Macroeconomics

1. [US CPI] US CPI rose 3.4% year-on-year in August, matching both the forecast and the previous reading; it increased 0.4% month-on-month, in line with expectations. Core CPI rose 2.4% year-on-year, meeting market expectations, while the month-on-month increase of 0.3% was slightly higher than anticipated. Following the data release, traders estimated the probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September at approximately 90%. The market fully anticipates two rate hikes by the Fed before the end of the year.

2. [Shipping] Global container shipping giant CMA CGM will implement a peak season surcharge (PSS) of $4,000 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) on all cargo shipments from Asia-Pacific and India to the US East and West Coasts, effective October 1.

Chemical

1. [Lithium Batteries] The State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) recently approved and released four mandatory national standards for mine safety, including the "Specification for the Survey of Hidden Disaster-Causing Factors in Mines" and "Technical Requirements for Lithium-Ion Power Batteries Used in Underground Mines." These standards establish a unified, mandatory technical benchmark for mine risk prevention and equipment safety, and will come into effect on March 1, 2027.

2. [Lithium Batteries] Recently, the lithium-ion battery adhesive materials project of Pingnan Yuan Innovation Materials Co., Ltd. passed the energy conservation review. With a total investment of 1.2 billion RMB, the project plans to construct 16 production lines, establishing an annual production capacity of 30,300 tons of lithium-ion battery adhesive powder materials.

3. [Iron Phosphate] Hubei Yihua's 13.6-billion-RMB phosphorus-fluorine new materials project includes an annual production capacity of 500,000 tons of iron phosphate. Located at the Baiyang Industrial Park in the Yichang High-tech Zone, the project has already commenced construction; it is expected to begin production in the second half of 2027 and reach full capacity in 2028.

4. [Ferrous Lithium Phosphate] Recently, the first batch of products rolled off the line at Zone B of Sichuan Fulin New Materials' project (a joint venture between Fulin Precision and CATL), which has an annual capacity of 350,000 tons of new energy lithium battery cathode materials. Zone A is already fully operational, and Zone B is set to complete its capacity ramp-up this month. Upon reaching full capacity, the project will produce 350,000 tons of new high-compaction-density ferrous lithium phosphate annually.

5. [Urea] Recently, the 10kV substation for the 540,000-ton/year urea energy-saving and carbon-reduction upgrade project in Dongguang, Hebei—undertaken by China Wuhuan Engineering Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of China National Chemical Engineering Group) under the T+EPC model—successfully completed its initial power-on process.

6. [Soda Ash] During the week of September 10, the operating rate of soda ash plants stood at 71.69%, down 3.78% from the previous week; soda ash production totaled 682,800 tons, a decrease of 5.01% week-on-week.

7. [Soda Ash] During the week of September 10, domestic soda ash inventory reached 1.9311 million tons, up 1.04% from the previous week; this comprised 1.0044 million tons of light soda ash and 0.9267 million tons of dense soda ash. Shipments by Chinese soda ash enterprises totaled 664,000 tons, down 2.39% month-on-month, with a shipment rate of 97.10%.

8. [Ethylene Glycol] As of September 10, 2026, total spot inventory of ethylene glycol at major East China ports stood at 117,000 tonnes. This represents a decrease of 25,000 tonnes from the 142,000 tonnes recorded on August 31; a drop of 299,000 tonnes from the 416,000 tonnes recorded on July 30; and a decline of 836,000 tonnes from the 953,000 tonnes recorded on March 30.

9. [TDI] Effective September 14, 2026, Wanhua Chemical will raise the prices of MDI and TDI by $300 per tonne and polyether polyols by $400 per tonne in the Southeast Asian and South Asian markets.

10. [Aniline] On September 14, Dongying Huatai raised its aniline price by 100 RMB/ton. The latest prices are set at 13,600 RMB/ton for cash payment and 13,700 RMB/ton for acceptance bill payment; the company's 100,000-tonne capacity unit is operating normally.

11. [N-Butanol] On September 14, Shandong Lihuayi's quoted price for n-butanol was 8,800 RMB/ton, an increase of 100 RMB/ton compared to the previous working day.

12. [Titanium Dioxide] LB Group issued a notice announcing that, effective September 11, 2026, the sales prices for all "Xuelian" brand titanium dioxide products would be adjusted as follows: prices in the domestic market will increase by 700 RMB/tonne over current levels, and prices in the international market will increase by 100 USD/tonne over current levels.

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