Introduction to China’s Soda Ash Market (2024.05.03-2024.05.09)

This week (May 3-May 9, 2024), the domestic soda ash market trend is mainly stable, and new order transactions are tepid. According to Longzhong Information data monitoring, soda ash output during the week was 720,200 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 19,900 tons, or 2.69%. The operating rate was 86.40%, which was 88.78% last week, a month-on-month decrease of 2.39%. Some companies were operating abnormally and undergoing maintenance, resulting in a decrease in soda ash operation and output. Domestic soda ash manufacturers had 891,100 tons of inventory during the week, a decrease of 4,600 tons or 0.51% from Monday. , the overall fluctuation is not big, the inventory of individual companies has dropped, and the trend is high and volatile; during the week, soda ash companies have 15+ days to wait for orders, increasing in a narrow range, there is not much pressure this month, basically until the end of the month; during the week, it is understood that the social inventory is increasing, Maintain 26+ million tons.During the week, 37% of the samples of glass enterprise soda ash inventory lasted 23.75 days, an increase of 2.64 days, and were on the market + waiting for shipment for 35.02 days; 45% of the samples were 21.80 days, an increase of 2.09 days, on the market + waiting for 31.25 days, an increase of 2.01 days; 50 % of the sample is 21.44 days, on-site + waiting for 30.24 days, an increase of 1.71 days, and the downstream inventory is increasing. On the supply side, recent maintenance and production reductions by individual companies have affected output and production. Soda ash production is expected to start at 85+% next week, with output reaching 710,000 tons, a narrow decline. Judging from the maintenance plans, some companies have expected maintenance, but the details have not yet been determined, and there is uncertainty. In the near future, companies are waiting for support, production and sales have basically been maintained, and new orders have been received generally. On the demand side, downstream demand is stable, there are companies replenishing inventory and executing orders, prices are relatively flexible, and there is room for negotiation. After the holiday, downstream procurement was tense, high prices were conflicting, and new orders were slowed down. Market sentiment remains cautious. To sum up, the short-term soda ash trend is volatile.（Longzhong Information）