Help & Knowledge Base

What is Chemicals Updates?

Chemicals Updates is an independent chemical market intelligence and price reporting service for India. We publish daily spot and contract prices for solvents, aromatics, olefins, glycols, acids and polymers, along with market news, plant updates and historical price charts.

Who uses Chemicals Updates?

Chemical traders and brokers, purchase and procurement managers at manufacturers, marketing teams at distributors and producers, and importers who need India-specific and Asian price benchmarks to make buying, selling and hedging decisions.

Which markets do you cover?

Indian port (opening ports) prices, Indian domestic producer prices, the Mumbai drum market, and international CFR/FOB benchmarks for China, Iran, the Middle East and the wider Asia-Pacific.

How is Chemicals Updates different from ChemAnalyst, ICIS or Chemical Weekly?

We focus on daily, India-first price coverage delivered fast and affordably by WhatsApp, email and a login portal, with a 10-minute support response. Our port, producer and Mumbai drum coverage is built for how the Indian market actually trades.

Are you independent, or do you trade chemicals?

We are an independent reporting service. We do not buy, sell or broker chemicals and have no position in the markets we report, so our assessments are not influenced by trading interest.

How long has the service been running?

Chemicals Updates has been reporting Indian chemical prices for over a decade, with a historical price database going back many years.

What languages is the service available in?

Reports and support are in English. Support staff can also assist in Hindi.

Do you cover polymers as well as chemicals?

Yes. We track polymer prices for PP, PE (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE) and PVC, including Reliance (RIL) and GAIL circular prices, CFR India benchmarks and Mumbai stockist rates.

What subscription plans are available?

Plans range from a single daily price report to full access covering all price reports, market news, historical charts and the buyer-supplier directory. Contact us for the current plan list and pricing for your requirement.

What is included in a subscription?

Depending on the plan: daily port, producer, Mumbai drum and international price reports, polymer reports, plant and aromatics news, monthly trade reports, historical price trends, and directory access.

Is there a free trial or sample report?

We provide a free sample report so you can see the format and coverage before subscribing. Request one from the contact page.

How do I subscribe?

Send us your requirement through the contact page or by email or WhatsApp. We will confirm the right plan, share pricing and an invoice, and activate access once payment is received.

How long does a subscription last?

Subscriptions are typically annual, with monthly and quarterly options available for some plans. Renewal reminders are sent before expiry.

Can I subscribe to just one chemical or one report?

Yes. You can take a single report or a single product where the plan allows it, though most subscribers take a broader plan for better value.

Can I upgrade or add more reports later?

Yes. You can upgrade at any time; the balance is adjusted pro-rata against your current term.

Can more than one person in my company use the login?

Each subscription is for a defined number of users. Additional seats can be added. Sharing a single login across many users causes session conflicts (see Account & login).

Do you offer a discount for multiple products or a full-platform plan?

Yes, broader and multi-product plans are priced at a discount to taking each report separately.

What payment methods do you accept?

Bank transfer (NEFT/RTGS/IMPS) and UPI for Indian customers, and bank transfer for international customers. Payment details are on the invoice.

Will I get a GST invoice?

Yes. A GST tax invoice is issued for every subscription to registered Indian businesses. Share your GSTIN when you subscribe.

What currency are subscriptions billed in?

Indian customers are billed in INR. International customers can be billed in USD on request.

When does my access start?

Access is activated within one business day of payment confirmation, often the same day.

Is the subscription auto-renewing?

No. Subscriptions do not auto-charge. We send a renewal reminder before expiry and you choose whether to continue.

What happens when my subscription expires?

Report delivery and portal access stop on the expiry date. Your account and history are retained for a grace period so you can renew without losing continuity.

What is in a daily price report?

For each covered chemical: the current price, the previous price, the day-on-day change, the location and the basis (for example Ex-Kandla, ex-works or CFR India). Reports also carry brief market commentary and any producer revisions.

