Chemical Updates

Aromatics News as on 18-Jul-26 / Asian Benzene: Prices rise on firmer demand / Sinopec raises east China benzene listed price to Yuan 8,000/mt / US-Iran tensions support crude oil markets / Asian Benzene Daily Rationale & Exclusions

Jul 18, 2026

Asian benzene $11/mt higher on the session at $955.33/mt FOB Korea on July 17. During the Market on Close assessment process, no trades were reported. In CFR China floating price discussions, an offer for December arrival was heard at a premium of $32/mt against the December weekly Mean of Korea, with no return bids heard, for a 6,000-mt cargo with Korea or Southeast Asia origin. Benzene prices were broadly supported amid a widening arbitrage window to send benzene cargoes from South Korea to the US, regional market participants told. “Blending demand has been extremely strong this year [in the US],” a Northeast Asia-based source said, adding that lower inventories of benzene in China were also supporting prices. Port inventories of benzene in east China stood at 56,500 metric tons as...

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