What is driving the surge in trimellitic anhydride and its impact on C9 aromatics demand?

What is driving the surge in trimellitic anhydride and its impact on C9 aromatics demand?
Trimellitic anhydride has become the standout downstream of C9 aromatics. One leading Chinese producer holds 85,000 tons per year of TMA capacity and saw first-quarter 2024 revenue reach 518 million yuan, up 28.8%, with net profit jumping 412.9% to 58.99 million yuan. The trigger was a major international supplier permanently closing its TMA line, tightening global supply and pushing prices from about 16,000 yuan per ton early in the year to above 40,000 yuan. Because TMA derives from pseudocumene, which makes up roughly 40% of reforming C9 aromatics, this single downstream is now the dominant pull on the whole C9 complex.