Seasonal Factors Reemerge; May's Methyl Alcohol Market May See Weak Volatility Dominate

May 4th, the market price for methanol was 1898 yuan/ton, remaining relatively stable compared to May 3rd, with minimal fluctuations in domestic methanol prices.

In Shandong, the mainstream manufacturers' ex-factory prices are around 1910-1960 yuan/ton; in Hebei, quoted ex-factory prices are 1880-2000 yuan/ton, with Shijiazhuang and surrounding areas shipping at about 1860-1870 yuan/ton; in the South China market, methanol prices are slightly stable, with mainstream sellers at Guangdong ports quoting 1950-1970 yuan/ton, with moderate transactions; at East China ports, prices are relatively stable, with Taicang spot prices at 1910-1920 yuan/ton, and mainstream quotations in Ningbo around 1990-2000 yuan/ton.

On May 4th, the domestic methyl alcohol market experienced a stable but fluctuating trend with minimal price changes. Futures saw a shake-up and a downward adjustment, closing at 1994 yuan per ton. Spot prices at ports remained steady, with moderate trading activity. It is expected that the methyl alcohol market will continue to be regionalized, with local olefin enterprises' procurement potentially affecting regional prices. Most methyl alcohol plants in the inland area have completed maintenance, and seasonal factors are reappearing, with a possibility of slight further price decreases in some areas in the short term.

The methyl alcohol market may primarily experience weak fluctuations in May.