Prices of Inorganic Chemicals Changed Differently    

Liquid Chlorine     

Because of the thriving demand in downstream sectors, the price of liquid chlorine in northern China picked up in September, and the highest trading price in Shandong province soared to RMB1 700/t in late September from RMB1 600/t in early September.
   In October, the price of liquid chlorine fluctuated wildly in northern China. As of October 20th, the ex-factory price went down to RMB800-900/t in Shandong province, and then picked up within a week and reached RMB1 300-1 350/t in late October and RMB1 550/t as of November 6th.
   In November, production of chlorine consuming enterprises was badly affected by the snow storm. So the prices of liquid chlorine fell by between RMB50/t and RMB200/t according to different areas. As of November 20th, it fell to RMB1 300-1 500/t in Shandong province.


Sulfuric Acid   

   The price of sulfuric acid has been increasing in northern China since early October. The trading price of 98% flue gas based sulfuric acid in this area reached RMB350/t in mid November, RMB50/t higher than that in mid October. Experts analyzed that the sales boom was mainly driven by the increased price of raw material sulfur, import curtailment, and fertilizer reserve in the winter.
   Things in southern China were entirely different. The good season for fertilizer sales was over in October in southern China, the price of sulfuric acid kept dropping in that month, with a bulk trading price of 98% sulfuric acid around RMB280/t. Spurred by price rise in northern China, the price stopped dropping and kept stable in November.
   Fertilizer reserve for off season may spur the price to go up in the short term, but it will not be a big rise on the basis of the oversupply.


Urea   

In the first half of October, most distributors held a wait-and see attitude for the purchase of urea, but urea price in domestic market began to increase in the second half.
   The bulk quoted price of enterprises in northern China was lifted to RMB1 600/t in late October, RMB100/t higher than in late September, and then reached RMB1 650/t as of November 24th. Urea price maintained at a high level of around RMB1 700/t in southern China, because of the high price of raw material nature gas.
   China returns to normal climate from snow storm at present, and despite the power price rise, urea price has no support for a further rise.