Toluene Diisocyanate Price Trend June 2026: China and India Compared

TDI just posted fresh numbers for June 2026, and the Toluene Diisocyanate price trend deserves attention if you're buying, selling, or forecasting anywhere near the polyurethane supply chain. China's price landed at USD 1,780.93 per metric ton, FOB. India came in higher, USD 1,868.93 per metric ton, CIF.

That's an USD 88 gap between the two. Not massive. Not trivial either, once volume gets involved.

TDI doesn't get talked about much outside chemical circles, but it's a big deal for foam producers, furniture makers, mattress manufacturers, automotive seating suppliers. Flexible polyurethane foam runs on this stuff. When TDI moves, foam costs follow, usually within a month or two.

Current Toluene Diisocyanate Prices: China vs India

USD 88 per metric ton separates the two markets. Small on a single shipment. Adds up fast across a quarter's worth of buying.

A few notes on reading these numbers right:

• China's FOB price stops at the port of loading. Freight, insurance, everything after that point sits outside the quoted figure.
• India's CIF number already folds in freight and insurance to the destination port. That's a big chunk of why it reads higher.
• Both figures are June 2026 snapshots. TDI can swing week to week, so don't treat this as a fixed number.

FOB and CIF aren't the same measuring stick. Comparing them straight across understates how much of that USD 88 gap is really about who's paying for the ship and the insurance policy. Still, side by side, it gives buyers a rough sense of where each market sits.

What's Pushing TDI Prices Right Now

Feedstock and production costs. TDI comes from toluene, which traces back to crude oil and refinery output. Toluene gets pricier, TDI follows. Producers don't have much room to eat that cost themselves, margins in this space stay tight.

Demand from polyurethane foam. China runs one of the largest flexible foam industries anywhere. Furniture, mattresses, automotive interiors, all pulling from the same TDI supply. India's foam sector keeps growing too, but domestic TDI production hasn't kept pace, so imports fill the gap.

Shipping conditions. Freight rates, container availability, port delays. All of it lands somewhere in the final delivered price, especially for India's CIF figure.

Does currency matter here too?

Yes, quite a bit actually. TDI trades in dollars. A weaker rupee means Indian buyers pay more in local currency terms even when the dollar price hasn't shifted at all.

Plant maintenance and supply outages. TDI production runs through a handful of large facilities globally. A single plant shutdown for maintenance, or an unplanned outage, can tighten supply fast and push prices up within weeks.

What This Means for Buyers and Investors

China's FOB rate looks like the better deal on paper. But FOB means the buyer takes on freight and insurance from that point forward, so the real landed cost needs its own calculation before anyone calls it cheaper.

India's higher CIF price tells a different story for investors. Import dependency this high, on a chemical this critical to foam manufacturing, points toward an opening for domestic TDI capacity. A few producers have already floated expansion plans for exactly this reason.

Foam manufacturers, furniture brands, and automotive suppliers should treat this Toluene Diisocyanate price trend as an early cost signal. Raw material costs here tend to show up in finished goods pricing within a month or two, sometimes sooner if margins are already thin.

Looking Ahead: What to Watch Through Mid 2026

Where TDI prices head next depends on a few moving pieces. Toluene costs, obviously. Plant capacity utilization across major producers. And whether India's domestic supply picks up enough to close some of that import gap.

The China-India spread probably won't disappear soon. Structural stuff like production location and import reliance doesn't fix itself in a quarter.

One thing buyers shouldn't do: sign long contracts based on a single month's snapshot. TDI has a history of moving fast when a plant goes offline or feedstock costs spike. June 2026 numbers are useful today, less useful six months from now without a check.

Conclusion

The Toluene Diisocyanate price trend for June 2026 puts China at USD 1,780.93/MT FOB and India at USD 1,868.93/MT CIF. That USD 88 gap comes down to incoterm structure, freight, and how much each market leans on imports. Anyone buying, selling, or investing around polyurethane foam should keep this number on their radar, because it moves faster than most people expect.

FAQ Section

What is the current Toluene Diisocyanate price trend in China and India?
China's TDI sits at USD 1,780.93/MT FOB as of June 2026. India's runs higher at USD 1,868.93/MT CIF. Most of that gap traces back to incoterm differences, freight costs, and India's heavier reliance on imported supply.

Why is TDI more expensive in India than China?
India's price is CIF, so freight and insurance to the destination port are already included. China's FOB figure stops at loading, leaving those costs out. Add India's import dependence for TDI, and the higher landed price makes sense.

What drives Toluene Diisocyanate prices?
Toluene feedstock costs sit at the center of it. Demand from the polyurethane foam industry matters too, along with shipping rates and currency swings. Plant outages or maintenance shutdowns can also tighten supply and push prices up fast.

How often does the TDI price change?
TDI can move weekly, sometimes faster during supply disruptions. A single plant shutdown or a toluene price spike can shift numbers within days. Buyers negotiating contracts should check current pricing rather than relying on older monthly figures.

What should buyers expect for TDI prices through mid 2026?
The China-India price gap looks likely to hold, driven by structural import dependency in India. Feedstock costs and plant capacity will decide whether prices trend up or stay flat. Locking contracts on outdated numbers carries real risk given how fast TDI can move.