CAS 1330-20-7 Mixed Xylene Price: Market And Cost Factors

If you're sourcing Mixed Xylene (CAS 1330-20-7) for paint, coating, adhesive or ink production, you've probably noticed the price isn't stable - it moves with crude oil, feedstock aromatics markets, and seasonal downstream demand. This article walks through what published third-party market trackers have reported for xylene solvent pricing over 2024–2026, and - just as important - explains why different sources sometimes show quite different numbers for the same period.

All figures below are drawn from public market data platforms for directional reference only - they are not GNEE BIO's current selling price. For an accurate, order-specific quote, see the end of this article.

Before comparing prices, it is useful to understand the basic properties and applications of Mixed Xylene (CAS 1330-20-7). The following guides cover some of the key questions buyers commonly consider when evaluating this solvent:

• [What Is Mixed Xylene Used For in Paints and Coatings?]
• [Are Xylene and O-Xylene the Same? What's the Difference?]
• [What Is the Density and Viscosity of Xylene (CAS 1330-20-7)?]

Before looking at the data, it's worth understanding why published mixed xylene prices can vary so much between sources - sometimes by $200–300 per ton for what looks like the "same" month. The most common reason is trade basis:

• FOB (Free on Board) - the export price at the loading port, before international freight and insurance are added
• CFR (Cost and Freight) - the FOB price plus ocean freight to the destination port, but not insurance
• CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) - the CFR price plus marine insurance

Because CFR and CIF prices already include freight, they are naturally higher than an FOB price for the same underlying material and the same week - the gap simply reflects shipping cost, not a change in the product's actual market value. Some trackers also report a domestic ex-tank or ex-works benchmark rather than an export price at all. This is exactly why this article keeps each data point labeled by its basis and source, rather than plotting them as one continuous line - doing so would overstate how much the price actually moved.

The table below uses a single source (IMARC Group's Mixed Xylene Pricing Report) applying the same methodology across regions, which makes it reasonably safe to compare region-to-region within this table - though the source does not explicitly disclose the trade basis, so treat it as a regional benchmark index rather than a specific FOB/CFR quote:

• Source: IMARC Group, Mixed Xylene Pricing Report. Regional benchmark index; reference only.

China posted the lowest benchmark across all three quarters of 2025, consistent with ample domestic refinery supply and comparatively softer downstream demand during that period - a practical reason many international paint, coating and adhesive manufacturers source mixed xylene from Chinese exporters.

Because different trackers report different trade bases for China specifically, the table below keeps each data point clearly attributed rather than merging them into a single trend line:

Do not read this table as one continuous price line - rows use different reporting bases and methodologies. Separately, Price-Watch.ai reports Mixed Xylene import prices into China on a CIF Shanghai basis rising sharply in Q1 2026 (roughly +22%) and again in March 2026 (a further ~+30% for that month), which is directionally consistent with the FOB China figures above but is a different basis and not directly additive to them.

Reading across these sources, the qualitative story is fairly consistent even though the exact numbers differ: prices fell through most of 2025 on oversupply and weak downstream demand, then rose again in early-to-mid 2026 as feedstock costs increased. The size of that 2026 increase, however, depends heavily on which trade basis and which data provider you're looking at - which is exactly why a specific number from any single tracker shouldn't be treated as "the market price" without confirming its basis.

How to Evaluate Mixed Xylene Prices in 2026

For buyers sourcing mixed xylene from China, three points are particularly important:

1. Compare the same trade basis: FOB China, CFR destination port and CIF destination port prices should not be compared directly without accounting for freight and insurance.

2. Confirm the product specification: Isomer composition, ethylbenzene content and other contractual quality requirements may affect whether two offers are comparable.

3. Calculate the total procurement cost: In addition to the quoted price per metric ton, consider packaging, freight, insurance, inspection and other applicable charges.

For a meaningful comparison, request quotations based on the same specification, quantity, packaging and destination. This provides a more reliable basis for evaluating mixed xylene suppliers than comparing headline prices alone.

