Naphthalene Price Trend Q3 2025
The global refined naphthalene market showed modest stability in Q3 2025, although regional differences were observed. The price of refined naphthalene fluctuated between 1-4% in the 2025 Q3 period, largely a function of stable feedstock costs, energy prices, and supply chain variations regionally.
While some increases and decreases in upstream factors were observed, demand stemming from the pharmaceutical, chemical, and textile sectors stabilized demand. Expanding production and regional supply chain variation can help stabilize prices in the next quarter.
China
Refined Naphthalene price FOB Shanghai, China, Industrial Grade.
Chinese refined naphthalene exports have dropped drastically by 3.63% in Q3 2025. Refined Naphthalene prices declined in China because of seasonal maintenance shutdowns at the coal-based processing units and existing restrictions on environmental regulations, which have constrained the availability of feedstocks for phthalic anhydride production.
The supply constraints and weakening demand from major importing countries led to a significant decrease in exports. Exporters are now faced with supply bottlenecks that inhibit their ability to respond to existing demand.
All these factors have caused a declining refined naphthalene price in China even with reduced demand from abroad. The refined naphthalene price in China was reported to have increased by 0.24% to 1048 USD/ton in September 2025.
Vietnam
Refined Naphthalene price CIF Haiphong, Vietnam, Industrial Grade.
Refined naphthalene imports to Vietnam in Q3 2025 experienced a decline of -2.21%. The price trend of refined naphthalene in Vietnam demonstrates a similar correlation, as China’s upstream feedstock limitations had constrained portfolio for exports.
Seasonal maintenance at coal processing units has lowered the availability of coal tar derivatives, which are an essential feedstock for the generation of phthalic anhydride, and has also impacted the export of refined naphthalene to Vietnam.
The monsoon season of Vietnam has also weakened construction activity and the demand of coating and resin materials. The seasonal weakness in demand, along with the uncertainty of supply, led to a conservative approach to imports, further extending the decreasing trend in intake of refined naphthalene imports into Vietnam. The price of refined naphthalene in Vietnam have declined a total of 0.46% in the month of September 2025, for a total of 1086 USD/ton.
India
Refined Naphthalene price in CIF Nhava Sheva, Ex Bhiwandi, India, Industrial Grade.
According to Price-Watch, in Q3 2025, India’s imports of refined naphthalene are seen to be suffering a considerable fall. Refined naphthalene price trend in India, CIF price from China and the Ex-Bhiwandi price saw drops of 4.16% and 4.41%, respectively.
On the supply side, several seasonal maintenance outages at coal processing units in China have hindered the availability of coal tar derivatives to procure phthalic anhydride. Consequently, the volume of refined naphthalene being exported to India has been constrained.
In India, the proceeding monsoon season has resulted in less construction and infrastructure activity, which has weakened the consumption of coatings and resins. In response, importers adopted a conservative business approach and purchased smaller volumes when required instead of holding working stock.
The compound of both feedstock restrictions and seasonal demand weakness are factors that compounded and weakened the Indian market in Q3 for refined naphthalene imports. On a September 2025 basis, refining naphthalene prices appeared to be increased by approximately 1.82% to 99,465 INR/ton CIF India which is up, whereas the Ex-Bhiwandi price fell by -6.41% to 85,800 INR/ton.