What time are the daily reports published?

Before the trading day begins - generally by around 9:00 AM IST on working days.

How are reports delivered?

By WhatsApp and email, and on the login portal where you can also filter, chart and download the data.

Do you publish on weekends and holidays?

Reports are published on trading days. There is no report on Sundays and national holidays; the next report picks up the change over the closed period.

I did not receive today's report - what do I do?

Check spam and your WhatsApp number on file, then contact support. We can resend immediately and fix the delivery issue.

Can I get past reports?

Yes. Historical reports and the underlying price series are available on the portal for subscribers, subject to the history depth in your plan.

What formats are the reports in?

WhatsApp and email reports are formatted text and tables. Portal data can be filtered on screen and exported to Excel.

Which price reports are there?

Daily: Opening Ports Price, Producer Price, Mumbai Drum Price, International Price, Indian Booking Price, China Market Price, Iran Chemical Price and Polymer reports. Plus plant news, aromatics news, expected-arrival and monthly trade reports.

How do I get chemical price alerts on WhatsApp?

Give us the WhatsApp number to use when you subscribe. Reports and alerts are then delivered to that number every trading day.

Can I change the WhatsApp number that receives reports?

Yes. Send the new number to support and we will switch delivery over.

How often are alerts sent?

The main price reports go out once a day before the market opens. Significant intraday moves or producer revisions are sent as a separate alert.

Can reports go to more than one number?

Yes, depending on your plan and number of seats. Additional delivery numbers can be added.

How do I stop receiving messages?

Reply STOP on WhatsApp or email support and we will pause delivery. This does not cancel your subscription unless you ask us to.

Do you use WhatsApp groups or personal messages?

Reports are delivered to your number directly. We do not add subscribers to shared groups, so your details stay private.

What determines the price of a chemical?

The main drivers are feedstock and crude oil cost, supply (producer operating rates and turnarounds), demand from downstream industries, import parity, the rupee-dollar exchange rate, and freight. For imported chemicals the landed cost sets a floor; for domestic chemicals the producer's cost and order book matter most.

Why are chemical prices increasing?

Common reasons are higher crude and naphtha costs, a plant turnaround or outage tightening supply, strong seasonal demand, a weaker rupee lifting the cost of imports, or higher ocean freight. A price report shows which of these is driving a given move.

Why do chemical prices fall?

Weak downstream demand, extra supply from new capacity or restarts, cheaper imports (especially from China), a stronger rupee, or falling crude all push prices down.

How does crude oil affect chemical prices?

Crude feeds naphtha, and naphtha feeds the olefins and aromatics that most solvents and polymers are made from. A sustained move in crude usually shows up in chemical prices within days to weeks.

What is import parity?

Import parity is the landed cost of an imported cargo - CFR price plus customs duty, port handling and inland freight. It acts as a ceiling on domestic prices: if landed imports are cheaper, local producers cannot raise prices much.

How does the rupee-dollar rate affect prices?

Most global chemical benchmarks are in US dollars. A weaker rupee raises the INR cost of imported cargoes even when the dollar price is unchanged, and gives domestic producers room to raise their own prices.

Why is the price different from one source to another?

A port ex-tank price, a producer ex-works price and a Mumbai drum price are three different things - they include different amounts of handling, packing, freight, tax and margin. Compare like with like.

Are chemical prices seasonal?

Some are. Agrochemical intermediates track the kharif and rabi cycles, paints and construction chemicals pick up before the monsoon and the festive season, and packaging demand rises in the second half of the year.

Do you provide a price forecast?

Our monthly and weekly analysis discusses the likely direction and the factors behind it. We do not publish a single guaranteed future number - price queries reward judgement plus current data, which the daily report provides.

What is a plant turnaround and why does it matter?

A turnaround is a planned maintenance shutdown. It removes supply for weeks, and if several producers are down together, or an outage is unplanned, prices for that chemical and its derivatives can rise sharply.

