Core Viewpoint - The urgent demand for a more diverse futures product system in the plastic industry is highlighted, with the recent listing of pure benzene futures and options serving as a catalyst for discussions on enhancing the pricing influence of plastic futures [1][3]. Group 1: Industry Overview - China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of plastics, with production capacity increasing from less than 10 million tons in the 1990s to over 100 million tons by 2024, accounting for nearly 30% of global production [2]. - The revenue of the plastic products industry in China reached 2.5 trillion yuan, with PVC exports expected to hit 3.108 million tons in 2024, a year-on-year increase of approximately 59%, representing about 14% of domestic production [2]. Group 2: Futures Market Development - Plastic futures have gradually become an important pricing benchmark for domestic spot trade, playing a significant role in stabilizing production and operations for enterprises [2][3]. - The Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is planning to enhance the plastic futures product system by expanding into olefins, aromatics, and refining by-products, and introducing contracts that better align with enterprise trading cycles [4]. Group 3: Future Expectations - Participants expressed optimism about the DCE's role in supporting the internationalization of plastic futures and enhancing China's pricing influence in global markets [3][4]. - The DCE aims to improve the integration of futures prices into procurement, sales, and inventory strategies, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of China's chemical enterprises in international trade [4][5]. Group 4: Market Performance - The DCE has maintained its position as the world's largest plastic futures market for 16 consecutive years, with an average holding ratio of 37% among industrial clients in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of over 6 percentage points [5][6]. - The hedging efficiency and price correlation of plastic futures remain high, at 98% and over 92%, respectively, with approximately 90% of PVC spot trades directly using or referencing DCE futures pricing [6].