Futures trading on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (Contract 2509) on 29 July 2025 showed a mixed performance across polymer segments, with market dynamics reflecting shifting sentiment and directionality within Asia’s polyolefin complex.
Polypropylene (PP) futures rose to CNY 7,160/ton, up CNY 13, with the USD equivalent closing at $884/ton, marking a modest increase of $2. Meanwhile, LLDPE futures advanced to CNY 7,385/ton, gaining CNY 18, and equivalent to $911/ton, a $3 rise. In contrast, PVC futures declined sharply, settling at CNY 5,192/ton, down CNY 40, or $641/ton, a drop of $6 from the previous session.
Despite price movements, trading volumes contracted significantly across the board. PP contracts traded totaled 308,754, down over 17,000 contracts, while LLDPE volumes fell by nearly 2,800 to 343,620. PVC volumes dropped by approximately 17,000, closing at 801,519 contracts.
Market watchers will be closely monitoring whether the underlying physical-market fundamentals can support the futures upticks, and whether PVC’s weakness presages broader demand softness. Further cues may emerge from upcoming refinery maintenance schedules, Chinese downstream restocking behavior, or feedstock cost shifts.
