(1) The shortage of spot resources in the market remains difficult to ease, with merchants maintaining high offer levels.
(2) Downstream production costs continue to come under mounting pressure, and some enterprises have scheduled load-reduction operations.
(3) The situation in the Middle East remains uncertain, keeping crude oil prices at elevated levels.
During this period, domestic butadiene prices moved up sharply. Temporary shutdowns at some plants in North China reduced domestic supply and further aggravated the shortage of spot resources. Meanwhile, crude oil prices stayed high, strengthening cost support for butadiene and fueling strong bullish sentiment, with traders actively holding firm offers. Although downstream production cost pressure kept building as feedstock prices rose—and news of load reductions and shutdowns at synthetic rubber units emerged one after another, leading to somewhat tepid demand follow-through and growing resistance to high-priced transactions—limited marketable spot supply continued to underpin the broad upward movement in market prices. As of September 3, 2026, delivered prices in the Luzhong area of Shandong were at 14,300–14,800 yuan/t, while ex-tank self-pickup prices in East China were referenced at 14,500–14,600 yuan/t.
| Product | Region/Category | Current Period Avg. | Previous Period Avg. | Change | Change % | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil | Brent | 92.52 | 91.35 | 1.17 | 1.28% | USD/bbl |
| Naphtha | Japan | 848.19 | 817.35 | 30.84 | 3.77% | USD/t |
| Butadiene | Sinopec ex-plant list price | 13,720 | 12,440 | 1,280 | 10.29% | yuan/t |
| CFR China | 1,548 | 1,506 | 42 | 2.76% | USD/t | |
| FOB Korea | 1,478 | 1,446 | 32 | 2.18% | USD/t | |
| Shandong | 13,960 | 12,730 | 1,230 | 9.66% | yuan/t | |
| Jiangsu | 13,720 | 12,370 | 1,350 | 10.91% | yuan/t | |
| Jiangyin | 13,540 | 12,180 | 1,360 | 11.17% | yuan/t | |
| Zhejiang | 13,558 | 12,370 | 1,188 | 9.60% | yuan/t | |
| Butadiene rubber (BR) | Shandong | 14,910 | 14,390 | 520 | 3.61% | yuan/t |
| Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) | Shandong | 15,070 | 14,640 | 430 | 2.94% | yuan/t |
| SBS | Shandong | 13,880 | 13,620 | 260 | 1.91% | yuan/t |
| ABS | Yuyao | 10,640 | 10,200 | 440 | 4.31% | yuan/t |
| Nitrile rubber (NBR) | Hengshui | 16,980 | 16,740 | 240 | 1.43% | yuan/t |
Source: Chempricehub
Domestic butadiene prices are expected to consolidate at high levels with fluctuations in the coming period. On the supply side, some units in North China remain under temporary shutdown, and no significant increase in domestic supply is expected; marketable spot resources will stay tight, underpinning traders' firm offers and a strong reluctance to sell. On the demand side, some enterprises in Shandong have reduced operating rates at their butadiene rubber units, Shenhua Chemical has shut down its SBR unit, LCY Chemical is running its SBR unit at reduced rates, and Gulei Petrochemical has lowered the operating rate of its SBS unit—all pointing to weaker butadiene demand and potentially putting some downward pressure on the market. However, considering that some potential export demand for butadiene cargoes remains in September and low-priced spot supplies are hard to find, domestic butadiene prices are expected to hold at high levels in consolidation, with delivered prices in the Luzhong area of Shandong forecast at 14,000–15,000 yuan/t. Close and cautious monitoring of supply-side changes at home and abroad is advised for further direction.
For more weekly market analysis, please refer to the Chempricehub Butadiene Weekly Report.
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