December 8, 2025
In the first quarter, the domestic ABS market experienced a shift in focus due to weaker-than-expected demand and oversupply. January and February saw a market slowdown, followed by acceleration in March. By late March, driven by rising styrene prices and increased restocking demand, the South China market led a rebound, followed by East China. As of mid-April, the market remains in an exploratory phase with noticeable contention between bullish and bearish sentiments.
Recent factors supporting ABS price increases include: (1) The maintenance shutdown of Tianjin Daxie starting April 12 (estimated 10 days), easing supply pressure; and (2) simultaneous increases in upstream raw materials, particularly styrene, providing strong cost support.
Market analysis indicates that strong crude oil prices and rising raw material costs have lifted the low-end ABS market offers, creating an inflationary atmosphere. Supply reductions from plant maintenance have further strengthened sellers’ reluctance to lower prices. However, downstream resistance to high costs persists, limiting actual transaction volumes. Short-term forecasts suggest the ABS market will consolidate at higher levels, with potential for further increases driven by manufacturer pricing strategies.
