【Introduction】: From January to September 2026, China’s epichlorohydrin (ECH) export market faced significant pressure, with cumulative exports totaling 30,600 tons, a sharp year-on-year decline of 50.24%. Domestic plants underwent concentrated maintenance shutdowns, while glycerin-route units reduced operating rates due to losses. Enterprises prioritized domestic supply, leading to a contraction in exportable volumes. Meanwhile, high domestic spot prices created an inverted price structure compared to overseas competitors, temporarily closing the export arbitrage window. These multiple factors suppressed enterprises’ willingness to export.
Table 1: Comparison of ECH Export Volumes, Jan–Sep 2026 (Unit: 10,000 tons)
| Item | Jan–Sep 2026 | Jan–Sep 2025 | Change | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export Volume | 3.06 | 6.15 | -3.09 | -50.24% |
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
From January to September 2026, China’s ECH export volume contracted significantly, averaging 3,400 tons per month. The peak export period was concentrated in the second quarter, with June recording 7,700 tons, the highest value for the period. In terms of driving logic, multiple ECH plants in South Korea underwent concentrated maintenance shutdowns in Q2. As South Korea is a market with both import and export attributes, its phased release of procurement demand from China was the core factor boosting current-period exports. Simultaneously, India’s epoxy resin industry maintained development, with demand from coatings and composite materials supporting ECH imports. However, limited incremental demand resulted from price pressures and competition from external products. Although domestic product quality has reached international standards, cost pressures weakened price competitiveness. Combined with the closure of overseas arbitrage windows, India’s procurement scale from China declined noticeably. Except for the second quarter, exports remained low in other months. Export prices fluctuated within the range of USD 1,520–1,905 per ton. Starting in July, export volumes fell back, followed by a slight recovery in prices.
Table 2: China’s ECH Exports by Country/Region, Jan–Sep 2026 (Unit: 10,000 tons)
| Province/Country | Jan–Sep 2026 | Jan–Sep 2025 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 1.49 | 2.65 | -43.77% |
| India | 1.02 | 1.83 | -44.26% |
| Chinese Taipei | 0.08 | 0.45 | -82.22% |
| Thailand | 0.10 | 0.44 | -77.27% |
| UAE | 0 | 0.20 | -100.00% |
| Brazil | 0.04 | 0.16 | -75.00% |
| Russia | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.00% |
| Others | 0.22 | 0.30 | -30.00% |
| Total | 3.06 | 6.15 | -50.24% |
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
According to customs statistics, the main destination countries/regions for China’s ECH exports from January to September 2026 were South Korea and India, ranking first and second respectively, with export volumes of 14,900 tons and 10,200 tons, accounting for 48.69% and 33.33% of total exports. During this period, ECH import demand in the Indian market shrank significantly, and its share of exports declined accordingly. South Korea remained the largest destination for Chinese ECH exports, but the export volume dropped sharply by 44.26% year-on-year. Traditional markets such as Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the UAE saw noticeable declines in export volumes. Only Russia maintained export volumes at levels similar to the previous year.
According to customs data, the trade structure of China’s ECH exports shifted notably from January to September 2026. Processing trade with imported materials accounted for 74.62%, becoming the primary trade mode; general trade accounted for 25.38%, falling to a secondary position. In terms of export source flow, shipments were mainly concentrated in South Korea and India. Enterprises mostly adopted flexible cooperative negotiation models based on domestic and international market conditions to offset cost pressures. The significant increase in the share of processing trade was primarily supported by raw material procurement demands associated with downstream industrial chains.
Table 3: China’s ECH Exports by Registered Province, Jan–Sep 2026 (Unit: 10,000 tons)
| Province | Jan–Sep 2026 | Jan–Sep 2025 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiangsu | 0.19 | 2.35 | -91.91% |
| Zhejiang | 1.02 | 1.93 | -47.15% |
| Fujian | 1.59 | 1.51 | +5.30% |
| Shandong | 0.19 | 0.27 | -29.63% |
| Shanghai | 0.01 | 0.02 | -50.00% |
| Henan | 0.02 | 0.04 | -50.00% |
| Guangdong | 0.01 | 0.00 | -- |
| Liaoning | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.00% |
| Hainan | 0.01 | 0 | -- |
| Total | 3.06 | 6.15 | -50.41% |
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
The landscape of provinces supplying China’s ECH exports changed from January to September 2026. Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces collectively exported 28,000 tons, accounting for 91.5% of total exports. Fujian’s export volume rose to 15,900 tons, up 5.3% year-on-year, jumping to first place. Zhejiang ranked second with 10,200 tons. Jiangsu’s exports shrank dramatically to 1,900 tons, showing a cliff-like year-on-year decline. Only Fujian achieved slight positive growth year-on-year. Overall, the concentration of China’s export sources increased further, reshaping the provincial export landscape, primarily due to differences in plant operating rates and foreign sales orders across regions.
Looking at 2026 data, China’s ECH export performance is regionally concentrated, with goods flowing mainly to the two major markets of South Korea and India. While Indian market demand still holds substantial volume, it has declined significantly year-on-year, weakening expectations for short-term rapid growth. The domestic ECH industry is gradually entering a phase of oversupply, but with weakening external market demand, the difficulty of using exports to alleviate domestic supply pressure has increased.
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