What is Nitrobenzene
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
20.4%
Neutral
24.9%
Bearish
54.7%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Bearish
OPEC+ agreed on June 7 to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day in July, slightly easing crude price pressure but providing only mild support to benzene-based feedstocks.
China’s slowing downstream aniline operating rates and restocking led to forecasted declines in nitrobenzene prices in late May, exerting clear downward pricing pressure into early June.
Geopolitical developments in the Middle East via OPEC+ output decisions contributed modestly to stabilizing upstream costs but did not offset demand softness.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Bearish
Nitrobenzene prices will likely continue to face downside pressure reflecting weak downstream demand amid stable-to-lower crude feedstock influence.
No significant new catalysts are confirmed this week to alter the demand-driven bearish trend.
A sudden rebound in Chinese aniline operating rates or unexpected tightening in crude oil supply would quickly flip the current bearish outlook.
Key Market Impact
Downstream demand weakness driven by Chinese aniline production is dominating nitrobenzene price direction and margin compression as crude feedstock prices show only muted influence.
Traders and buyers are expected to hold off on aggressive purchases, favoring cautious inventory management amid continued downside risk to prices.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2025 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Stability and early decline (2020): Prices started stable at $1250/ton in Jan-Mar 2020, then declined to $1100/ton by Oct 2020 amid no recorded influence events.
Phase 2 — Recovery and steady rise (Nov 2020–Sep 2021): Prices rebounded from $1150/ton in Nov 2020 to peak at $1450/ton from Aug to Nov 2021, despite no specific influence factors documented.
Phase 3 — Prolonged decline (Oct 2021–Jun 2023): Prices steadily decreased from $1400/ton in Dec 2021 down to $700/ton by Jun 2023, with no influence events noted in the logs.
Phase 4 — Early signs of recovery (Jul 2023–May 2024): Prices held near $700/ton through Oct 2023 and then gradually increased back to $850/ton by May 2024, still without recorded influence documentation.
Phase 5 — Renewed upward momentum (Jun 2024–May 2025): Prices rose steadily from $900/ton in Jun 2024 to $1150/ton in May 2025, but influence log remains empty for this period as well.
Supply-side factors
- No supply-side factors were recorded in the influence log for the period 2020–2025.
Demand-side factors
- No demand-side factors were recorded in the influence log for the period 2020–2025.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Aniline (direct purchase) | In applications where nitrobenzene is used solely as an intermediate to produce aniline (e.g., for MDI/polyurethane manufacture), a producer can bypass nitrobenzene entirely by purchasing aniline directly from the merchant market. This is a process-level substitution rather than a chemical one, and is common for smaller producers who lack integrated nitration capacity. |
| Nitrotoluene (mono- or dinitro-) | In certain dye and pigment synthesis routes, nitrotoluenes can substitute for nitrobenzene as the aromatic nitro-compound building block when the target molecule tolerates a methyl substituent. Requires reformulation of the synthetic pathway and is not a drop-in replacement. |
| Chlorobenzene | In some nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and as an industrial solvent, chlorobenzene can replace nitrobenzene. As a solvent, chlorobenzene offers similar solvating power for polar aromatic systems with lower toxicity concerns in certain regulatory frameworks, though it is not equivalent in reactivity for reduction-based chemistry. |
| Dinitrobenzene (DNB) | In specialty explosive formulations and certain energetic material applications, dinitrobenzene can substitute for nitrobenzene-derived intermediates when a higher nitrogen content or different detonation profile is required. Not a general-purpose substitute; limited to niche energetic applications. |
| Nitronaphthalene | In the synthesis of certain azo dyes and pigments, nitronaphthalene can serve as an alternative aromatic nitro-compound when the larger naphthalene ring system is acceptable or preferred in the final chromophore structure. Requires a different synthetic route and is not interchangeable in most applications. |
| Phenol (via alternative aniline routes) | Aniline can also be produced from phenol via ammonolysis (phenol + ammonia over a catalyst), bypassing nitrobenzene entirely. Where aniline is the ultimate target, phenol-based routes represent a process-level alternative to the benzene nitration pathway, though economics and feedstock availability typically favor the nitrobenzene route at large scale. |
| Bio-based aniline precursors (emerging) | Research-stage bio-derived routes to aniline (e.g., from muconic acid or other bio-intermediates) are being explored as long-term substitutes for the nitrobenzene-to-aniline pathway in response to sustainability pressures. These are not yet commercially viable at scale and require significant reformulation of downstream processes. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory | US EPA | 1976 (TSCA Inventory biannual updates through 2025) | Active chemical listed (CAS 98-95-3) with commercial activity data; no significant new use rules or risk management rules | EPA TSCA Inventory updates (2025) |
