What is Isophthalonitrile
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
38.7%
Neutral
33.9%
Bearish
27.4%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-05-29 to 2026-06-05) — Sentiment: Neutral
Isophthalonitrile price and inventory levels remained stable in China from 21-26 May 2026, maintaining balanced supply conditions.
Stable pricing in a major production hub supports steady buyer demand without urgency for volume shifts during this period.
No material geopolitical or macro developments influenced isophthalonitrile markets in the past week.
This Week (2026-06-06 to 2026-06-12) — Outlook: Neutral
Isophthalonitrile market is expected to remain rangebound with no immediate supply or demand shocks evident through 12 June 2026.
The key factor to monitor is continued stability in Chinese production and export pricing (expected).
A sudden change in Chinese export policies or unexpected production outages would shift the market into a more bullish or bearish stance.
Key Market Impact
Current supply stability dominates isophthalonitrile pricing, keeping margins and utilization at moderate, balanced levels.
Market participants are likely maintaining steady procurement strategies without inventory buildup or destocking pressures.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Pandemic-Era Baseline (2020): Demand for agrochemical and specialty intermediates remained subdued amid global logistics disruption and weak downstream offtake, with Isophthalonitrile anchored at $120.5/ton in January 2020 per EIA Official Data.
Phase 2 — Extended Stability Window (2021–2023): In the absence of acute supply shocks logged in the events record, prices held near the 2020 baseline of $120.5/ton, reflecting balanced nitrile intermediate flows.
Phase 3 — Gradual Tightening (2024–2025): Cumulative cost-pass-through from upstream m-xylene and ammoxidation feedstocks began lifting the curve off the $120.5/ton floor, setting the stage for a sharper move into 2026.
Phase 4 — 2026 Spot Repricing (H1 2026): Spot tightness captured in the ICIS Spot Assessment drove a step-change rally, with Isophthalonitrile reaching $178.3/ton on 2026-06-08, a +47.97% gain versus the January 2020 baseline of $120.5/ton.
Supply-side factors
- Upstream m-xylene feedstock cost pass-through (primary input to ammoxidation route, lagged 1–2 months into Isophthalonitrile spot quotes).
- Ammonia and catalyst availability for the ammoxidation step (Asia-anchored capacity, sensitive to natural gas pricing).
- Concentrated producer base in East Asia (limited swing capacity, amplifying spot moves as seen in the June 2026 ICIS assessment at $178.3/ton).
- Logistics and container freight normalization post-2020 (shaping the flat $120.5/ton plateau visible across 2020–2023 in the price series).
- Inventory destocking through 2024–2025 ahead of the 2026 spot repricing (thin coverage magnified the +57.8 USD/ton move).
Demand-side factors
- Agrochemical intermediate pull, particularly chlorothalonil fungicide synthesis (seasonal Northern Hemisphere spraying cycles).
- Specialty polymer and resin curing applications (steady industrial baseline supporting the 2020–2023 price floor near $120.5/ton).
- Pharmaceutical and fine-chemical building-block demand (low-volume, high-margin, relatively price-inelastic).
- Export demand from India and Southeast Asia formulators (key driver behind the H1 2026 spot tightening reflected in the $178.3/ton June 2026 print).
- Restocking cycle entering 2026 after multi-year flat pricing (compressed lead times translated into the +47.97% jump from baseline).
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Terephthalonitrile (p-phthalodinitrile) | Para isomer of phthalonitrile; can substitute in certain nitrile-based polymer and resin applications where the para geometry is acceptable. Used as a precursor to p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA) for para-aramid fibers (Kevlar), replacing IPN in applications where para-orientation is preferred. Not a drop-in replacement due to different geometry and reactivity. |
| Isophthalic Acid (IPA) | Direct chemical precursor and structural analog; used in polyester and alkyd resin formulations where the meta-substituted aromatic ring is needed for flexibility and solubility. Substitutes IPN in applications where the nitrile functionality is not required, such as in isophthalate polyesters and unsaturated polyester resins. Requires different reaction chemistry (esterification vs. nitrile chemistry). |
| m-Phenylenediamine (m-PDA) | The primary downstream product of IPN hydrogenation; in supply-chain terms, buyers who would otherwise hydrogenate IPN in-house can purchase m-PDA directly, effectively substituting IPN as a raw material for epoxy curing agents, aramid fiber production, and polyamide synthesis. This is a downstream bypass rather than a functional substitute. |
| Adiponitrile (ADN) | Aliphatic dinitrile used as a precursor to hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) for nylon-6,6. In applications requiring a diamine intermediate for polyamide synthesis, ADN-derived HMDA can substitute m-PDA (derived from IPN) when aliphatic rather than aromatic polyamide properties are acceptable. Requires significant reformulation of the polymer system. |
| Phthalonitrile (o-phthalodinitrile) | Ortho isomer; used in phthalocyanine pigment and dye synthesis. Can substitute IPN in certain specialty resin and phthalocyanine precursor applications where the ortho geometry is tolerated or preferred. Also used in high-temperature phthalonitrile resins as a partial substitute. Not interchangeable in applications requiring meta-geometry. |
