Supply Contraction Drives Overall BPA Market Uplift (Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2026)

1. Weekly Market Highlights

① The average operating rate of the Bisphenol A (BPA) industry this week was 66.67%, with BPA output declining compared to the previous period.

② Raw material markets for phenol and acetone weakened this week, leading to a decline in the average cost of BPA production.

③ Operating loads among the two major downstream sectors showed mixed trends, with one rising and the other falling.

2. Weekly Market Analysis

Table: Comparison of Average Regional BPA Prices in China This Week (CNY/ton)

Data Source: Chempricehub Information

The BPA market experienced an initial rise followed by a decline during this reporting period. As of Thursday's close, the mainstream transaction reference price in the East China market stood at 11,500 CNY/ton. Last weekend, Shandong Ruilin’s 240,000 tons/year BPA unit shut down. Coupled with rising costs and widening industry losses, suppliers adopted a firm pricing stance. Major producers raised their posted prices, and holders adjusted their offers upward accordingly. Downstream buyers primarily purchased based on rigid demand, making low-priced goods scarce, which pushed the transaction center significantly higher. However, due to the difficulty in passing on high costs and softening demand, market trading activity remained sparse. Subsequently, raw material costs dropped sharply. Since BPA producers continued to face losses, suppliers showed no intention to offer discounts, leading to a stalemate in the market. On Thursday, international crude oil prices fell sharply, spreading negative sentiment. Holders began showing willingness to offer discounts, while downstream buyers increased their wait-and-see attitude, causing the actual transaction center to decline weakly.

3. Analysis of Market Influencing Factors

1. High Chemical Materials operated normally, while Ruilin shut down its unit. Longjiang Chemical and Jilin Petrochemical operated at low loads. These factors collectively resulted in a decrease in BPA production for this period.

2. This week, the average BPA market price rose while the average cost declined, leading to an improvement in profit margins.

4. Future Outlook

The BPA market is expected to trend downward in the next period. Key areas to monitor include:

• Supply: BPA production is expected to decrease slightly next week. Spot supply pressure remains manageable, and plant inventories are generally acceptable.
• Demand: Downstream operating rates show mixed trends (one stable, one rising), leading to a slight increase in overall consumption. However, follow-through on spot demand remains limited.
• Costs: The raw material markets for phenol and acetone are trending lower, providing insufficient support from the cost side.
• Market Sentiment: With expectations of further declines in phenol and acetone prices and weak cost support, holders may be inclined to sell at discounted prices. However, given that the BPA industry is currently operating at a loss, there is limited room for market prices to fall further. Overall, short-term market fluctuations are expected to remain within a narrow range.

Table: Regional BPA Price Comparison (Nov 13 vs. Nov 6)