Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Market Intelligence Report (May 27, 2026)

I. Recent Price Trends
| Date | Price Range (CNY/ton) | Key Quoting Enterprises | Notes |
|------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 2026-05-12 | 18,000–20,000 | Shanghai Shijian, Jia’en Chemical, Qingdao Chengxin Hongfeng | Abnormally low quotation from Qingdao Chengxin Hongfeng |
| 2026-05-18 | 18,500–19,200 | Shanghai Shijian, Shandong Jinshengrun | Brief price correction followed by stabilization |
| 2026-05-20 | 17,500–19,500 | Jia’en Chemical, Jinan Jinhao, Shanghai Shijian | Widening price gap between domestic and imported products |
| 2026-05-22 | 17,000–19,500 | Jinan Jinhao, Jia’en Chemical, Suzhou Shangma | Prices for high-purity products remain firm |

Key Data:
- Mainstream quotations range from CNY 17,500 to 19,000 per ton; imported products generally command a premium of CNY 500–1,000 per ton over domestic equivalents.
- Qingdao Chengxin Hongfeng quoted CNY 11,000/ton on May 12 (purity unspecified), significantly below the market average—likely attributable to a special batch or non-standard product.
- Jia’en Chemical’s 93% needle-shaped SDS is priced at CNY 19,500/ton—the highest observed recently.

II. Market Drivers Analysis
1. Raw Material Cost Pressure
- Prices of key raw materials such as lauryl alcohol have risen ~8% year-on-year in Q2 2026, driven by volatility in the palm oil market.
- Sulfur trioxide supply remains stable; however, stricter environmental regulations have prompted production cuts among smaller manufacturers, elevating regional prices.

2. Downstream Demand Structure
- Personal Care: Accounts for 55% of total demand; formulation upgrades in shampoos and facial cleansers are boosting demand for high-purity SDS.
- Industrial Cleaning: Growing demand for low-foaming SDS from automotive manufacturing and electronics industries is driving premiums for specialty grades.
- Emerging Applications: Annual demand growth for pharmaceutical-grade SDS—used in biopharmaceuticals (e.g., vaccine adjuvants) and new-energy battery materials—is ~15%.

3. Regional Market Divergence
- East China: Dominated by Shanghai Shijian and Suzhou Shangma; imported products account for >40% of the regional market.
- North China: Shandong-based producers hold ~60% market share due to cost advantages, yet rely heavily on imports for high-end products.
- South China: Active recycling markets (e.g., Zhaoqing) offer regenerated SDS at 20–30% lower prices than virgin material.

III. Competitive Landscape & Corporate Updates
| Company Name | Capacity (tons/year) | Core Strengths | Recent Developments |
|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Jia’en Chemical (Shandong) | 80,000 | Customized specialty product capability | Launched food-grade SDS (98% purity) in May 2026 |
| Shanghai Shijian | 60,000 | Import resource integration | Signed long-term supply agreements with Southeast Asian suppliers |
| Jinan Jinhao | 50,000 | Cost control | Expanding production capacity by 20,000 tons/year (scheduled for commissioning in 2027) |
| Hunan Lichen Aowei | 40,000 | Pharmaceutical-grade product certification | Achieved ISO 13485 medical device quality management system certification |

Key Events:
- On May 15, 2026, Shandong Jinshengrun was ordered to suspend operations for environmental compliance rectification, causing short-term supply tightness in the North China market.
- Suzhou Shangma entered into a technical collaboration with Clariant to introduce Swiss biodegradability technology, enhancing its product premium potential.

IV. Price Forecast & Risk Alerts
Short-Term Outlook (1–3 months):
- Price Range: CNY 17,000–19,500/ton
- Trend Assessment:
June marks the traditional off-season; prices may dip to ~CNY 17,500/ton.
July–August rebound expected amid downstream restocking, lifting prices to CNY 18,500–19,000/ton.

Long-Term Outlook (6–12 months):
- Capacity Expansion: Jinan Jinhao’s new 20,000-ton/year facility (2027) will increase overall market supply by ~12%, potentially capping price appreciation.
- Technological Substitution: Rising penetration of alkyl ether sulfates (AES) in household and personal care applications may divert 5–8% of SDS demand.
- Regulatory Impact: Upcoming revisions to EU REACH regulations may raise compliance costs for imported products, benefiting high-end domestic manufacturers.

Risk Alerts:
1. Extreme volatility (>±15%) in palm oil prices could trigger cost-driven price hikes.
2. Stricter-than-anticipated environmental inspections may cause widespread shutdowns among SMEs, resulting in regional supply shortages.
3. Escalation of international trade tensions could impair import logistics efficiency and market access.