Plastic, Silicone, Steel, and Others: Updated China Raw Materials Costs (late Sep ’25)

Sofeast’s team continues monitoring the cost evolution of key raw materials in China to help importers and manufacturers stay informed. This latest update from the market analysts we work with reflects changes (RMB costs and %) over the past year up to Sep 27, 2025.

Monthly China Raw Material Cost Changes – September 2025

In September 2025, China’s raw material market again showed a mixed picture, with some materials rebounding while others weakened further.

Epoxy Resin (E-51) +3.85% monthly change

This week: Prices dropped slightly.
Drivers: Cost support weakened; downstream buyers showed little restocking enthusiasm.
Outlook: Expected to remain stable in a consolidation phase.

ABS (AG-15E1) -1.50% monthly change

This week: Market remained mostly stable, with some local weakness.
Drivers: Raw material fluctuations and narrower adjustments from suppliers limited price movement.
Outlook: Likely to remain in consolidation, with sellers focusing on spot market stability.

Silicone (110) +0.51% monthly change

This week: Prices held steady.
Drivers: DMC expected to stabilize with slight upward movement, but downstream holiday shutdowns weigh on demand.
Outlook: Prices to remain broadly stable with minor fluctuations.

Zinc Alloy (Zamak5) -1.06% monthly change

This week: Prices fell as macro and fundamentals remained weak.
Drivers: Continued weak demand and oversupply.
Outlook: Likely to stay low, with little near-term demand recovery.

Aluminum Alloy (ADC 12) +0.79% monthly change

This week: Spot prices dropped before rebounding slightly, but average stayed lower.
Drivers: Limited fundamental support, but macro sentiment moderately positive.
Outlook: Prices may rise slightly before the holiday period.

Paper for Color Box (157g) -2.51% monthly change

This week: Downward trend continued.
Drivers: Rising production capacity and accumulating inventories.
Outlook: Prices expected to move lower next week.

Stainless Steel (304/2B 0.4MM) +0.67% monthly change

This week: Prices fluctuated within a stable range.
Drivers: Demand weaker than expected; insufficient momentum for price adjustment.
Outlook: Pre-holiday replenishment may support short-term consumption, though inventory risks persist.

Battery Material (Lithium cobalt oxides) +13.00% monthly change

This week: Prices rose significantly, driven by cobalt oxide increases and stockpiling.
Drivers: Lithium carbonate stable, but demand for positive electrode materials pushed costs upward.
Outlook: Prices expected to remain high as stockpiling continues.

Aug 25 to Sep 25 Comparison

	Material	Aug % Change	Aug Trend	Sep % Change	Sep Trend
0	Epoxy Resin (E-51)	1.70%	Stable to slight rise	3.85%	Stable, consolidating
1	ABS (AG-15E1)	-1.34%	Weak/declining	-1.50%	Consolidating, weak
2	Silicone (110)	-10.38%	Sharp decline	0.51%	Stable, minor fluctuations
3	Zinc Alloy (Zamak5)	-1.65%	Volatile, weak overall	-1.06%	Weak, low demand
4	Aluminum Alloy ADC 12	3.22%	Slight rise	0.79%	Slight rebound possible
5	Paper for Color Box (157g)	-6.36%	Falling, abundant supply	-2.51%	Still falling
6	Stainless Steel (304/2B 0.4MM)	0.88%	Gradual stabilization	0.67%	Stable, inventory risk
7	Battery Material (Lithium cobalt oxides)	1.81%	Elevated, rising slightly	13.00%	Strong surge, stockpiling

Overview: September Market Themes

Stable to consolidating: Epoxy resin, ABS, silicone, and stainless steel showing limited movement.
Weak: Zinc and paper continue to face downward pressure from weak demand and oversupply.
Mixed metals: Aluminum prices dipped but may see slight holiday-driven rebound.
High pressure: Battery materials surged sharply, creating cost strain for electronics and EV suppliers.

Suggested Actions

Negotiate on ABS, silicone, and paper where downward or consolidating trends persist.
Consider locking in aluminum and stainless steel purchases ahead of potential holiday-driven rises.
Closely monitor cobalt and lithium supply dynamics as battery materials remain volatile.
Avoid overstocking zinc as weak demand is unlikely to reverse in the near term.

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 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.

About Adrian Leighton

Adrian is the Sofeast group's experienced marketer and has worked in manufacturing for around a decade. He has a particular interest in new product development and sharing important manufacturing news from China. If you've read, watched, or listened to some Sofeast content, Adrian has probably had a hand in it!