The market price of chloroform increased significantly in September. According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of Business Society, as of September 28th, the price of trichloromethane bulk water in Shandong Province was 2950 yuan/ton, an increase of 31.40% from 2245 yuan/ton at the beginning of the month.

At the beginning of the month, the cost support for trichloromethane was stable, and downstream procurement was more on demand. The overall trichloromethane industry chain was in a balanced state, and the price of trichloromethane fluctuated narrowly. Starting from mid September, on the one hand, the prices of raw materials such as methanol and liquid chlorine have skyrocketed, and the cost of chloroform has been strongly supported. On the other hand, the start of the downstream peak season, coupled with the approaching Double Festival downstream and active stocking by businesses, has resulted in little inventory pressure on enterprises. A certain factory in Shandong Province has closed down on chloroform, resulting in tight market supply. Enterprises have gradually raised the factory price of chloroform, leading to a significant increase in the chloroform market. As the end of September approaches, the number of outbound orders from enterprises decreases, and the market for trichloromethane remains stable at a high level.

In September, the overall operation rate of the methane chloride plant fluctuated slightly, ranging from 73% to 75%.

In September, the price of raw material methanol fluctuated and decreased, while the price of liquid chlorine initially rose and then fell, leading to an overall upward trend. The cost support for trichloromethane was strong in the early stage and weakened in the later stage. According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of Business Society, as of September 27th, the spot price of methanol was 2475 yuan/ton, a decrease of 2.97% from 2551 yuan/ton at the beginning of the month, and the highest point in the cycle was 2605 yuan/ton; At the beginning of September, the acceptance price of liquid chlorine tank trucks in Shandong region was 300 yuan/ton, with a surge of 700 yuan/ton in the middle of the month and a drop to 300 yuan/ton at the end of the month. In the first and middle of September, the cost faced strong support from trichloromethane.

In the peak season of September, the price of refrigerant R22 has slightly increased, and the export volume of R22 is expected to continue to increase compared to August. In the short term, there is a strong demand for support for chloroform, but in 2023, the total production quota of R22 will be reduced by 19% to 181800 tons. In the medium to long term, the overall demand support for chloroform will weaken. According to customs data, the export volume of refrigerant R22 in August 2023 was 9634.831 tons, an increase of 12.5% month on month.

Methane chloride data analysts from Business Society believe that in the short term, demand for trichloromethane is just in need of support, supply pressure is not significant, and methanol prices are expected to decline from high levels. It is expected that the market for trichloromethane will consolidate at a high level in the short term. From a medium to long term perspective, under the condition of no strong cost support for trichloromethane, the market will basically show a trend of range fluctuations and consolidation due to demand constraints