Lead: China’s pure benzene imports in September totaled 386,600 tonnes, exceeding expectations by 36,600 tonnes. Imports are projected to decline to approximately 320,000 tonnes in October.
According to customs statistics, China imported 386,589.448 tonnes of pure benzene in September 2026, bringing the year-to-date cumulative import volume to 3,456,762.10 tonnes. The total import value for the month was USD 414.36 million, with an average unit price of USD 1,071.83 per tonne. Monthly import volumes decreased by 3.83% month-on-month and fell by 11.14% year-on-year. Cumulative imports were down 15.99% compared to the same period last year.
Regarding trade partners, South Korea remained the largest supplier, accounting for 183,000 tonnes of China’s September pure benzene imports, a decrease of 20.47% from August. South Korea’s share of total imports stood at 47.36%, down 9.88 percentage points from the previous month. This level aligns with the typical range of 45–50%. Other significant sources included Japan (40,700 tonnes), Brunei (39,900 tonnes), Indonesia (35,000 tonnes), Vietnam (23,500 tonnes), India (23,200 tonnes), and Thailand (23,200 tonnes). Import volumes from Oman, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other countries were each below 10,000 tonnes.
By registered location, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Fujian were the primary entry points for pure benzene imports in September, receiving 122,000 tonnes, 79,900 tonnes, and 35,100 tonnes, respectively. Other notable locations included Hainan (31,800 tonnes), Guangxi (28,300 tonnes), Shandong (26,000 tonnes), Guangdong (17,600 tonnes), Jiangsu (17,100 tonnes), Hubei (17,100 tonnes), and Tianjin (11,600 tonnes).
In terms of trade modes, general trade dominated, accounting for 363,000 tonnes (93.91%) of total imports. Processing trade with imported materials represented the secondary mode, contributing 23,600 tonnes (6.09%).
Although September’s import volume of 386,600 tonnes exceeded forecasts, it declined compared to August. Starting in October, concentrated maintenance shutdowns at South Korean facilities are expected to further reduce import volumes, which are estimated to fall within the range of 300,000 to 320,000 tonnes.
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