Macroeconomics

1. [US Core PCE Price Index] The US core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose 0.2% month-on-month in July, matching the forecast and up from the previous reading of 0.1%. Year-on-year, the US core PCE index rose 3.3%, in line with the forecast and the previous reading.

2. [South Korea Interest Rates] The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate from 2.75% to 3.00%, marking a rate hike for the second consecutive meeting, in line with market expectations.

Chemical

1. [Batteries] On August 26, U.S. module manufacturer Silfab Solar once again implemented a temporary production halt at its Fort Mill, South Carolina facility. The company attributed the stoppage to tight supplies of certain production materials and scheduled maintenance. Operations for both module and solar cell production lines will be affected; however, non-production functions—such as customer service, shipping, and logistics—will continue to operate normally.

2. [BDO] A BDO unit operated by Xinjiang Guotai Xinhua was temporarily shut down in early August and is expected to restart at the end of the month.

On August 26, Sichuan Yongying's 180,000-ton BDO unit was operating steadily; a maintenance shutdown lasting 4–5 days is scheduled to begin on August 31. Production is currently dedicated to fulfilling contract orders, and there are no spot market offers at this time.

3. [Methanol] As of August 26, 2026, total methanol inventories at Chinese ports stood at 685,600 tonnes, an increase of 18,600 tonnes from the previous reporting period. Specifically, inventories rose in East China (up 22,400 tonnes) but fell in South China (down 3,800 tonnes). Port inventories saw a slight accumulation this week, with 171,900 tonnes of inbound foreign vessel cargo discharged and recorded during the period.

4. [Diethylene Glycol (DEG)] On August 25, the total volume of DEG shipped from the two storage zones in Zhangjiagang was 102 tonnes, a decrease of 64 tonnes from the previous day. As of now, Vopak's inventory stands at 1,200 tonnes.

5. [TDI] A major Shanghai producer set the August settlement price for TDI at 17,500 RMB/ton, with the listed price for September at 22,000 RMB/ton.

6. [Styrene] On August 27, Lihuayi Weiyuan Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted styrene at 9,000 RMB/ton, a decrease of 270 RMB/ton from the previous trading day.

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