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Analysis of the production, sales status, import-export trade, and price trends of melamine in China in 2022 Author/Source: Gongyan.com Date: 2022-11-20 Clicks: 43 Melamine, commonly known as Melamine, is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic organic compound of the triazine type; it is produced from urea and used as a chemical raw material. The main use of melamine is to undergo condensation polymerization with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, which is used in the plastics and coatings industries. It can also be used as a treatment agent to prevent folding and shrinking in textiles. Its modified resins can be used to create metal coatings that are bright in color, durable, and hard. Additionally, it is utilized in the production of strong, heat-resistant decorative sheets, moisture-proof paper, and tanning agents for gray leather. It serves as an adhesive for synthetic fire-resistant panels, as well as a fixing or curing agent for waterproofing materials. In the early 1960s, the dicyandiamide method was primarily used in China for the production of melamine. However, due to its high economic costs and relatively low efficiency, this method was gradually phased out. Currently, the high-pressure method, low-pressure method, and co-production using urea plants are widely used. In 2021, the total national production of melamine was around 1.5 million tons, representing a 15% increase compared to the 1.3 million tons produced in 2020. Statistics on China’s melamine production from 2014 to 2021: http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20221120/1858106829038.jpg Capacity utilization rate: The average capacity utilization rate for 2021 was 69.73%, up by 13.59 percentage points compared to 56.14% in 2020. China is one of the main exporters of melamine in the world. In 2021, China exported 505,488 tons of melamine, while it imported only 800 tons; thus, the export volume was more than 630 times higher than the import volume. From January to August 2022, China’s imports of melamine amounted to 308 tons, while exports totaled 377,122 tons. Statistics on China’s melamine imports and exports from 2014 to 2022: http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20221120/1858596833974.jpg. From 2014 to 2021, China’s apparent demand for melamine showed a slow upward trend; in 2021, this apparent demand was 996,000 tons, remaining roughly the same as in 2020. Statistics on China’s apparent demand for melamine from 2014 to 2021: http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20221120/1859416838158.jpg In 2021, China’s melamine market experienced volatile fluctuations; both domestic demand and foreign trade showed increases, which supported the market and led to continuous rises in prices. As the downstream demand gradually weakens and the supply-demand balance remains relatively favorable, a continuous rise in prices cannot be sustained, and prices gradually return to more rational levels. By the end of December 2021, the average ex-plant price of melamine across the country was 11,933 yuan per ton, up by 6,737 yuan per ton from 5,196 yuan per ton in 2020, representing a surge of 130%. The highest ex-plant price during that year was 21,000 yuan per ton, while the lowest was 6,300 yuan per ton, resulting in a price difference of 14,700 yuan per ton. Reference prices for China’s melamine market from 2014 to 2021: http://img.yf116.cn/image/img/20221120/190256842546.jpg