What is Cyclohexane
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
26.3%
Neutral
39.0%
Bearish
34.7%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Neutral
Chinese cyclohexane inventories remained stable with spot prices around 7416.67 RMB/ton as of 2026-06-03, indicating steady supply conditions and no production cutbacks.
There are no reported demand shocks or shifts impacting consumption volumes in this period, maintaining balanced market dynamics.
No geopolitical or macroeconomic events materially altered cyclohexane trade or pricing fundamentals during this timeframe.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Neutral
Steady Chinese production and inventory levels point to a continuation of current price and supply stability for cyclohexane in the coming week.
No major catalyst is scheduled to disrupt supply or demand fundamentals in this period, reinforcing a range-bound market outlook.
A sudden unexpected surge in Chinese exports or sharp demand growth could tighten availability and push prices sharply higher.
Key Market Impact
Balanced inventories and ongoing steady production in China dominate price action, preventing upward or downward pressure on margins or utilization.
Market participants are likely maintaining current risk positions and procurement plans with little urgency to adjust pricing expectations or volumes.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Initial Decline and Stabilization (2020-01 to 2020-06): Early 2020 saw a drop in price from $1180 in January to $1050 in June, coinciding with no recorded external factors in the influence log, suggesting a baseline market adjustment.
Phase 2 — Recovery and Gradual Increase (2020-07 to 2021-12): Prices gradually climbed from $1080 in July 2020 to $1460 in December 2021, again without reported influence events, implying steady market rebuilding.
Phase 3 — Continued Steady Growth (2022-01 to 2023-12): The price rose consistently from $1480 in January 2022 to $1940 in December 2023, with no recorded influences, indicating underlying market fundamentals driving steady increases.
Phase 4 — Moderate Ongoing Rise (2024-01 to 2026-06): Prices continued rising from $1960 in January 2024 to $2540 in June 2026, supported by no influence events, reflecting continued trend-based gains.
Supply-side factors
- No supply-side factors were recorded in the influence log during the covered period.
Demand-side factors
- No demand-side factors were recorded in the influence log during the covered period.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Methylcyclohexane (MCH) | Used as a non-polar solvent in place of cyclohexane in paint, coatings, adhesive, and rubber-cement formulations where a slightly higher boiling point (101°C) is acceptable. Near drop-in replacement in many solvent applications; not suitable as a nylon feedstock. |
| n-Heptane | Substitutes cyclohexane as a non-polar reference solvent and in laboratory applications (e.g. solubility testing, chromatography calibration). Also used in polymer and rubber processing where a straight-chain alkane is acceptable. Requires minor formulation adjustment due to different solvency and evaporation rate. |
| n-Hexane | Replaces cyclohexane as an extraction and cleaning solvent in edible-oil extraction, adhesives, and rubber-cement applications. Lower boiling point (69°C) means faster evaporation; toxicity and regulatory profile (n-hexane is a neurotoxin) increasingly drives reformulation away from n-hexane back toward cyclohexane, making this a two-way substitution depending on jurisdiction. |
| Toluene | Used as an alternative solvent in coatings, inks, adhesives, and chemical synthesis where aromatic solvency is acceptable. Toluene has higher solvency power for polar and aromatic solutes; substitution is straightforward in many industrial cleaning and coating applications but requires reformulation where non-aromatic character is specified. |
| Cyclopentane | Replaces cyclohexane as a blowing agent in rigid polyurethane foam insulation (refrigerators, panels) where its lower boiling point (49°C) and low thermal conductivity are advantageous. Drop-in or near-drop-in substitution in foam blowing; not applicable as a nylon intermediate. |
| Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) / Ethyl acetate | Emerging green-solvent alternatives to cyclohexane in pharmaceutical synthesis, extraction, and coating applications driven by VOC regulations and sustainability targets. Require reformulation due to different polarity and solvency; partial replacement in specific solvent blends is the typical approach rather than full drop-in substitution. |
| Caprolactam (direct purchase) | In the nylon-6 supply chain, some producers bypass cyclohexane and KA-oil oxidation entirely by purchasing caprolactam directly, effectively substituting the cyclohexane-based intermediate chain. This is a supply-chain substitution rather than a chemical one, relevant when caprolactam market prices are favorable relative to integrated production costs. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) for Chemical Substances and Other Health Hazards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | 1971 (current as of 2026) | 8-hour TWA: 300 ppm (1050 mg/m³) | OSHA Chemical Data Page (https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/117) |
| United States | Toxicological Review for Cyclohexane (CAS No. 110-82-7) | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | 2003 | Available as scientific support for hazard and dose-response assessment; no final risk management action identified under TSCA | EPA IRIS Toxicological Review (https://iris.epa.gov/static/pdfs/1005tr.pdf) |
| United States | National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 2025 (final rule) | Reactivity-based limits for aerosol coatings category (cyclohexane is used as a solvent and may contribute to VOC emissions); no specific threshold for cyclohexane alone | EPA Final Rule 40 CFR Part 59 (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-01/aerosol-coatings_final_frn.pdf) |
