Using Historical Chemical Prices to Plan Future Purchases

1. Organic Chemicals

Organic chemicals include alcohols and glycols, amines and nitrogenous organics, aromatics and olefins, monomers and resin intermediates, organic acids and anhydrides, plasticizers, and solvents, ketones and esters.

During September, tighter methanol availability in China supported prices, while higher acetic acid costs increased pressure across related chemical chains. However, downstream products experienced different degrees of price movement.

Ethyl acetate buyers resisted higher offers and largely purchased according to immediate requirements. Butyl acetate received support from higher acetic acid costs and slightly lower operating rates, although declining n-butanol prices partly offset that pressure.

Key insight: Rising feedstock costs do not guarantee equivalent price increases across downstream chemicals. Manufacturers must consider input costs alongside operating rates, inventories, customer demand, and their ability to pass through higher expenses.

2. Inorganic Chemicals

Inorganic chemicals include alkalis and bases, halogens and fluorochemicals, boron and silicon compounds, inorganic salts, mineral acids, and sulphur and carbon products.

September conditions were mixed. Chinese sulphuric acid prices softened during the middle of the month, while caustic soda remained stable. At the same time, international sulphur supply pressures continued to influence phosphoric-acid production economics.

For import-dependent producers, the availability and reliability of sulphur deliveries can be as important as the quoted input price. These conditions are particularly relevant to phosphate-processing supply chains.

Key insight: Local chemical prices may diverge from international feedstock pressures because domestic production, import dependence, inventories, and industrial consumption differ by market.

3. Specialty Chemicals

Grand View Signal's specialty chemicals coverage includes ammonium persulfate, sodium hypochlorite, sodium persulfate, and hydrogen peroxide.