The n-butanol market price center of gravity continued to move upward (September 4–10, 2026).

1. Market Focus This Week

1. Production: n-butanol operating rate was 68%, up 5 percentage points from last week, with output of 46,200 mt.

2. Demand: butyl acrylate capacity utilization rate was 56.04%, with output of 48,900 mt; butyl acetate capacity utilization rate was 62.96%, with output of 18,800 mt; DBP capacity utilization rate was 48.3%, with output of 9,200 mt.

2. This Week's Market Analysis

Weekly Price Changes in China's N-Butanol Market

Unit: yuan/mt

This week, the domestic n-butanol market first fell and then rose. After n-butanol prices rose continuously early in the week, resistance to high prices emerged. At the same time, feedstock propylene prices fell sharply for consecutive sessions, which strengthened the wait-and-see mood. In addition, as maintenance units were expected to gradually restart later, supply tightness was expected to ease. As a result, downstream buyers were cautious and mainly purchased on a hand-to-mouth basis on dips, high offers kept decreasing, and low-priced cargoes gradually appeared. However, sharp consecutive gains in international crude oil drove propylene prices to rise sharply for consecutive sessions, continuously strengthening cost-side support and stimulating downstream purchasing interest. Market trading sentiment improved, and n-butanol prices began to rise sharply, with the market center moving toward higher levels. Toward the end of the week, n-butanol prices continued to climb, low offers decreased and disappeared, and high-end prices kept rising.

3. Analysis of Market Influencing Factors

1. Downstream operating rates increased, and n-butanol supply increased.

2. This week, n-butanol's weekly average profit was 761 yuan/mt, up 380 yuan/mt from last week.

3. China's n-butanol output was 46,200 mt, up 3,400 mt from last week, an increase of 7.94%; plant capacity utilization rate was about 68%, up 5 percentage points from last week.

4. Next Week's Market Forecast

1. Supply: Some maintenance units plan to restart next week, so supply is expected to increase slightly next week.
2. Demand: Among the three major downstream sectors next week, butyl acetate and DBP operating rates will decline somewhat, while butyl acrylate operating load will rise slightly; therefore, demand is expected to decrease from this week.
3. Cost: Propylene prices have retreated from highs, and n-butanol costs are expected to edge down.

Overall, on the supply side, with maintenance units gradually restarting and resuming, market supply will gradually recover. Demand will weaken as downstream operating rates decline, easing the tight supply situation. However, producers continue to operate with low inventories, so pressure is limited, which provides some support to prices. In addition, although feedstock propylene has retreated from highs, it remains at a high level, so cost-side support for n-butanol remains strong. Therefore, domestic n-butanol market prices are expected to run in a high-level, slightly stronger range next week.

For more weekly market analysis, please refer to the Chempricehub Information Butanol/Octanol Weekly Report.