Isopropyl alcohol market trending downward amid weak demand

1. Daily Summary

① The Shandong flagship plant’s external quote remains at 9,100 RMB/ton.

② Today’s domestic isopropanol industry capacity utilization rate stands at 49%.

2. Spot Market Overview

Table 1: Domestic Isopropanol Price Summary (Unit: RMB/ton)

Data Source: Chempricehub Information

Based on the East China region as a benchmark, isopropanol closed today at 9,225 RMB/ton, down 75 RMB/ton compared to the previous trading day. Raw material costs continue to provide support; however, due to weak demand follow-through, producers face significant pressure in closing new orders. Some high-end quotes have been softened downward. Inventory holders are actively selling, leaving room for negotiation in transactions. Actual market trades consist mainly of small-volume essential purchases, resulting in a quiet trading atmosphere.

3. Production Dynamics

Today, the isopropanol industry capacity utilization rate is 49%. Regarding profitability, acetone-route plants report losses of 350 RMB/ton, while propylene-route plants report losses of 134 RMB/ton.

4. Price Forecast

The market trading atmosphere is quiet. However, with raw material costs still providing support, inventory holders are operating cautiously, and quote ranges show little fluctuation. Downstream buyers are making inquiries based on immediate needs. Overall, the trading mood remains subdued, with market participants largely waiting for clearer trends. In summary, the short-term isopropanol market is expected to maintain range-bound fluctuations. Future attention should be paid to changes in raw material trends and downstream factory procurement activities.

5. Related Products

Acetone: Based on the Jiangsu region, acetone prices closed today at 8,575 RMB/ton, up 25 RMB/ton from the previous trading day. The East China acetone market experienced narrow fluctuations today. At the beginning of the week, a wait-and-see attitude prevailed in the acetone market. Inventory holders primarily quoted prices in line with market conditions. Petrochemical companies collectively lowered their posted prices, putting pressure on operators’ sentiment. End-user procurement follow-through was limited, with actual transactions consisting mostly of sporadic small orders and weak willingness for large-volume buying. Overall, trading activity appeared somewhat sluggish.

6. Data Calendar

Table 4: Domestic Isopropanol Data Overview (Unit: 10,000 tons)

Data Source: Chempricehub Information
Notes:

1. ↓↑ indicates significant volatility, highlighting data dimensions with changes exceeding 3%.
2. ↗↘ indicates narrow-range volatility, highlighting data dimensions with changes within 0–3%.
3. Capacity utilization rate refers to the weekly average operating rate.