Introduction: In recent years, with the continuous expansion of phenol and acetone production capacity in China, the domestic self-sufficiency rate for phenol has significantly improved, while import dependency has declined year by year, dropping to 4% in 2025. From the beginning of 2026 to date, 90% of phenol imports have originated from Saudi Arabia. In August, no Saudi cargoes were replenished, resulting in a monthly import volume of only 0.12 tons, marking a new low for monthly imports.
Table 1: Comparison of Phenol Import Volumes, January–August 2026 (Unit: Tons)
| Item | Jan–Aug 2026 Cumulative | Jan–Aug 2025 Cumulative | YoY Change (%) | Aug 2026 | Jul 2026 | Aug 2025 | MoM Change (%) | YoY Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports | 157,575.25 | 175,375.40 | -10.15% | 0.12 | 14,477.33 | 7,807.03 | -100.00% | -100.00% |
| Exports | 85,265.56 | 40,730.08 | 109.34% | 1,478.52 | 9,965.49 | 1,354.40 | -85.16% | 9.16% |
Data Source: Chempricehub
China’s Phenol Imports Highly Concentrated in 2026; August Hits Historic Low
From 2022 to 2026, China’s phenol import volumes have shown a consistent downward trend. In January–August 2026, total phenol imports amounted to 157,600 tons, representing a year-on-year decrease of 10.15%. Of this total, 90% of the cargo originated from Saudi Arabia, and 10% from Thailand; imports from other countries and regions were negligible.
(Note: Figure 1 and Figure 2 captions omitted as per instructions)
Looking at monthly import volumes, the 0.12 tons recorded in August 2026 set a new historical low for monthly imports. The most striking aspect is that the unit is not ten thousand tons, but simply tons—meaning the actual volume was less than one ton. The primary reason was the lack of phenol cargo replenishment from both Saudi Arabia and Thailand during the month. Analysis suggests this was partly linked to typhoon weather conditions in China. Additionally, geopolitical risks leading to route diversions and tight shipping capacity affected the execution of contract cargoes. Regarding Thailand, the maintenance shutdown of the PTA/phenol-acetone plant in July impacted the flow of cargoes scheduled for August.
Assessing Changes in Phenol Imports for September–October Based on Cargo Statistics
Table 2: Incomplete Statistics of Imported Cargoes for September–October 2026 (Unit: Tons)
| Vessel Name | Load Capacity (Tons) | Origin | Arrival Time | Terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QIU HAI TANG | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 3 | Huaxi |
| JIAN XING 39 | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 4 | Zhangjiagang |
| JIAN XING 39 | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 9 | Huaxi |
| XING TONG 79 | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 11 | Huaxi |
| XING TONG 79 | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 12 | Zhangjiagang |
| QIU HAI TANG | 3,000 | Zhoushan | Sep 17 | Huaxi |
| FAN SHUN 36 | 3,200 | Zhoushan | Sep 18 | Zhangjiagang |
| PRABHU LAL | 9,000 | Saudi Arabia | Early Oct (Est.) | Huaxi |
| PRABHU LAL | 5,000 | Saudi Arabia | Early Oct (Est.) | Zhangjiagang |
Data Source: Chempricehub
According to incomplete vessel schedule statistics from Chempricehub, cargo replenishments in September are primarily composed of domestic trade shipments. Saudi Arabian cargoes are expected to arrive in early October. Considering the anticipated replenishment via domestic trade and the incompleteness of current cargo statistics, China’s phenol imports in September are projected to remain relatively low, with a high probability of staying below 5,000 tons. For October, import volumes are expected to range between 15,000 and 20,000 tons.
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