What drives the structural supply-demand balance in China's acetonitrile market?

What drives the structural supply-demand balance in China's acetonitrile market?
China's acetonitrile supply is highly concentrated among a few large producers, including Sierbang Petrochemical (a subsidiary of Eastern Shenghong), Shanghai SECCO, Jilin Petrochemical, Anqing Petrochemical, and Daqing Huake. Sierbang alone has monthly capacity of 1,500 tons and operates on long-term contracts, often running at full allocation. Most domestic producers are small, intensifying competition. Production is tied to acrylonitrile units, as acetonitrile is extracted as a byproduct, limiting independent output flexibility. Demand spans pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, laboratory solvents, and emerging uses such as DNA synthesis and electronics cleaning, all requiring high-purity grades. The market is also export-oriented, with India a significant consumer. Any shift in acrylonitrile operating rates or export allocations directly impacts domestic availability and pricing.