Bisphenol A (BPA) Market Stabilizes After Price Decline

1. Daily Summary

① The Bisphenol A (BPA) market stabilized today, with no discounting intentions from holders as costs continued to rise.
② Phenol and acetone prices increased today, driving up production costs.

2. Spot Market Overview

Table 1: Domestic BPA Price Summary (Unit: CNY/ton)

Data Source: Chempricehub

Based on the East China region, domestic BPA closed at 10,700 CNY/ton today, within a range of 10,700–10,700 CNY/ton. Prices remained stable compared to the previous trading day, consistent with morning expectations. The domestic BPA market halted its decline and maintained stability. While raw material markets for phenol and acetone continued to rise, coupled with a significant surge in international crude oil prices leading to substantial industry losses, suppliers showed no willingness to offer discounts. However, due to weak demand response and sluggish inquiries, trading activity remained flat.

3. Production Dynamics

Today, the BPA capacity utilization rate hovered around 73%. The industry profit margin stood at -1,344 CNY/ton.

4. Price Forecast

The short-term BPA market is expected to remain largely consolidated. Although rising costs have bolstered holder sentiment, downstream follow-through remains poor, with buyers adopting a cautious wait-and-see approach. This makes it difficult for holders to execute transactions, suggesting limited volatility in the near term. Going forward, it is recommended to closely monitor marginal changes in actual downstream procurement expectations and the production/shipping plans of major manufacturers to verify if demand can stabilize. Caution is advised in operations.

5. Related Products

Phenol: Based on the East China region, phenol prices closed at 9,400 CNY/ton today, an increase of 125 CNY/ton from the previous trading day. The domestic phenol market center shifted higher. Stronger raw material prices provided support, compounded by price hikes from Shandong factories, indicating clear upward pressure from suppliers. End-user factories entered the market primarily for rigid demand, resulting in a quiet negotiation atmosphere and cautious participation from traders.

Acetone: Based on the Jiangsu region, acetone prices closed at 8,535 CNY/ton today, up 135 CNY/ton from the previous trading day. The East China acetone market center moved upward. Some factories raised their opening quotes in the morning, signaling a firm stance, which heated up the enthusiasm among holders to push prices higher. Offers followed suit, supported by stronger cost-side factors. A few downstream factories entered the market to inquire and replenish stocks, but actual transactions were mostly small orders driven by rigid demand. The momentum for chasing higher prices was limited, though low-priced inventory remained scarce.

Epoxy Resin: Based on the East China region, the ex-factory price for liquid E-51 epoxy resin (net water basis) closed at 14,900–15,200 CNY/ton, remaining unchanged month-on-month. In the Huangshan region, the spot cash price for solid E-12 epoxy resin (surrounding area basis) closed at 14,200–14,700 CNY/ton, unchanged from the previous trading day and consistent with morning market expectations. Raw material prices fluctuated slightly; epoxy resin plants maintained a willingness to hold prices firm, while actual downstream orders were average, leading to a stalemate in the market center.

Polycarbonate (PC): The domestic PC market operated with firm pricing and consolidation. By the afternoon close, the negotiation range for domestic-grade PC in East China was 12,750–14,900 CNY/ton, with the center remaining roughly stable compared to yesterday, though some grades rose by 100 CNY/ton. With the weekend approaching, no new factory price adjustments were announced domestically. In the spot market, both East and South China regions continued to consolidate. High international crude oil prices kept supply chain costs elevated, and given the acceptable match between industry supply and demand, there were virtually no reports of sellers actively lowering prices. Downstream entry did not improve, leaving trading rhythm in a stalemate.