What is CFR India?

CFR (Cost and Freight) India is the price of a cargo delivered to an Indian port including sea freight, but before customs duty and local handling. It is the main reference for import parity into India.

What is the difference between CFR and CIF?

CFR includes freight to the destination port but not marine insurance; CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) includes both. So CIF is slightly higher than CFR for the same cargo.

What is the difference between CFR and FOB?

FOB (Free On Board) is the price at the loading port, with the buyer arranging and paying for freight and insurance. CFR is the price after the seller has added freight to the destination. FOB China plus China-India freight is roughly CFR India.

Which is better for a buyer, CIF or CFR?

Neither is inherently better - it depends on who can arrange freight and insurance more cheaply and who wants to carry that risk. Large importers often prefer FOB or CFR and place their own insurance; smaller buyers often prefer CIF for simplicity.

What does "ex-tank" mean?

Ex-tank is the price for product lifted from a storage tank at a port or terminal, after the cargo has been cleared through customs. It is what a buyer pays to take material out of the tank; it excludes onward inland freight.

What does "ex-works" or "ex-factory" mean?

Ex-works (also ex-factory or ex-plant) is the price at the producer's gate, before GST, freight and any distributor margin. It is the number quoted in producer price circulars.

What does "ex-godown" or "drum price" mean?

Ex-godown is the price for material collected from a distributor's warehouse, usually in 200-litre drums or small lots. It includes breaking bulk, storage and distributor margin, so it sits above the port ex-tank price.

How do I convert a CFR India price into a landed cost?

Add basic customs duty and applicable cess or surcharge, port and terminal handling, clearing and survey charges, and inland freight to your plant. IGST is charged on import but is normally creditable for registered buyers.

Are prices quoted in INR per kg or USD per tonne?

Domestic prices (producer, Mumbai drum, Indian port ex-tank) are quoted in INR per kg. International benchmarks (CFR, FOB) are quoted in US dollars per metric tonne.

Do the prices include GST?

No. Prices are generally quoted before GST. Indian port ex-tank prices do include the customs duty already paid on the cleared cargo, but not GST or onward freight.

What are opening ports prices?

They are the spot rates at which imported liquid chemicals trade at Indian ports, quoted ex-tank after customs clearance. They are published daily for solvents, aromatics, glycols, acids and monomers.

Which Indian ports do you cover?

Kandla and Mundra in Gujarat, Hazira near Surat, Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mumbai on the west coast, and Visakhapatnam on the east coast.

What does "Ex-Kandla" or "Ex-Hazira" mean?

It is the price for product lifted from tanks at that specific port. Ex-Kandla and Ex-Hazira are the two most quoted references for imported solvents in India.

Why do prices differ between ports?

Freight and parcel size to each port, which origin cargoes last discharged there, tank availability, and demand from the industrial clusters each port serves all pull the ex-tank price apart.

Do opening ports prices include GST?

No. They are ex-tank and exclude GST and onward inland freight, though they include the customs duty already paid on the cleared cargo.

How are opening ports prices assessed?

From daily conversations with importers, traders, buyers and distributors active at each port, cross-checked against concluded deals and offers.

What is the difference between the opening ports price and the CFR India price?

CFR India is the landed cost of a cargo before customs and handling. The opening ports (ex-tank) price is what a buyer pays for parcels lifted from the port tank after clearance and duty.

How often are port prices updated?

Every trading day, before the market opens.

What are domestic producer prices?

They are the ex-works list and contract prices published by Indian chemical manufacturers, as opposed to imported (port) prices or Mumbai wholesale drum rates.

Which Indian producers do you track?

Reliance, GNFC, GSFC, RCF, Deepak Nitrite, SRF, GACL, HOCL and Andhra Petrochemicals, plus refiners such as IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and MRPL for solvents and aromatics.

What is a price circular?

A producer notice that sets the new list price as an increase, a rollover (no change) or a decrease versus the previous circular, effective from a stated date.

