Plastic, Silicone, Steel, and Others: Updated China Raw Materials Costs (late Feb ’26)

Sofeast’s team continues to monitor the cost evolution of key raw materials in China, helping importers and manufacturers stay informed. This latest update from the market analysts we work with reflects changes (RMB costs and %) over the past year through Feb 26, 2026. (Click the charts to expand them)

Monthly China Raw Material Cost Changes – February 2026

Epoxy Resin (E-51) +4.22% monthly change

This week, epoxy resin prices showed a slight recovery after several months of decline.

• Drivers
  Upstream raw material costs stabilized, while downstream buyers resumed small-volume purchasing after the holiday period. This helped support prices but did not create strong upward momentum.
• Outlook (next week)
  Prices may continue to fluctuate within a narrow range as demand remains cautious and cost pressure is moderate.

ABS (AG-15E1) +5.08% monthly change

ABS prices softened slightly this month after a period of steady declines.

• Drivers
  Demand from downstream injection molding and consumer goods manufacturers remains weak, and suppliers continue to compete on price to secure orders.
• Outlook (next week)
  ABS prices are expected to remain under pressure unless downstream demand improves.

Silicone (110) −1.68% monthly change

Silicone rubber prices stayed relatively stable but edged slightly downward.

• Drivers
  Producers focused on clearing inventory accumulated before the holiday period, while downstream buyers purchased only as needed.
• Outlook (next week)
  Prices are expected to remain stable with small fluctuations depending on upstream DMC cost movements.

Zinc Alloy (Zamak 5) +0.34% monthly change

Zinc alloy prices remained broadly stable this month.

• Drivers
  Base metal prices fluctuated but stayed within a limited range, while demand from hardware and die-casting factories recovered slowly after the holiday.
• Outlook (next week)
  Short-term price movement is expected to stay range-bound, following zinc market trends.

Aluminum Alloy (ADC 12, Jiangsu) -0.48% monthly change

Aluminum alloy prices continued to rise moderately.

• Drivers
  Aluminum futures remained relatively strong, and restocking activity after the holiday period supported spot prices.
• Outlook (next week)
  Prices may remain firm, although volatility is possible depending on macroeconomic sentiment.

Paper for Color Box (157 g double-coated) 0.0% monthly change

Coated paper prices remained at low levels with little change.

• Drivers
  Supply remains high while demand from the packaging and printing sectors is still recovering after the holiday period.
• Outlook (next week)
  Prices are likely to stay weak unless order volume increases.

Stainless Steel (304/2B 0.4 mm, Taiyuan) +1.38% monthly change

Stainless steel prices continued to increase gradually.

• Drivers
  Nickel prices stayed relatively strong, and mills raised quotations after the holiday restart. Demand improved slightly from machinery and appliance manufacturers.
• Outlook (next week)
  Prices may remain firm, but further increases will depend on the nickel market direction.

Battery Material (Lithium Cobalt Oxides) +1.43% monthly change

Battery material prices remain at historically high levels.

• Drivers
  Lithium and cobalt supply remains tight, while demand from EV and energy storage industries continues to grow. Market sentiment remains bullish despite short-term fluctuations.
• Outlook (next month’s orders)
  Prices are expected to stay elevated, with possible volatility depending on policy changes and export demand.

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].

We hope this is helpful. Our mission at Sofeast is to provide importers with transparency in their supply chain and to give them greater control. And this information is crucial for gaining 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 or not.