Trends

As co‑produced basic chemical intermediates, phenol and acetone see slower capacity expansion, with production capacity increasingly concentrated in large‑scale integrated refining‑chemical bases. Integrated supporting facilities have become a core competitive edge. Raw material price volatility and supply‑demand mismatch of co‑products remain major industry challenges. Stricter environmental regulations drive process upgrades while backward capacities are phased out. Market competition is shifting from capacity expansion to cost control, product quality and end‑to‑end operational capability.