China Dicyclopentadiene markets eased through May as ample domestic feedstock, capacity debottlenecks, and seasonal destocking weighed on export and spot demand. Early month, coastal crackers operated continuously after spring turnarounds, maintaining raffinate supply and encouraging higher throughput. Mid-month, softer naphtha and coal costs supported run-rate expansion, while Dicyclopentadiene downstream buyers in unsaturated polyester resin and moulding compounds delayed spot purchases after prior stock-building. By late May, thinning Dicyclopentadiene export inquiries from Europe and North America and trimmed nominations added downward pressure, reinforcing a bearish tone. Downstream sectors such as construction, automotive, and specialty polymers softened, pressuring sentiment and prices. Fabricators of resin for fibre-reinforced plastic pipes and wind-turbine housings postponed spot purchases; moulding-compound producers serving passenger vehicles reported weaker order intake, muting export demand. Debottlenecking at integrated crackers contributed additional supply, supported by ample inventories, reinforcing sellers' willingness to reduce offers. Looking ahead, near-term pressure may persist into June, with a tentative rebound possible later as markets rebalance.
