Month: March 2025

It’s time for the monthly update tracking the costs of commonly used raw materials from China for the past year to help you understand the market’s current state. If you or your supplier purchase materials from China for your products, the cost changes you see here impact your bottom line!

Here’s the up-to-date material cost data from China for you as of late March 2025 and the price evolution over the past twelve months – Corrugated & Boxboard Paper had a reasonable 7% decrease, otherwise most materials were relatively stable on cost this month.

Here are the annual cost changes in CNY, including weekly changes for March 25:

Here is what the external market analysts we work with attribute these changes to during this past month and the overall monthly cost change in the last week of March:

Epoxy Resin (-2.45%)

The epoxy resin market continued to weaken this week.
Driving factors: Cost support performance is weak, and downstream buyers remain cautious.
Market outlook for next week: The domestic epoxy resin market is expected to remain weak.

ABS (-0.79%)

ABS market prices continued to fall this week.
Driving factors: Weak upstream raw material prices, abundant supply, and overall market weakness.
Market outlook for next week: With low costs and manufacturer inventory pressure, ABS prices are likely to remain weak.

Silicone Rubber 110 (+1.67%)

The price of 110 raw rubber increased this week.
Driving factors: Buyers reacted to rising prices by stocking up in the first half of the week, improving order volume. However, after the price increase, market sentiment turned cautious.
Market outlook for next week: The high trading atmosphere remains weak.

Zinc Alloy (+0.77%)

Electrolytic zinc prices fell early in the week but ended with an upward movement.
Driving factors: Increased supply pressure initially pushed prices down.
Market outlook for next week: Demand is expected to return, likely leading to price increases.

Aluminum Alloy (-0.32%)

Aluminum prices rebounded after an early rise, but inventory pressures persisted.
Driving factors: Demand elasticity is changing, and aluminum liquid absorption remains stable.
Market outlook for next week: Prices are expected to fluctuate within a range due to mixed market signals.

PVC (-0.62%)

The domestic PVC powder market weakened slightly this week.
Driving factors: Weak fundamental support and poor macroeconomic sentiment.
Market outlook for next week: Prices may continue fluctuating in a narrow range.

Paper for Color Boxes (No change)

The double-coated paper market remained stable this week.
Driving factors: Limited demand growth and ongoing supply-demand imbalances.
Market outlook for next week: Stability is expected to continue.

Corrugated & Boxboard Paper (-7.36%)

Market pressure led to further declines this week.
Driving factors: Continued supply-demand imbalances and lower paper mill quotations.
Market outlook for next week: Prices may continue to decline, but at a slower rate.

Stainless Steel (No change)

Stainless steel scrap prices fluctuated this week.
Driving factors: Market corrections due to futures hedging and shipment price adjustments.
Market outlook for next week: Expected steel shortages may lead to rational price reductions.

Lithium Batteries (+0.50%)

Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices saw a slight increase.
Driving factors: Stable supply, growing power market demand, and continued strength in the cobalt market.
Market outlook for next week: Demand is steadily increasing, supporting price stability.

 

How to combat rising costs?

Explore cost-reducing tips in this post: Rising Raw Material Prices: What Strategy To Follow? (6 Approaches).

What to do if your Chinese supplier suddenly tells you that material costs have risen: How To Cooperate With Your Chinese Supplier, Part 16: Bad News from China, Raw Material Prices Just Increased!

If your supplier just isn’t working out, maybe sourcing a new supplier will help you find one who can offer you better prices and more. If so, there’s no need to fear switching from your current supplier to a new one if you’re prepared: How To Switch To A Newer, Better Chinese Manufacturer? [eBook].

 

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We hope this is helpful. Our mission at Sofeast is to help importers have transparency in their supply chain and to give them more control. And this information is critical to have some visibility into your manufacturer’s costing.

By the way, you can always contact us if you have any questions about whether a manufacturer’s quote is reasonable.