(May 6, 2026) Recently, the domestic chemical raw material market has seen a significant inflection point, with the prices of core raw and auxiliary materials of silica such as sulfur, sulfuric acid, and soda ash falling slightly, coupled with the end of the enterprise maintenance cycle and the steady increase in the operating rate of the plant, the silica industry is ushering in a new window period of cost decline and profit repair.

In the early stage, affected by the continuous price increase of upstream raw materials and high energy costs, silica manufacturers have been in a state of high cost pressure for a long time, and even if the price adjustment is repeated, it is still difficult to cover production costs, and the overall profitability of the industry has been seriously compressed. Since May, the arrival of domestic sulfur has increased, the sulfuric acid market has stabilized and declined, and the price of soda ash has stopped falling and stabilized, which has directly reduced the pressure on raw material procurement of production enterprises.

On the supply side, some of the silica production lines that were suspended and repaired in the early stage have resumed full capacity, and the spot supply in the market has improved, but the supply of high-end modification and gas phase category is still tight, and the supply and demand pattern remains strong. The market quotation of ordinary precipitation silica remained stable, and there was no significant price reduction promotion, and manufacturers had a strong willingness to support the price.

The demand side has picked up steadily at the same time, and downstream industries such as tire rubber, silicone sealants, and industrial coatings have maintained a high level of start-up.

According to the analysis of industry insiders, the follow-up raw material market is likely to still fluctuate, the cost pressure of silica enterprises will be further alleviated, and the profit margin will be gradually repaired. The market outlook is mainly stable and strong, and enterprises should grasp the raw material callback window period, reasonably control inventory, optimize production scheduling, and lock in reasonable profit space.