What do "increase", "rollover" and "decrease" mean?

Increase and decrease are changes versus the last circular; rollover means the producer has kept the price unchanged. In a stable market, rollovers are common.

Are there discounts on the list price?

Usually. Producers apply cash discounts for prompt payment, quantity or loyalty schemes, and grade differentials, so the net price a buyer pays can be below the headline circular.

Do producer prices include GST?

No. Ex-works producer prices are quoted before GST, freight from the plant and any distributor margin.

How often do producers revise prices?

Typically every one to two weeks per product, and more often when feedstock or import prices move sharply.

Why is the producer price different from the port price?

Producer prices reflect domestic manufacturing cost and contract terms; port prices reflect the landed cost of imported cargoes. Together they set the band the market trades within.

What is the Mumbai drum price?

The wholesale ex-godown rate at which solvents, acids and intermediates trade in drums and small lots across the Mumbai, Bhiwandi and Vashi markets.

Which markets does it cover?

The Mumbai city trade, Bhiwandi (the main godown and distribution hub) and Vashi / Navi Mumbai near JNPT.

What is the difference between a drum price and a tanker price?

Tanker (bulk) prices are for full road-tanker or ISO-tank quantities from a port or plant. Drum prices are for 200-litre drums and small lots and carry a packing and handling premium.

Why is the Mumbai price higher than the port price?

The drum price adds breaking bulk from tanker to drum, drums and packing, storage, local handling and distributor margin on top of the underlying port ex-tank cost.

Do Mumbai market prices include GST?

They are quoted before GST, though they usually include local handling and delivery within the Mumbai and Bhiwandi belt.

Is this the same as the Tilak Bazar or Masjid Bunder chemical market?

It reflects trade across the organised Mumbai chemical distribution markets, including the traditional wholesale areas. It is a price assessment, not a directory of shops.

Which international benchmarks do you report?

CFR South Asia, CFR India, FOB China, FOB Korea and CFR Far East Asia for solvents, aromatics, olefins, glycols and polymers, alongside Brent and WTI crude and naphtha.

Why do China prices matter for Indian buyers?

China is the swing supplier for much of Asia. When Chinese domestic demand is weak, more export tonnage is offered into India and caps prices; Chinese plant turnarounds or capacity cuts do the opposite.

How is CFR India derived from CFR China?

A netback from the CFR China assessment to FOB North-East Asia is taken using freight, then freight from that origin to India is added to reach CFR India. Direct CFR India deals and offers are used where available.

Do you cover Iran chemical prices?

Yes. We publish an Iran chemical price report covering methanol and other products where Iran is a significant supplier into India and the region.

Why do you track crude and naphtha on the international report?

They are the upstream cost for most petrochemicals, so following them alongside product prices shows whether a move is cost-driven or demand-driven.

What is the difference between CFR South Asia and CFR India?

CFR South Asia is a regional assessment covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; CFR India is specific to Indian ports. They are usually close but can diverge on freight and local demand.

Will PVC / polymer / a specific chemical price go down?

Direction depends on crude, Chinese operating rates and export volumes, new capacity and Indian demand. The daily international and polymer reports and the monthly analysis track these so you can judge the trend.

How often are international benchmarks updated?

Every trading day.

Which polymers do you cover?

Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene - HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE - and PVC, with producer circular prices, CFR India benchmarks and Mumbai stockist rates.

Do you report Reliance (RIL) polymer prices?

Yes. Reliance polymer circular prices for PP, PE and PVC are tracked daily, on the day a revision is announced, alongside the open-market reaction.

Where can I get the Reliance polymer price list?

Reliance shares circulars with its authorised distributors. Our daily polymer report consolidates the circular price, import parity and stockist rates in one place.

Do you cover GAIL, OPaL, HMEL and other producers?

Yes, the polymer report references GAIL, ONGC Petro (OPaL), HMEL, Haldia Petrochemicals, IOCL and MRPL circulars where relevant.

