Chemical Industry

In April 2026, China's PVC pure powder trade showed mixed trends, with imports and exports both declining month-on-month, while exports remained strong in cumulative January–April growth.

Middle East supply disruptions and surging Chinese exports are reshaping Asia's polyolefins trade in 2026, forcing buyers to rethink sourcing strategies as new supply routes and pricing dynamics emerge.

China's pure benzene imports surged to 440,600 metric tons in April 2026, defying market expectations of below 400,000 tons, as a sharp rise in Indian shipments offset declines from South Korea.

China's liquid chlorine imports rose 78.2% month-on-month to 22.1 tonnes in March 2026, customs data showed, with Japan and South Korea remaining the country's only suppliers in the first quarter.

China's epichlorohydrin imports soared 320% year-on-year in March 2026 while Q1 exports plunged 69%, with India absorbing 80% of outbound shipments, customs data showed.

China's ethylene imports fell 28% year-on-year in March 2026 to 156,000 tons, while Q1 exports collapsed 58.6%, with South Korea supplying over 70% of inbound shipments, customs data showed.

China's titanium dioxide exports climbed in Q1 2026 as chloride-process products gained global market share amid rising prices, anti-dumping probes, and tightening supply chains.

China's trichloroethylene exports rose 47.6% in Q1 2026, while tetrachloroethylene shipments more than doubled year-on-year despite a sharp decline in March volumes.

China's March 2026 VCM imports climbed 40.28% year-on-year, while exports surged over 300%, with Japan remaining the top supplier and India the leading export destination.

China's rutile titanium dioxide exports surged in March 2026, with both export value and volume posting strong year-on-year growth, signaling resilient global demand and improving trade momentum.

China's hydrochloric acid exports rose 196.9% in March 2026 while imports fell 28.1%, highlighting a sharp shift in chemical trade flows toward Indonesia, Guinea and Australia, customs data showed.

China's paste PVC resin imports and exports surged in March 2026 from February levels, but both remained lower year-on-year, reflecting shifting global demand dynamics.

China's crude salt imports fell in March 2026 while exports dropped sharply, with India remaining the dominant supplier and key Asian markets leading export destinations, customs data showed.

China's benzyl alcohol trade showed diverging trends in March 2026: import volumes surged despite softer values, while exports expanded across key markets, highlighting shifting price dynamics and resilient global demand.

China's imports of U.S. ethane are set to reach a record high in April as Middle East conflict disrupts naphtha and LPG supplies, forcing Asian petrochemical producers to seek alternative feedstocks.

China's caustic soda output climbed 6.2% year on year in March 2026, driven by steady demand from alumina, paper, textiles and detergents, while raw salt production declined 1.1%, official data showed.

China imported 41,600 tons of EDC in March 2026, down 14.24% year-on-year but up 139.65% month-on-month, while exports fell to zero, according to the latest China Customs data.

Join China International Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition on June 9–11, 2026 in Shanghai, featuring 1,000+ exhibitors and 100,000+ visitors in the global petrochemical industry.

China's plastic products output rose 5.2% year-on-year to 11.85 million tonnes in January-February 2026, led by strong production in eastern regions and top provinces including Zhejiang and Guangdong, official data showed.

ChemExpo India 2026, held in Mumbai on April 29–30, is a leading global chemical industry trade fair connecting manufacturers, buyers, and innovators across the full value chain.

China's PVC exports decline amid weak demand and policy changes, while U.S. VCM prices rise at a slower pace as global markets face seasonal softness, supply adjustments, and increasing competition.

Global ethylene capacity cuts are reshaping trade flows, with China, the U.S., and the Middle East emerging as key exporters. China now faces pressure to cut costs and scale high-end materials to address structural imbalances.

China's dichloromethane and chloroform trade showed sharp volatility in Jan–Feb 2026, with exports far exceeding imports and shipments highly concentrated in a few key overseas markets.

China's propylene oxide imports and exports declined sharply in early 2026, with Thailand remaining the dominant supplier and Cambodia the main export destination, according to customs data.

China's trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene exports jumped sharply in early 2026, with January–February volumes rising up to 225% year-on-year despite a month-on-month slowdown in February shipments.

China's hydrogen chloride trade showed mixed momentum in early 2026, with imports falling 8.8% in February while exports surged over 120% year-on-year, driven by strong demand from Asia-Pacific and Africa.

In February 2026, China's rutile titanium dioxide trade showed mixed trends. Imports declined in value and volume, while exports grew year on year, highlighting shifting supply and demand dynamics.

In February 2026, China's benzyl alcohol imports surged year-on-year despite a sharp monthly drop, while exports rose month-on-month but faced year-on-year decline, reflecting shifting market dynamics.

China National Chemical Engineering reported slower revenue growth in 2025 but stronger profitability, with its industrial segment emerging as a key growth driver while engineering remained the company’s dominant revenue source.

China's raw salt imports and exports fell in early 2026, with India supplying over 78% of imports and Japan remaining the top export destination, signaling shifts in global salt trade flows.