Fresh offers have surfaced in the Chinese polycarbonate (PC) market, with a domestic producer heard to have quoted its injection grade material at USD 1,800 per metric ton, on an FOB Qingdao port basis, for September 2025 shipment, according to a source.
The announcement comes as China’s engineering plastics sector navigates subdued demand conditions, with market participants noting that downstream applications in automotive, electronics, and consumer goods remain under pressure. Although injection grade PC continues to be an essential feedstock for molded components, converters have been hesitant to commit to large forward purchases, citing weak end-user demand and intense competition from both domestic and imported material.
Market observers remarked that the USD 1,800/mt level reflects efforts by Chinese producers to maintain competitiveness in an environment where international suppliers, particularly from South Korea and Taiwan, have been actively offering material into Asia at comparable or sometimes lower levels. With inventories relatively stable, the offer serves both as a benchmark for September negotiations and as a test of buyer willingness to secure volumes ahead of potential seasonal restocking.
Industry sources added that while some buyers may choose to defer procurement in the hope of softer prices, others could view the offer as an opportunity to lock in material given uncertainties in feedstock bisphenol-A (BPA) trends and crude-linked costs. Nonetheless, the overall sentiment remains cautious, with converters carefully weighing cost against sluggish consumption in downstream markets.
The new offer underscores how Chinese producers are positioning themselves in the regional PC trade landscape, balancing competitive pricing with the challenge of weak fundamentals, as market participants await clearer signals on demand recovery in the latter part of 2025.
