise. However, the downstream high price replenishment is cautious, and the trading volume is limited.

Phenol market trend in major regions of the country

Factories focus on boosting the market. At present, the cost of raw materials is high, and the theoretical profit value of the phenolic ketone plant is – 450 yuan/ton, which is higher than that of last week. On the 10th, Sinopec East China phenol listing price was increased by 150 yuan/ton to 7950 yuan/ton, and Sinopec North China increased by 100-150 yuan/ton for two consecutive times to 8000 yuan/ton. The ex-factory price of Lihua Yiweiyuan chemical phenol products is 8000 yuan/ton. The increase in factory prices is obviously good for the market, and the quotations of major mainstream markets have been raised one after another.

On February 13, the offer of phenol in various markets across the country was as follows:

Region/ Quote/ Daily rise and fall

East China/ 8000-8050./ 80

Shandong region/ 8000-8050./ 150

The surrounding area of Yanshan/ 8050./ 150

South China/ 8000./ 150

The supply of imported goods is small, and the port stock is declining. Last Friday, the port stock fell to 23000 tons. East China traders took the lead in pushing up the offer, and the focus of negotiation continued to rise. With the help of the factory offer increase, the terminal cautiously inquired, and negotiated the high level of trading.

The industrial chain support is slightly insufficient. The spot price of upstream pure benzene is stable, and the reference price of Shandong market is 6780 yuan/ton. Traders are reluctant to sell at a low price. However, Shandong has heard that there is a parking plan, and the supply side is expected to be more supportive or slightly boosted in the future. At present, the trading atmosphere in the market is general, and the impact of the information side continues to be concerned. The downstream bisphenol A market is flat, with a narrow decline. Although the cost support of bisphenol A is obvious, the downstream demand of the industrial chain is poor, and the epoxy resin and PC procurement are insufficient, so it is difficult to expand the quantity of the actual order. At present, the negotiation price in East China is 10000 yuan/ton, and that in North China is 9850 yuan/ton.

From the point of view of the business community, the terminal enterprises are more cautious in purchasing in the market at present, and they mainly need inquiries, while the intermediate traders are also more wait-and-see market, and the inventory in the market is more cautious, which needs to be improved in terms of the actual orders on the market. However, from the perspective of the profit of the phenolic ketone product enterprises, despite the overall increase of the factory, it is still in a loss state in theory. Based on the above, it is estimated that there is still room for improvement in the short-term phenol market after the strong operation. In the later stage, the focus will be on demand procurement. The reference price in East China is 8000-8050 yuan/ton.

The price of aluminum fluoride fell sharply this week

According to the data of Business News Agency, as of February 10, the average price of domestic aluminum fluoride was 11000 yuan/ton, down 2.87% from 11325 yuan/ton on February 5. The cost fell, and the price of aluminum fluoride fell this week.

The price of raw materials fell this week

According to the monitoring of the Business Agency, as of February 10, the price of fluorite was 3125 yuan/ton, down 0.79% from the price of 3150 yuan/ton on February 5 last weekend; As of February 10, the price of hydrofluoric acid was 9828.57 yuan/ton, down 1.71% from the price of 10000 yuan/ton on February 5. The price of raw materials fluorite and hydrofluoric acid fell in shock, the cost of aluminum fluoride fell, and the downward pressure on aluminum fluoride increased.

Downstream prices fell this week

According to the monitoring of the Business News Agency, as of February 10, the price of electrolytic aluminum was 18583.33 yuan/ton, down 1.90% from the price of 18943.33 yuan/ton on February 5. The demand for aluminum ingots remained weak this week, the price of electrolytic aluminum fell in shock, the demand for aluminum fluoride was weak, and the downward pressure on aluminum fluoride increased.

Market overview and forecast

Analysts of the aluminum fluoride industry of the Business Agency believe that the prices of raw materials fluorite and hydrofluoric acid have fallen in shock this week, the prices of aluminum fluoride raw materials have fallen, and the cost of aluminum fluoride has fallen; The price of electrolytic aluminum fluctuated and fell, while the demand for aluminum fluoride remained weak. As the cost of aluminum fluoride decreases, the demand is weak, and the price of aluminum fluoride is expected to fall in the future.

1、 Price trend

Take the rutile titanium dioxide produced by sulfuric acid process, which has a large volume of goods in the domestic market, as an example. According to the monitoring of bulk commodity data, the average price of domestic titanium dioxide was 15933.33 yuan/ton on January 31 and 16183.33 yuan/ton on February 9, with a slight increase of 1.57% within 10 days.

