Various parties are discussing whether the trend of rising prices of chemical products can be sustained. The game of supply and demand is unfolding in both directions, making it difficult for prices to rise significantly or fall significantly.

Since the beginning of this year, news of chemical price increases has been constantly hitting the headlines. Influenced by factors such as rising crude oil prices and increased downstream stocking demand, institutional data shows that in the first quarter of 2026, prices of 9 chemical products have risen by over 50%, with prices of nonene, polyether, pentanol, expandable polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and methyl methacrylate leading the way. Experts from institutions and executives from listed companies interviewed by reporters stated that the current logic of the chemical market has shifted towards a two-way play of supply and demand, and many varieties with significant price increases in the early stage may not have sustainable price increases in the future; at the same time, due to certain demand support on the demand side, prices of some varieties are unlikely to experience significant pullbacks.