| United States | Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) | US EPA | 1976 (latest updates 2025) | Subject to TSCA chemical data reporting (CDR) for manufacturing/processing/import quantities; no additional restrictions | EPA TSCA Inventory (2025) |
| United States | Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 / Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) | US EPA | 1986 (thresholds unchanged) | Reporting required for facilities in covered industries if manufacture, process, or use exceeds 25,000 lbs (manufacturing/processing) or 10,000 lbs (otherwise use); no PBT or lower threshold | 40 CFR 372.65; EPA TRI Program (2025) |
| United States | Clean Air Act | US EPA | 1970 (no specific section for Nitrobenzene) | No emission limits, effluent guidelines, or air toxics standards specific to Nitrobenzene | EPA TRI-Listed Chemicals (2025) |
| United States | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard | OSHA | 2012 (GHS implementation) | OSHA PEL: 1 ppm (skin) TWA; GHS classification Acute Tox. 3 (oral, dermal, inhalation), Carc. 2, Repr. 1B, Skin Irrit. 2, STOT RE 2 | 29 CFR 1910.1000; SDS (2025) |
| European Union | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | ECHA | 2006 (Candidate List inclusion) | Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate for authorisation (EC 202-716-0, CAS 98-95-3) due to Repr. 1B (H360F); GHS harmonised classification Carc. 2 (H351) | ECHA Candidate List (current as of 2026) |
| European Union | CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 | ECHA | 2008 (harmonised) | GHS harmonised classification: Acute Tox. 3, Carc. 2, Repr. 1B, Skin Irrit. 2, STOT RE 2 | ECHA CLP Inventory (current) |
| International | UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods / IMDG Code | UN ECE / IMO | 1980s (latest revisions) | UN No. 1662 (6.1, Packing Group II) | UN Dangerous Goods List; CAMEO Chemicals |
Key Influence Events
Nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2) is a pale yellow, oily aromatic compound with a characteristic almond-like odor, produced by the nitration of benzene with a mixed acid (sulfuric acid and nitric acid). It is one of the most important intermediates in the chemical industry, consumed predominantly in the manufacture of aniline, which in turn is the primary feedstock for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polyurethane foams. Nitrobenzene is also used as a solvent in certain industrial applications, in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and rubber chemicals. It is a toxic, flammable liquid with a boiling point of approximately 211°C and a density of about 1.20 g/cm³, and is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2) is a pale yellow, oily aromatic compound with a characteristic almond-like odor, produced by the nitration of benzene with a mixed acid (sulfuric acid and nitric acid). It is one of the most important intermediates in the chemical industry, consumed predominantly in the manufacture of aniline, which in turn is the primary feedstock for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polyurethane foams. Nitrobenzene is also used as a solvent in certain industrial applications, in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and rubber chemicals. It is a toxic, flammable liquid with a boiling point of approximately 211°C and a density of about 1.20 g/cm³, and is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (Nitrobenzene content) | ≥ 99.5 | wt% | Technical / Industrial Grade |
| Purity (Nitrobenzene content) | ≥ 99.9 | wt% | High-Purity / Reagent Grade |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 20 | APHA | Industrial Grade |
| Water content | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | Industrial Grade |
| Dinitrobenzene content | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | Industrial Grade |
| Acidity (as H2SO4) | ≤ 0.005 | wt% | Industrial Grade |
| Boiling Point | 210–211 | °C | All grades |
| Freezing Point | 5.7 | °C | All grades |
| Density at 20°C | 1.198–1.204 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Refractive Index (nD20) | 1.550–1.553 | — | All grades |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | 88 | °C | All grades |
| Residue on evaporation | ≤ 0.005 | wt% | Reagent Grade |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Wanhua Chemical Group | Yantai, Shandong, China | Yantai, Shandong, China |
| BASF SE | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Geismar, Louisiana, USA, Freeport, Texas, USA, Ludwigshafen, Germany, Antwerp, Belgium, Chongqing, China |
| Covestro AG | Leverkusen, Germany | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Huntsman Corporation | The Woodlands, Texas, USA | Wilton, United Kingdom, Geismar, Louisiana, USA |
| Dow Inc. | Midland, Michigan, USA | |
| The Chemours Company | Wilmington, Delaware, USA |
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