2、 Market analysis

Since February, the domestic titanium dioxide market price has increased. In February, Longqi took the lead in raising the price of titanium dioxide by 1000 yuan/ton, and the international price rose by 150 dollars/ton. Subsequently, major titanium dioxide manufacturers began to send letters to adjust prices. Affected by this, the market of titanium dioxide improved after the year, and the number of new orders increased. Up to now, most domestic rutile titanium dioxide quotations are between 15000-18000 yuan/ton; The quotation of anatase titanium dioxide is about 14000-14500 yuan/ton.

In terms of titanium concentrate, the price of titanium concentrate in Panxi region is high. At present, the spot supply in the market is tight, the price increase letters in the titanium dioxide market are issued in unison, and the quotations of small and medium-sized miners are firm. Up to now, the tax-free quotation of 38-42 grade titanium concentrate is about 1420-1450 yuan/ton, the tax-free quotation of 46 grade 10 titanium concentrate is about 2100-2200 yuan/ton, and the quotation of 47 grade 20 titanium concentrate is about 2300-2400 yuan/ton. In the short term, the transaction of the titanium concentrate market is fair, and the overall market is relatively strong, and the actual transaction price is single.

In terms of sulfuric acid, the domestic sulfuric acid market price is relatively stable. The average price of sulfuric acid is 231.67 yuan/ton. The upstream sulfur market has fallen slightly recently, and the cost support is insufficient. The downstream hydrofluoric acid market fell slightly, the titanium dioxide market rose slightly, and the downstream customers’ enthusiasm for sulfuric acid procurement was general.

3、 Aftermarket forecast

According to the titanium dioxide analyst of the Business Agency, Longqi raised the price of titanium dioxide with a letter, boosting market confidence. The number of new orders in the market increased. It is expected that titanium dioxide will run steadily and well in the short term, and the actual transaction price will be negotiated.

According to the monitoring data of the Business News Agency, as of February 7, 2023, the average ex-factory price of domestic industrial grade dimethyl carbonate was 4666 yuan/ton. Compared with January 29, 2023 (the reference price of dimethyl carbonate was 4900 yuan/ton), the price was reduced by 234 yuan/ton, or 4.76%.

It can be seen from the data monitoring chart of the business agency that after the Spring Festival in 2023, the domestic dimethyl carbonate market as a whole was in a weak decline. After the festival, the downstream demand of domestic dimethyl carbonate was released slowly, and the on-site inventory was accumulated. Some of the dimethyl carbonate manufacturers sold their products at a profit. Two days after the festival, the focus of the dimethyl carbonate market was on the downward movement, and then the overall market was weak. As of February 7, the domestic market price of dimethyl carbonate was around 4500-5000 yuan/ton.

Future trend analysis

At present, the overall supply of the domestic dimethyl carbonate market has increased, and the intra-field trading atmosphere is general, waiting for the gradual release of downstream demand. The dimethyl carbonate data analyst of the business agency believes that in the short term, the domestic dimethyl carbonate market price will mostly adjust and operate in a narrow range, and the specific trend needs to pay more attention to the changes in the supply and demand information.

1、 Trend analysis

According to the nickel price monitoring of the Business Society, on the 6th, the average price of nickel spot market was 217950 yuan/ton, down 4.44% from the previous trading day and up 28.36% year on year.

The strength of the US dollar led to the fall of metal in the internal market, and the sharp decline of nickel in the next week was 5.13%; Nickel production capacity release market supply is sufficient, nickel inventory has increased slightly, some downstream enterprises have been more active in stocking, procurement has increased, and spot transactions have increased significantly. However, some terminal enterprises have not yet recovered, and it is expected that they will almost return to normal at the weekend. In January 2023, a total of 29 ships were delivered from Philippine nickel mines, totaling about 1.5 million wet tons, a decrease of 21.1% month-on-month and a year-on-year increase of 16.5%. After the rainy season in Surigo, the Philippines, the shipment volume is at the low point of the year, and is expected to recover at the end of the first quarter. At present, there are 6 nickel iron vessels loading/waiting for loading in Indonesia’s main ports, which is 33.33% lower than that of the previous period. Downstream, the production of stainless steel and nickel sulfate slightly recovered in February, and there is still a certain demand for alloy electroplating.

In February, the dominant inventory of refined nickel in the world is still at a historical low, and the price rise elasticity is relatively large under the status of low inventory and low warehouse receipt. At present, the nickel futures price is still dominated by the capital game, and the nickel price may still maintain a high and wide fluctuation before the apparent recovery of the dominant inventory.