需求恢复面临考验，乙二醇短期延续偏弱震荡预期

Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided Core View of the Report - The demand recovery of ethylene glycol is facing challenges, and it is expected to continue its weak and volatile trend in the short term. Currently, ethylene glycol is in a situation of weak supply and demand. The cost side restricts the price from falling sharply, but there is no new cost support. The demand side lacks incremental boost, and the high inventory suppresses market sentiment. The short - term price may continue to oscillate at a low level, and if the demand fails to substantially improve, the lower support may be tested [1][3] Summary by Relevant Catalogs Day - to - Day Market Summary - 主力合约与基差: On September 12, the price of the ethylene glycol main contract oscillated downward to 4,272 yuan/ton, a decrease of 30 yuan/0.7% from the previous day. The East China spot price also fell to 4,380 yuan/ton (-25 yuan), but the basis widened by 30 yuan to 138 yuan/ton. The inter - delivery spread showed an intensified contango, with the 5 - 9 spread widening negatively to - 89 yuan/ton, indicating deepening concerns about future supply [2] - 持仓与成交: The trading volume of the main contract remained around 134,000 lots, while the open interest increased by 8,245 lots to 317,000 lots, suggesting intensified long - short game [2] - 供给端: The total ethylene glycol operating rate remained stable at 71.24%. The operating rates of oil - based and coal - based plants were flat at 74.6% and 66.74% respectively. The coal - based profit continued to be deeply in the red at 368 yuan/ton, with no further expansion of losses but lack of repair momentum [2] - 需求端: The load of polyester factories was 89.42%, and that of Jiangsu and Zhejiang looms was 63.43%, both remaining flat for more than two weeks. Due to the off - season pressure in the terminal textile industry, the downstream replenishment demand was weak and could not effectively drive the raw materials [3] - 库存端: The inventory at the East China main port increased by 59,000 tons to 485,700 tons in a single week. The inventory in Zhangjiagang soared by 40.6% to 180,000 tons. Although the weekly arrival volume decreased by 39.7% to 101,700 tons, the port inventory accumulation reflected that the source digestion speed lagged far behind the arrival rhythm, highlighting the inventory pressure [3] - 震荡偏弱运行: Ethylene glycol is in a situation of weak supply and demand. The coal - based loss restricts the price from falling sharply, but the fluctuations of crude oil and naphtha have not provided new cost support for oil - based profits. The polyester and loom loads are stable but lack incremental boost, and the high - level inventory suppresses market sentiment. The short - term price may continue to oscillate at a low level [3] Industrial Chain Price Monitoring - 期货与现货价格: The main contract price of MEG futures was 4,272 yuan/ton on September 12, down 30 yuan (-0.7%) from the previous day. The East China spot price was 4,380 yuan/ton, down 25 yuan (-0.57%) [4] - 价差情况: The MEG basis widened by 30 yuan to 138 yuan/ton. The 1 - 5 spread increased by 1 yuan to - 47 yuan/ton, the 5 - 9 spread decreased by 31 yuan to - 89 yuan/ton, and the 9 - 1 spread increased by 30 yuan to 136 yuan/ton [4] - 利润情况: The coal - based profit remained at - 368 yuan/ton, with no change [4] - 开工负荷: The overall ethylene glycol operating rate was 71.2%, and the coal - based and oil - based operating rates were 66.7% and 74.6% respectively, all remaining unchanged. The polyester factory load was 89.4%, and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang loom load was 63.4%, also unchanged [4] - 库存与到港量: The East China main port inventory increased by 59,000 tons to 486,000 tons, and the Zhangjiagang inventory increased by 52,000 tons to 180,000 tons, a surge of 40.62%. The arrival volume decreased by 67,000 tons to 101,700 tons, a decrease of 39.72% [4] Industrial Dynamics and Interpretation - On September 12, the East China US - dollar market followed the domestic market to weaken. In the morning, the negotiation price of October shipments was in the range of 512 - 515 US dollars/ton, and in the afternoon, that of near - month shipments was in the range of 514 - 517 US dollars/ton, with no reported transactions [5] - On September 12, the mainstream market price fell, but the ethylene glycol price in the South China market had reached a low level, and the quotations of holders remained stable. The market negotiation atmosphere was cold, with the current price around 4,460 yuan/ton for delivery [5] - On September 12, due to concerns about oversupply, the international crude oil price declined, the cost - side support weakened, and the spot basis was weak. The current negotiation price in East China was around 4,370 yuan/ton [5] - On September 12, the spot quotation in the Shaanxi ethylene glycol market was lowered, with the average market price around 3,970 yuan/ton for self - pick - up [5] Appendix: Big Model Inference Process - The decrease in the main contract price and the increase in the basis may indicate that the spot is more resistant to decline or the market has a weak future expectation [22] - The increase in open interest and the significant change in the 5 - 9 spread may reflect the bearish sentiment towards the far - month contract [22] - The stable supply - side operating rate and the unchanged demand - side load, combined with the inventory accumulation, suggest weak demand and difficult de - stocking [23] - Given the high inventory pressure, weak demand, and certain cost - side support, the ethylene glycol price may continue to be weak and may even decline further [23]