Chemical Updates

Asia OX / China PA surge supports OX sentiment / Buyers hesitate amid volatility / Asian Orthoxylene Weekly Rationale

Jul 18, 2026

Asian orthoxylene sentiment strengthened during the week ending July 17, buoyed by the strength in crude and firmer downstream in China. FOB China and CFR China $35/mt higher on week at $1,065/mt and FOB Korea $52/mt higher over the same period at $1,172/mt July 17. During the trade session on July 17, bids on the FOB Korea basis rose from $1,151/mt to $1,171/mt, for a 3,000 mt cargo to be loaded in August. Producers based in Northeast Asia preferred floating prices based on isomer-MX FOB Korea, with a premium heard higher than $180/mt. While Sinopec OX listed price remained unchanged at Yuan 7,800/mt as of July 17, market participants in China expected the domestic producer to raise the price in the near term, supported by the recent rebound in crude...

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