Lead: Due to maintenance at multiple reformer units including Shenghong Refining and Chemical, the market for industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics has tightened again in July. Raw material supply for carbon ten method durene units is in a transitional gap, while synthetic method durene units have no startup plans. Spot tightness supports a resurgence in the durene market, with the mainstream price rising to 12,000 yuan/ton, up 20.00% from the same period last week.
I. Multiple Reformer Units Undergoing Concentrated Maintenance
Table 1 Maintenance Statistics for Selected Domestic Reformer Units
| Production Enterprise | Product | Capacity (10,000 t) | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebei Zhongjie | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 15 | 2026/3/20 | -- |
| Yangzi Petrochemical | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 20 | 2026/5/17 | 2026/7/1 |
| Zhoushan Petrochemical | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 6 | 2026/5/1 | -- |
| Ningbo Zhongjin | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 24 | 2026/5/29 | -- |
| Shenghong Refining and Chemical | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 57 | 2026/7/1 | End of August 2026 |
| Fuhai Chuang | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 15 | 2026/6/25 | End of August 2026 |
| Fuhai Holdings | Industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics | 12 | 2026/7/1 | End of August 2026 |
| Total | 100 | -- | -- |
Data source: chempricehub Information
According to statistics from chempricehub Information, entering July, multiple reformer units such as Shenghong Refining and Chemical and Fuhai Chuang successively began maintenance, while previously shut units like Yangzi and Zhejiang Petrochemical have not yet restarted. As of the end of July, the total idle capacity for industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics in China is nearly 1 million tons. Meanwhile, Jinling Petrochemical has no external sales plans for industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics, and external sales volumes from refineries such as Zhenhai Petrochemical and Shanghai Petrochemical have decreased by nearly half compared to June, further exacerbating the tight spot supply situation.
II. Durene Unit Operating Rate Remains Low
Affected by the reduced external sales of industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics, raw material supply for domestic carbon ten method durene units is in a transitional gap, with multiple units reducing loads or even shutting down. Shandong Saier and Anhui Yunjia carbon ten method durene units have shut down; Anqing Yicheng and others have reduced loads; Hualun Chemical's new capacity has not yet started operation, requiring external procurement of durene to meet downstream production needs. Additionally, synthetic method durene units such as Shaanxi Huahaoxuan have no startup plans. As a result, the overall domestic durene unit operating rate is only around 24.00%, with many units holding low inventories.
III. Durene Market Price Surges Significantly
Therefore, supported by tight spot supply, the domestic durene market has a strong bullish push sentiment. After an overall decline in June, prices began to rebound, with the mainstream price rising to 12,000 yuan/ton, an increase of nearly 20.00%. However, due to persistently weak downstream demand from end markets such as polyimide films, crude anhydride and pyromellitic dianhydride manufacturers have slow shipments and are also operating negatively, maintaining only just-in-time procurement of raw material durene. Hence, market transactions are mostly cautious and wait-and-see.
In the short term, domestic supply of industrial carbon ten heavy aromatics continues to decrease within the month, synthetic method durene units have not yet started, and carbon ten method durene market players have strong bullish sentiment. However, crude anhydride and pyromellitic dianhydride manufacturers are mainly consuming previously placed low-price orders, and new orders are weak in price increases, which may limit the upward space for durene prices. Market conditions such as the operating rate of durene units and downstream demand recovery remain the focus of market attention.
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