Cost Support Strong, Market Center Rebounds (2026-09-09)

1. Today's Highlights

• Sep 8: Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities and the continuing U.S.–Iran military conflict kept supply-side risk elevated, pushing international crude prices higher. NYMEX crude futures for October settled at USD 93.03/bbl, up USD 1.55/bbl (+1.69% day on day); ICE Brent futures for November settled at USD 97.92/bbl, up USD 0.92/bbl (+0.95% day on day). China's INE crude futures (October 2026, 2610 contract) rose 14.8 CNY/bbl to 703.3 CNY/bbl and added another 11.4 CNY/bbl to 714.7 CNY/bbl in night trading.
• Sep 9: Domestic liquid chlorine prices held steady at 150 CNY/mt today.

2. Spot Market Overview

Table 1 Domestic dichloromethane price summary (unit: CNY/mt)

Based on the Shandong market as the benchmark, dichloromethane in Shandong closed at 2,200 CNY/mt (trading range: 2,200–2,200 CNY/mt) today, up from the previous working day. The domestic dichloromethane market rebounded off the bottom today. Some units in the region cut operating loads, with regional performance uneven, while several producers faced limited inventory pressure. Meanwhile, the sharp run-up in feedstock methanol provided strong cost support, and with chloromethane producers under heavy losses, offers were revised upward, pushing the market center higher.

3. Production Update

Chloromethane capacity utilization stood at 75.36%, down from the previous working day. On the cost-profit side, feedstock liquid chlorine prices were stable today while methanol prices rose, lifting the theoretical cost of chloromethanes. Calculated based on externally purchased liquid chlorine, daily chloromethane profit stood at -439 CNY/mt.

4. Price Forecast

Although substantive support from end-use demand is limited, sharp gains in feedstock methanol have widened losses at chloromethane producers. Combined with comfortable inventory levels, producers remain mainly focused on supporting price increases. Looking ahead, the domestic dichloromethane market is expected to continue its steady upward trend; attention should be paid to later news developments.

5. Related Product Market

Refrigerant market: Taking the East China bulk market as the benchmark, mainstream fluorinated refrigerant R32 plants held firm at high levels, controlling supply to defend prices. As of press time, a major East China plant's offer was referenced at 65,500 CNY/mt (coordinated offers for domestic and export sales); mainstream East China market offers were referenced at 63,500–64,500 CNY/mt, in line with earlier expectations. Market sources indicate that bulk inquiries in the distribution channel have remained persistently subdued, with supply dedicated to fixed OEM commitments and small-package shipments moving slowly. Therefore, upstream plants are strictly limiting spot supply increases; according to statistics, the industry-wide operating load for refrigerant R32 remains around 40–50%. Recently, frequent rainy weather in South China has dampened buying interest, and OEM production scheduling and consumption momentum have further contracted. With R32 consolidating at high levels, channel inventory holders are seeking opportunities to sell and destock, yet show little intention to buy higher-cost material, waiting instead for major plants to release clearer offer signals. Chempricehub expects refrigerant R32 to remain primarily under volume control and price defense mode in the near term, with contract pricing determined through negotiation; monitor industry plant dynamics and production scheduling.

6. Data Calendar

Table 2 Domestic chloromethane data at a glance (unit: 10,000 mt)