Demand for sodium hypochlorite in China firmed in January amid tightened effective supply and replenishment cycles. Early-month safety inspections at chlor-alkali units trimmed run time, while mid-month municipal disinfection tenders and Lunar New Year restocking accelerated export intake. By month-end, traders reported full bookings and steady chlorine flows, leaving limited immediate spot availability. Demand showed divergence across end-markets: municipal water treatment and utilities remained the strongest driver as first-quarter disinfection tenders advanced; textile mills provided steady secondary support with spring bleaching runs; household cleaning product demand softened after holiday promotions, reducing takedowns from that segment. Export demand remained robust, with full January shipments and February inquiries. Inventory surveys at Qingdao and Ningbo showed lean stocks, with barrels largely nominated for February. Roughly a quarter of output was earmarked for export. The outlook calls for modest cooling in February, with potential volatility around nominations and port loading as market conditions evolve, and with demand sensitivity to safety audits and winter tariffs.