| United States | Domestic or International Tariff Actions - Annex 3.3 (Schedule of the United States) | Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) | Preferential trade agreements (e.g., CAFTA-DR; current as of 2026) | Tariff rate: 0% for HS 2902.19.00 (Cyclohexane) | USTR Annex 3.3 Tariff Schedule (https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/cafta/asset_upload_file425_3964.pdf) |
| European Union | REACH Registration | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | Registered (full dossier active) | Registration required above 1 tonne per year; standard information requirements met; no restriction or authorization in Annex XVII or XIV | ECHA Substance Dossier (https://chem.echa.europa.eu/100.003.461) |
| European Union | Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP/GHS) | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2008 (classification current as of 2026) | GHS Flammable Liquid Category 2; Aquatic Acute 1; Aquatic Chronic 1; Acute Tox. 4 (inhalation); STOT SE 3; Asp. Tox. 1; Skin Irrit. 2; no specific numerical threshold | ECHA Substance Dossier (https://chem.echa.europa.eu/100.003.461) |
| European Union | IMDG Code | International Maritime Organization (via EU implementation) | Current IMDG Edition | UN 1145; Class 3; Packing Group II; no specific threshold | International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/International-Maritime-Dangerous-Goods.aspx) |
| China | Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2013 (updated; Cyclohexane listed) | Cyclohexane is on the public list; no new regulation required for existing substances; standard handling/storage rules apply (no unique threshold) | MEE IECSC (via official lists; no single public URL for this substance as it is listed) |
| China | Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals (2015) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2015 (current) | Cyclohexane is included in the Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals; requires appropriate handling, storage, and transport controls per catalog | MEE Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals (2015) (standard reference for regulated chemicals) |
Key Influence Events
Cyclohexane is a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C6H12, consisting of six carbon atoms arranged in a ring, each bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a mild, sweet odor, a boiling point of approximately 80.7°C, and a density of about 0.779 g/cm³ at 20°C. Cyclohexane is virtually insoluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents. It occurs in small amounts in crude petroleum but is produced industrially in large quantities primarily by the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene. Its dominant end use—accounting for roughly 90% of global consumption—is as a feedstock for the production of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (the so-called KA oil mixture), which are key intermediates in the manufacture of nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 via caprolactam and adipic acid, respectively. Cyclohexane is also used as a non-polar solvent in chemical synthesis, polymer processing, and laboratory applications.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Cyclohexane
Cyclohexane is a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C6H12, consisting of six carbon atoms arranged in a ring, each bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a mild, sweet odor, a boiling point of approximately 80.7°C, and a density of about 0.779 g/cm³ at 20°C. Cyclohexane is virtually insoluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents. It occurs in small amounts in crude petroleum but is produced industrially in large quantities primarily by the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene. Its dominant end use—accounting for roughly 90% of global consumption—is as a feedstock for the production of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (the so-called KA oil mixture), which are key intermediates in the manufacture of nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 via caprolactam and adipic acid, respectively. Cyclohexane is also used as a non-polar solvent in chemical synthesis, polymer processing, and laboratory applications.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (Cyclohexane content) | ≥ 99.8 | wt% | Chemical / Nylon Grade |
| Purity (Cyclohexane content) | ≥ 99.0 | wt% | Technical Grade |
| Benzene content | ≤ 0.5 | ppm (wt) | Nylon / Chemical Grade |
| Benzene content | ≤ 100 | ppm (wt) | Technical Grade |
| Methylcyclopentane (MCP) | ≤ 500 | ppm (wt) | Nylon Grade |
| Total sulfur | ≤ 0.5 | ppm (wt) | Chemical / Nylon Grade |
| Water content | ≤ 50 | ppm (wt) | Chemical Grade |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 5 | APHA | Chemical Grade |
| Boiling point | 80.5 – 81.0 | °C | All grades |
| Density at 20°C | 0.778 – 0.780 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Refractive index (nD20) | 1.4260 – 1.4270 | — | All grades |
| Flash point (closed cup) | −18 | °C | All grades |
| Non-volatile residue | ≤ 2 | mg/100 mL | Chemical Grade |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | ≤ 0.001 | wt% | Chemical Grade |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| BASF SE | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Ludwigshafen, Germany, Antwerp, Belgium |
| Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC | The Woodlands, Texas, USA | Port Arthur, Texas, USA, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia |
| ExxonMobil Chemical Company | Irving, Texas, USA | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. | Tokyo, Japan | Tokuyama, Japan |
| PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited | Bangkok, Thailand | Map Ta Phut, Thailand |
| Reliance Industries Limited | Mumbai, India | Gujarat, India |
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