Most enterprises face no inventory pressure, and dichloromethane prices continue to rise.

1. Today’s Summary

① On October 9, both the United States and Iran stated that negotiations and dialogue are ongoing, easing market concerns. However, hurricanes continued to suppress U.S. crude oil production, driving international oil prices higher. NYMEX WTI November futures settled at $91.85/bbl, up $0.36 (+0.39%); ICE Brent December futures closed at $104.72/bbl, up $0.44 (+0.42%). China INE crude oil futures (November 2026 contract) rose by 3.9 yuan to 741.3 yuan/bbl in the daytime session, but fell by 1.5 yuan to 739.8 yuan/bbl in the night session.

② On October 10, domestic liquid chlorine prices rose to 350 yuan/ton.

2. Spot Market Overview

Table 1: Domestic Methylene Chloride Price Summary (Unit: Yuan/Ton)

Based on the Shandong region as a benchmark, methylene chloride prices in Shandong closed at 3150 yuan/ton today (range: 3150–3150 yuan/ton), representing an increase from the previous working day. The upward trend in the domestic methylene chloride market continued today. Overall operating rates declined further to approximately 60%. Some enterprises maintained low inventory levels with no pressure to sell, resulting in strong reluctance to offer material. Combined with simultaneous price increases in feedstocks methanol and liquid chlorine, chloromethane producers faced significant cost pressures and primarily raised their quotation prices. Downstream users and traders exhibited a "buy high, not buy low" mentality, keeping trading activity relatively stable.

3. Production Dynamics

The capacity utilization rate for chloromethanes stood at 64.80%, an increase from the previous working day. Regarding costs and profits, upstream raw materials liquid chlorine and methanol saw price increases today, raising the theoretical cost of chloromethanes. Calculated based on externally purchased liquid chlorine, the daily profit margin for chloromethanes was -207 yuan/ton.

4. Price Forecast

Raw materials methanol and liquid chlorine continue to operate at high levels, placing significant cost pressure on chloromethane producers. Coupled with industry-wide operating rates remaining at low levels and some enterprises holding minimal inventory without sales pressure, reluctance to sell remains strong. Looking ahead, methylene chloride prices are expected to remain firm, with attention focused on subsequent news developments.

5. Related Products Status

Refrigerant Market: Based on the spot market in East China, major fluorocarbon refrigerant R32 factories have stabilized prices at high levels through volume control to maintain pricing. As of press time, mainstream large-scale factories in East China quoted around 65,500 yuan/ton (coordinated domestic and export quotes). Mainstream market quotes in East China ranged between 63,500–64,500 yuan/ton, aligning with morning expectations. Market intelligence indicates that channel spot inquiries have been passively sluggish for an extended period, with fixed supply guarantee contracts for main original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Recently, quarterly long-term agreement discussions have intensified among commercial entities, awaiting finalization of actual orders. Small-package shipment frequency has slowed, leading source factories to strictly control incremental spot supplies. Statistics show that industry-wide operating rates for fluorocarbon refrigerant R32 have remained near 40%. Factory scheduling and consumption forces have contracted further recently, with declining export volumes. Amidst the sideways consolidation at high levels, channel holders are seeking opportunities to unload inventory. Interest in purchasing high-cost inventory is weak, with buyers waiting for clear pricing signals from mainstream large factories. Chempricehub forecasts that fluorocarbon refrigerant R32 will focus on volume control and price maintenance in the short term, with pricing determined through negotiated agreements. Attention should be paid to industry unit dynamics and production scheduling rhythms.

6. Data Calendar

Table 2: Domestic Chloromethane Data Overview (Unit: 10,000 tons)