You'll also come across broad, self-listed price ranges on B2B marketplaces such as Alibaba or Made-in-China - these are seller-submitted asking prices rather than verified transaction data, can span from small-batch technical-grade listings to large-volume industrial-grade bulk offers within the same search results, and are not a reliable benchmark for cost planning. Treat them only as a very rough sense of range, and rely on a direct quotation for anything you intend to budget against.

• Crude oil and naphtha feedstock costs - Mixed xylene is derived from petrochemical aromatic streams, so upstream oil and naphtha price swings feed directly into production cost.
• Downstream demand from coatings, adhesives and polyester - Since xylene isomers also feed into paraxylene (used in PET/polyester) and phthalic anhydride production, demand from those sectors competes with solvent-grade demand and affects availability.
• Refinery operating rates - When Chinese refineries run at high utilization, domestic supply builds up and benchmark prices tend to soften; planned or unplanned maintenance can tighten supply and push prices up.
• Regional freight and feedstock-supply disruption - Multiple 2026 trackers point to Middle East-related feedstock and reformate cost pressure as a driver of the early-2026 rebound; freight costs on a given trade lane add a further, separate layer on top of the underlying commodity price.

Order specification and packaging - A quoted benchmark is a starting reference point; isomer ratio, purity grade, packaging (drums vs. IBC vs. ISO tank) and destination all shift the final quoted price for a specific order.

Because mixed xylene tracks a genuinely volatile commodity market - and because published sources disagree on the exact number more often than you'd expect - the most useful thing a buyer can do isn't memorize a single "market price." It's two things: understand the direction of the trend, and always confirm which trade basis (FOB, CFR or CIF) a quoted figure uses before comparing it to anything else. A supplier quoting a price without specifying the Incoterm, or comparing your target price to a benchmark of unknown basis, is not giving you a like-for-like number.

For an international quotation, buyers should provide more than the chemical name. The most useful information is:

• Product: Mixed Xylene, CAS 1330-20-7
• Required specification: purity, grade or your existing specification
• Quantity: for example 5 tons, 20 tons or a recurring monthly volume
• Packaging: drums, IBC, ISO tank or another format
• Destination: city or destination port
• Incoterm: FOB, CFR or CIF
• Delivery schedule: required shipment month or target date
• Documents: COA, SDS, TDS, certificate of origin or other requirements

The more complete the RFQ, the easier it is for the supplier to provide a realistic landed-cost quotation.

Tianjin Gnee Biotech Co., Ltd. (GNEE BIO), established in 2021 and based in Anyang, Henan Province, China, supplies Mixed Xylene (CAS 1330-20-7) to paint, coating, adhesive and ink manufacturers worldwide. We provide order-specific quotations - clearly stated on your preferred Incoterm (FOB, CFR or CIF) - based on your required quantity, specification, packaging and destination, rather than a generic published rate. Every order can include COA, TDS and SDS/MSDS documentation, with third-party inspection (such as SGS) available on request.

To request a current, order-specific quotation for Mixed Xylene, contact GNEE BIO or visit the Mixed Xylene for Paints and Coatings product page to send an inquiry directly.

Q: Is a larger xylene order usually offered at a lower price?

A: Larger orders may receive more competitive unit pricing, but the final offer also depends on market conditions, product grade, delivery schedule, packaging and payment terms. Buyers should request quotations for several quantity levels to identify the most suitable purchasing option.

Q: What specifications should I confirm before buying xylene in bulk?
A: Confirm the required grade, purity, isomer distribution, ethylbenzene content and any customer-specific quality limits. Also agree on packaging, delivery schedule and required quality documents before placing a bulk order.

Q: What additional costs should I consider besides the mixed xylene price?
A: In addition to the product price, consider packaging, inland transportation, ocean freight, insurance, customs duties, port charges, inspection fees and other destination-related costs. Calculating the total landed cost provides a more accurate basis for comparing suppliers.

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