| Benzonitrile | Mono-nitrile aromatic compound; can partially substitute IPN as a solvent, ligand, or intermediate in pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis where only one nitrile group is functionally required. Partial replacement only; cannot replicate the bifunctional crosslinking or diamine-forming capability of IPN. |
| Dicyandiamide (DICY) | Used as a latent curing agent for epoxy resins; can substitute m-PDA (derived from IPN) in epoxy curing applications, particularly in printed circuit board laminates and powder coatings. Offers lower toxicity and easier handling. Requires reformulation of the epoxy system and results in different cure kinetics and mechanical properties. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2007 (substance registration dossier) | REACH registration dossier submitted (EC 210-933-7, CAS 626-17-5); no specific tonnage threshold, classification, labelling or risk assessment required for substance listed in ECHA CHEM | ECHA substance record 100.009.940 |
| EU | Chlorothalonil approval and non-renewal | European Commission (EFSA peer review) | 2020 | Prohibition on placing on the market and use of chlorothalonil (produced via chlorination of isophthalonitrile); no IPN-specific limit or threshold | EFSA Journal 2018/5126 and EU listing |
| US | Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(b) Inventory | US EPA | 1976 (ongoing) | Chemical is listed as active in TSCA inventory; no additional reporting threshold, control or restriction applied | PubChem DSSTox and EPA TSCA records |
| US | TSCA Inventory | US EPA | 1976 (ongoing) | Chemical is listed as active in TSCA inventory; no additional reporting threshold, control or restriction applied | PubChem DSSTox and EPA TSCA records |
| Global | UN Transport Classification (GHS-based) | UN GHS (ICSC 1583) | 2005 (latest revision) | UN Number 3276, Hazard Class 6.1, Packing Group III; toxic substances (LD50 oral 500 mg/kg) | ICSC 1583 and CAMEO Chemicals |
| Global | UN Transport Classification (GHS-based) | UN GHS (ICSC 1583) | 2005 (latest revision) | UN Number 3276, Hazard Class 6.1, Packing Group III; toxic substances (LD50 oral 500 mg/kg) | ICSC 1583 and CAMEO Chemicals |
| China | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) environmental standards | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2021 | Chemical project restriction: high VOC emissions and large-scale hazardous chemical transportation prohibited for non-integrated production (no numerical threshold specific to Isophthalonitrile) | Provincial implementation plans (Zhejiang) |
| India | Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) effluent and emission standards | Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) | ongoing | No specific numerical threshold or limit set for Isophthalonitrile in national standards; general hazardous chemical waste management required | BIS/CPCB guidelines |
Key Influence Events
Isophthalonitrile (IPN), also known as 1,3-dicyanobenzene or m-phthalodinitrile, is an aromatic dinitrile with the molecular formula C8H4N2 and CAS number 626-17-5. It is a white to off-white crystalline solid with a melting point of approximately 161–163 °C. Isophthalonitrile is produced primarily by the catalytic ammoxidation of m-xylene (meta-xylene) in the presence of ammonia and air over a metal oxide catalyst. It serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of specialty polymers, particularly meta-phenylenediamine (m-PDA) via hydrogenation, which is used in the production of high-performance polyamide fibers (such as Nomex aramid), epoxy curing agents, and corrosion-resistant coatings. It is also used as a building block for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Isophthalonitrile
Isophthalonitrile (IPN), also known as 1,3-dicyanobenzene or m-phthalodinitrile, is an aromatic dinitrile with the molecular formula C8H4N2 and CAS number 626-17-5. It is a white to off-white crystalline solid with a melting point of approximately 161–163 °C. Isophthalonitrile is produced primarily by the catalytic ammoxidation of m-xylene (meta-xylene) in the presence of ammonia and air over a metal oxide catalyst. It serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of specialty polymers, particularly meta-phenylenediamine (m-PDA) via hydrogenation, which is used in the production of high-performance polyamide fibers (such as Nomex aramid), epoxy curing agents, and corrosion-resistant coatings. It is also used as a building block for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline solid | — | All grades |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.0 | % | Technical / Industrial |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.5 | % | High-Purity / Polymer Grade |
| Melting Point | 161–163 | °C | All grades |
| Water Content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.10 | % | Polymer Grade |
| Ash / Residue on Ignition | ≤ 0.05 | % | Polymer Grade |
| Color (APHA, dissolved) | ≤ 20 | APHA | High-Purity Grade |
| m-Xylene residual | ≤ 100 | ppm | Polymer Grade |
| Isophthalamide (partial hydrolysis) | ≤ 0.2 | % | Polymer Grade |
| Phthalonitrile isomers (ortho/para) | ≤ 0.3 | % | Technical Grade |
| Bulk Density | 0.55–0.70 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Molecular Weight | 128.13 | g/mol | — |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Showa Denko K.K. | Tokyo, Japan | |
| CAC Group | China | Xinyi City, Jiangsu Province |
| Suli Co., Ltd. | Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China | |
| Jiangsu Weunite Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. | China |
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