What PP grades are quoted?

Raffia / TQPP for woven sacks and FIBC, homopolymer for injection and moulding, impact and random copolymer, film and BOPP, and fibre / thin-wall grades.

What is the difference between HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE?

They are polyethylene grades with different density and branching. HDPE is used for pipe, blow moulding and film; LLDPE mainly for film; LDPE for film and coating. They are priced separately.

What is the K-value in PVC?

The K-value reflects molecular weight. K67 (around K66-68) is the workhorse grade for pipes, profiles and cables; K57-58 is used for injection moulding and some films.

Why do polymer prices move with crude oil?

PP and PE are made from propylene and ethylene, which come from naphtha, which comes from crude. PVC is linked through ethylene and VCM. So polymer circulars follow the feedstock cost curve.

What does "polymer price today" mean on your reports?

It is the latest producer circular price plus the current Mumbai stockist / drum rate for each grade, updated every trading day.

How does import parity affect polymer prices?

CFR India offers from the Middle East, South Korea, China and Southeast Asia set a ceiling. When landed imported material is cheaper than the domestic circular, producers have little room to raise prices.

How far back does your price history go?

The database holds multi-year daily price series for the main chemicals and polymers. The history depth available to you depends on your plan.

Can I see price charts?

Yes. The portal plots historical price trends by product and location, and you can compare locations on the same chart.

Can I download the historical data?

Yes. Subscribers can export filtered price tables to Excel from the portal.

Do you publish a price forecast?

The weekly and monthly analysis covers the likely direction and the drivers behind it. We do not sell a single guaranteed forecast number.

How do I read a price trend?

Look at the direction of the last few moves, the spread between the domestic price and import parity, and the feedstock trend. Three consecutive increases usually signal a rising floor.

What is in the monthly trade report?

A month-in-review of price movements by product and market, the main demand and supply developments, plant news and an outlook for the coming weeks.

What news reports do you publish?

Plant news, aromatics news, chemical and polymer news, expected-arrival (vessel) reports and a monthly trade report.

What is a plant news report?

Coverage of turnarounds, outages, restarts, capacity additions and force majeure at chemical and polymer plants in India and Asia, since these move supply and price.

What is an expected-arrival or vessel report?

A summary of chemical cargoes and vessels heading to Indian ports, so buyers can anticipate supply arriving at Kandla, Hazira, JNPT and other ports.

What is the aromatics news report?

Focused news and pricing developments for benzene, toluene, xylenes and downstream aromatics, used heavily by traders and manufacturers in that chain.

How is the news different from the price report?

The price report gives you the numbers; the news reports explain the supply, demand and plant developments behind them.

Where does your news come from?

Our reporters' direct contact with producers, traders, port sources and distributors, plus monitoring of company and official announcements.

Do you cover the China and Iran markets in the news?

Yes, where developments there affect Indian import parity - Chinese operating rates and exports, and Iranian methanol supply in particular.

How many chemicals do you track?

Several hundred chemicals and polymers across the daily reports, covering the products that trade actively in the Indian and Asian markets.

Which chemical categories are covered?

Solvents, aromatics, olefins, glycols, alcohols, acids, chlor-alkali, plasticiser-range chemicals and polymers.

Which locations do you quote?

Indian ports (Kandla, Hazira, JNPT, Mundra, Vizag), ex-works producer locations, the Mumbai / Bhiwandi drum market, and international CFR/FOB points for China, Korea, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Do you cover China and Iran?

Yes - dedicated China market and Iran chemical price reports, plus CFR/FOB benchmarks.

Can you add a chemical that you do not currently cover?

Often, yes. Send us the product, grade and locations you need and we will tell you whether we can add it and when.

I only need one chemical - can I get just that?

Yes, where the plan allows a single product. Contact us with the chemical and basis you need.

What are the buyer and supplier directories?

