China’s petrochemical producers are curbing operations as higher feedstock costs linked to Middle East tensions pressure margins, sending utilization rates to their lowest in three years and sidelining roughly 20% of national capacity. The pullback underscores weaker demand for key inputs such as crude, with implications for Oil – Brent Crude, Oil – US Crude, and Natural Gas as China’s industrial activity adjusts.
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Over the past month, Brent has slipped about 6.37% while WTI is down roughly 4.25%, reflecting both demand concerns from China’s slowdown and geopolitical risk premia, with 1-day technicals signaling Hold for Brent and Buy for WTI. Natural gas has declined around 14.98% in the same period amid ample supply and tempered industrial demand, and its 1-day technical view points to Sell, suggesting traders remain cautious on near-term price support.
Investors can explore more updates, prices, and analysis across global markets at Commodities.