News from the air separation industry, 20160829: CO2 faces rising costs due to supply constraints; prices of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon increase as well

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High CO2 levels make things difficult; there is a shortage of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, leading to rising prices. In the fourth week of August, demand for CO2 in certain regions such as Shandong and Hebei decreased, and companies lowered their prices slightly in order to reduce shipping pressures. In areas like Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou, supply remained tight, so market prices stayed relatively stable. According to Zhuochuang’s statistical data, as of this Thursday, the average price of carbon dioxide in the domestic market was 361.67 yuan per ton, a decrease of 6.11 yuan per ton compared to the previous week. The liquid oxygen market is performing well, continuing its upward trend overall. Prices have risen in North China, East China, Central China, and Northeast China, with an overall positive market atmosphere ； The atmosphere in the Shandong region remains unchanged, with high prices continuing to drop. According to Zhuochuang Data, the weekly average price of liquid oxygen across the country was 597.63 yuan per ton, showing a 2.30% increase on a week-on-week basis. As production cuts take effect, the supply gap continues to widen; coupled with rising demand in regions such as Inner Mongolia and Hubei, this supports a moderate upward trend in liquid nitrogen prices. According to Zhuochuang Data, the average price of liquid nitrogen this week was 535.38 yuan per ton, representing a 3.46% increase on a week-on-week basis. This week, the overall supply in the liquid argon market remains tight, with prices soaring again in some areas. According to a survey conducted by Zhuochuang Information across China’s 29 provinces (provinces and autonomous regions), as of Thursday the average national price of liquid argon was 1,092 yuan per ton, up 10.53% from last week and 47.77% higher than the same period last year. This week, the eastern, central, and southern regions continued to see sharp price increases, while the northern region remained relatively stable.