苯酚市场运行压力有增无减

Core Viewpoint - The phenol market has been experiencing a downward trend since the second quarter, with prices dropping over 10% from a peak of 7350 yuan per ton in April to around 6600 yuan in June, amid unresolved supply-demand conflicts and the upcoming commissioning of new production facilities [1] Supply Side Pressure - Domestic phenol and acetone production capacity has rapidly increased, leading to an oversupply situation that has persisted into the second quarter of this year, with production capacity expected to reach 6.39 million tons per year by 2024 [2] - In April, phenol prices peaked at 7350 yuan but fell back to 6900 yuan in May due to weak demand and oversupply, resulting in a year-on-year price drop of over 13% for the month [2] - Despite some production facilities undergoing maintenance, the overall operating rate of phenol and acetone plants increased by 2.1 percentage points to 77%, leading to a 6.24% rise in phenol output month-on-month, which further suppressed price increases [2] Cost Side Drag - Pure benzene, which accounts for about 40% of phenol production costs, has seen a continuous decline in price, failing to provide cost support for phenol [3] - In April, pure benzene prices in East China dropped over 800 yuan, falling below 6000 yuan, and reached a low of 5700 yuan before recovering slightly due to tariff negotiations, but remained under pressure from increased imports and inventory [3] - Propylene prices also faced downward pressure, hitting a new low of 6350 yuan at the end of May, with weak demand limiting any potential price recovery [3] Weak Demand - The largest downstream application of phenol is bisphenol A, which has been experiencing declining prices due to oversupply and slow demand recovery, leading to a cautious purchasing strategy among phenol buyers [4] - The market for bisphenol A is expected to remain weak in the short term, with ongoing price pressure from buyers and limited purchasing activity, although further price declines may be limited as current prices approach cost levels [4] - Overall, the phenol market is facing triple pressures from oversupply, cost declines, and weak demand, making it difficult to reverse the current weak market trend in the short term [4]