SunSirs: Chemical Products Industries Bulk Commodity Intelligence (July 13, 2026)

Macroeconomics

1. [Electricity Consumption] The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that on July 10, national electricity load hit a record high of 1.518 billion kilowatts, an increase of 10 million kilowatts over the previous peak. Since the start of summer, the Southern Regional Power Grid and multiple provincial grids—including those in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Ningxia, Gansu, Fujian, and Shaanxi—have seen their electricity loads set new historical records on more than 20 occasions.

2. [Automobiles] The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) released data showing that from July 1 to 5, national retail sales of passenger cars totaled 169,000 units—down 15% year-on-year but up 4% compared to the same period last month. Cumulative retail sales for the year reached 8.87 million units, a year-on-year decline of 20%. During the same period, retail sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) totaled 103,000 units—down 9% year-on-year and down 6% compared to the same period last month—with cumulative sales for the year reaching 4.807 million units (down 14% year-on-year). The retail penetration rate for NEVs stood at 60.5% during this period.

3. [US-Iran Conflict] U.S. Central Command announced on social media on the 12th that, at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time that day, U.S. forces launched a new round of strikes against Iran aimed at "further degrading its ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz."

4. [Japan Interest Rates] The Bank of Japan plans to keep interest rates unchanged in July but will maintain its policy guidance, committing to continue the process of raising rates.

Chemicals

1. [Helium] The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs have issued an announcement imposing a temporary export ban on helium. The announcement takes effect on the date of its release, and any subsequent adjustments will be announced separately.

2. [Lithium Batteries] Duofuoduo New Materials Co., Ltd. recently announced that, while keeping the project implementation entity, implementation method, use of raised funds, and investment scale unchanged, it is extending the timeline for its "project with an annual output of 100,000 tons of key materials for lithium-ion battery electrolytes" to reach the stage of readiness for use; the completion date is postponed from November 30, 2026, to November 30, 2027.

3. [Graphite] A project with an annual output of 3,500 tons of silicon-carbon anode materials is slated for implementation in Guangdong. The project will also generate 10,000 tons of carbon-based material by-products, approximately 13,600 tons of crude bamboo vinegar, and roughly 17.248 million cubic meters of pyrolysis gas.

4. [Monoethylene Glycol (MEG)] Market rumors indicate that two MEG units in Fujian, with a combined annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, are scheduled to restart successively in late July. The two units have capacities of 700,000 tonnes/year and 800,000 tonnes/year, respectively, and both utilize the ethylene-based production route.

5. [N-Butanol] On July 13, Shandong Lihuayi’s reference quote for n-butanol was 6,500 RMB/ton, an increase of 300 RMB/ton from the previous working day.

6. [Styrene] On July 13, Lihuayi Weiyuan Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted styrene at 8,100 RMB/ton, up 250 RMB/ton from last Friday.

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