Curated contact directories connecting chemical buyers and suppliers across India and the region, included with higher-tier plans.

Who is listed in the directory?

Importers, distributors, traders, manufacturers and end-users active in the Indian chemical market, organised by product and role.

How do I access the directory?

Through the login portal, if your plan includes directory access. Contact us to add it.

How do I get my company listed?

Send your company details, the products you buy or sell and your locations to support, and we will add you to the relevant directory.

Can I download the directory?

Directory data can be viewed on the portal; bulk export depends on your plan.

How do I log in to the portal?

Use the username and password issued when your subscription was activated, at the login page on the website.

I forgot my password - how do I reset it?

Use the "forgot password" link on the login page to receive a reset link by email, or contact support.

Is there a mobile app?

Yes, for iOS and Android. Log in with the same credentials as the website.

Why was I logged out when I signed in elsewhere?

Each subscription allows one active session at a time. Logging in on a new device ends the previous session. Extra seats are available if several people need simultaneous access.

Can I use the portal on more than one device?

You can use it on any device, but only one session stays active per login unless you have multiple seats.

How long does a login session last?

Sessions stay active while in use and expire after a period of inactivity or at subscription expiry.

How do I update my company name, GSTIN or contact details?

Send the change to support and we will update your account and invoicing details.

Where do your prices come from?

Daily conversations with producers, importers, traders, distributors, buyers and port sources, cross-checked against concluded deals, firm bids and offers.

How are the prices assessed?

Our reporters collect a range of transactions and offers through the day, discard outliers, and publish a representative price for each product and location. Values that move outside the expected range are re-checked before publication.

Are the prices live or delayed?

Subscriber reports are current for the trading day. The free preview chart on the website is deliberately delayed by at least two weeks so that live subscriber data is not exposed.

How accurate are the prices?

They are assessed market prices meant to reflect where business is being done. Individual deals vary with grade, quantity, payment terms and relationship, so treat them as a benchmark, not a fixed quote.

A price looks wrong - can you check it?

Yes. Contact support with the product, location and date and we will re-verify against our sources and issue a correction if needed.

Do you take positions in the market?

No. We do not trade, broker or hold inventory in any chemical we report, so assessments are independent of trading interest.

Why is the public price chart delayed?

To let the public and search engines discover the market coverage while keeping current prices - the value subscribers pay for - protected.

How does a trader use the daily report?

To set bids and offers against a current reference, spot when the domestic-to-import spread opens an arbitrage, and time buying or selling around producer circulars and plant news.

How does a procurement manager use it?

As an independent benchmark to check supplier quotes, to decide when to cover forward requirements, and to support price negotiations with a documented market reference.

Can I use your price in a contract as an index?

Many buyers reference a named price and basis (for example CFR India or a producer ex-works price) in quarterly contracts so the price adjusts with the market. Confirm the exact reference with your counterparty.

My supplier quoted above your price - what does that mean?

Supplier quotes include grade, quantity, freight, credit and relationship. Use our assessment as the market baseline and negotiate the premium or discount from there.

When should I buy, hold or negotiate?

If cover is short and circulars are trending up, booking near current levels is usually rational; if cover is adequate, watch whether the drum or open-market price is lagging the producer revision. The daily report and movers show this.

Can I share the reports inside my company?

Reports may be used within the subscribing organisation up to your seat count. Redistribution outside the company is not permitted - contact us for a team or enterprise plan.

How do I contact support?

By WhatsApp, email or the contact form on the website. WhatsApp is fastest for subscribers.

What are your support hours?

Support is available 24x7 for subscribers, with a target first response within 10 minutes during working hours.

Which languages does support work in?

English and Hindi.

How do I send feedback or request a new feature?

Email support or use the contact form. Requests for new products, locations or report formats are reviewed regularly.

How do I raise a complaint about the data or service?

Contact support with the details. Data queries are re-verified against our sources; service issues are escalated and answered directly.