① [Chempricehub] Oct 22: International crude oil prices rose amid market concerns over potential escalation of the US-Iran conflict, compounded by supply risks from Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. NYMEX WTI crude oil futures (December contract) closed at $99.47/bbl, up $2.32/bbl (+2.39% DoD); ICE Brent crude oil futures (December contract) closed at $113.17/bbl, up $4.35/bbl (+4.00% DoD). INE crude oil futures (contract 2612) in China rose by 1.2 to CNY 702/bbl, with night session gains pushing it to CNY 713.2/bbl (+11.2).
② Today’s domestic cyclohexanone capacity utilization rate is approximately 59.7%. The trend toward integrated production continues to mature, with most facilities co-producing caprolactam. Supply of commercial-grade cyclohexanone remains stable, while downstream chemical fiber orders are being placed on an as-needed basis.
③ Sinopec refineries in East, South, and Central China have reduced pure benzene prices by CNY 200/ton to CNY 10,600/ton, effective October 16.
Table 1: Domestic Cyclohexanone Price Summary (Unit: CNY/ton)
| Market | Specification | Oct 22 | Oct 23 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East China | Cyclohexanone | 11,600 | 11,625 | +25 | +0.22% |
Data Source: Chempricehub
Based on the East China market, today’s cyclohexanone price reference range is CNY 11,600–11,650/ton, representing an increase of CNY 25/ton compared to the previous trading day (+0.22%). Cost pressures from raw materials persist. While spot supply of cyclohexanone remains stable, downstream buyers are cautious about accepting higher prices, resulting in a stagnant and fluctuating market trend.
Today, integration between cyclohexanone and caprolactam production has improved, leading to a reduction in the supply of commercial-grade cyclohexanone. Downstream chemical fiber orders remain limited.
Pure benzene is trending sideways, maintaining cost-side pressure. Capacity utilization for commercial-grade cyclohexanone remains moderate, with downstream procurement primarily driven by immediate needs. In the short term, cyclohexanone prices are expected to follow pure benzene trends, consolidating within a fluctuating range.
Pure Benzene Market: On October 23, spot prices for pure benzene in East China rose, with transaction negotiations ranging from CNY 10,450 to 10,650/ton, largely aligning with morning forecasts. Strong support from the cost side, further increases in international crude oil prices, geopolitical disruptions driving up costs, and low port inventories have kept the market bullish. However, negative feedback from downstream sectors is accumulating, limiting upside potential.
Caprolactam: Today, the caprolactam price in East China was CNY 13,900/ton (acceptance delivery), down CNY 75/ton from the previous working day. Supply-side pressures are emerging in certain regions, causing the center of gravity for spot negotiations to gradually decline.
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