Production: The operating rate for n-butanol was 79%, an increase of 11 percentage points from the previous week, with a total output of 53,900 tons.
Demand: The capacity utilization rate for butyl acrylate was 55.95%, with an output of 48,800 tons; the capacity utilization rate for butyl acetate was 57.07%, with an output of 17,100 tons; the capacity utilization rate for DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate) was 46.45%, with an output of 8,800 tons.
Domestic n-Butanol Mainstream Regional Price Trend Chart (CNY/ton)
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
Weekly Price Change Table for Domestic n-Butanol Market Prices
Unit: CNY/ton
| Region | This Week's Closing Price | Last Week's Closing Price | Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shandong | 8750 | 8670 | +80 | +0.92% |
| East China | 8825 | 8750 | +75 | +0.86% |
| South China | 8775 | 8525 | +250 | +2.93% |
Data Source: Chempricehub Information
During this period, the domestic n-butanol market rose and then consolidated at high levels. Initially, prices surged strongly, primarily driven by rising international crude oil prices, which led to consecutive significant increases in the price of the raw material propylene. This intensified cost pressures on n-butanol producers while bolstering market price support. Additionally, downstream buyers increased their procurement of essential quantities when prices dipped, resulting in active inquiries and transactions. Due to ongoing maintenance shutdowns of certain units, factory inventories remained low, limiting market supply. Consequently, low-priced offers disappeared, and new high-end price points emerged. After prices reached elevated levels, resistance to high prices appeared in the market. Simultaneously, the price of propylene began to decline, weakening its support for n-butanol costs. Furthermore, after concentrated downstream purchasing, demand shifted towards consuming existing raw material inventories. With some maintenance units restarting, market supply increased, leading to a high-level adjustment in n-butanol prices.
Downstream operating rates declined, leading to an increase in n-butanol supply availability.
The average weekly profit for n-butanol was 1,054 CNY/ton this week, an increase of 293 CNY/ton compared to the previous period.
China's n-butanol output was 53,900 tons, an increase of 7,700 tons from the previous week (a growth rate of 16.67%). The overall capacity utilization rate was approximately 79%, up by 11 percentage points from the previous week.
Next Week's Market Forecast
Supply: More units restarting after maintenance are expected next week, leading to a slight increase in supply.
Demand: Operating rates for the three major downstream sectors are projected to decline, resulting in lower demand compared to this week.
Cost: Propylene prices are expected to stabilize after a drop and then rise, keeping n-butanol production costs at a high level.
In summary, as maintenance units gradually restart, although some new units may enter maintenance for order fulfillment, the overall market supply is set to increase steadily. Meanwhile, downstream demand is likely to decrease due to lower operating rates among downstream users. Despite a potential surplus in supply, production plants will continue to operate with low inventory levels, mitigating the negative impact on the market. Regarding raw materials, propylene prices are expected to fall first and then rise, remaining at high levels, thus providing strong cost-side support for n-butanol. Therefore, domestic n-butanol prices are predicted to fluctuate within a high range next week.
For more detailed weekly market analysis, please refer to the Chempricehub Weekly Report on Butanols.
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