This Sinopec company profile covers what buyers of Chinese chemicals need to know: who owns Sinopec, what it makes, how large it is and what to check before placing an order. Sinopec, formally China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, is one of China’s largest state-controlled energy and chemical groups. It produced 15.28 million tonnes of ethylene in 2025.

Need chemicals from a Sinopec-group plant or a comparable Chinese manufacturer? Send CAMAL your specification. CAMAL checks the manufacturer, arranges independent inspection before shipment and works on TT payment terms.

Sinopec at a Glance

Official sources: Sinopec Corp. (listed company) and Sinopec Group.

When Was Sinopec Founded?

Sinopec Corp., the listed company, was founded on 25 February 2000 as a joint stock company under China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group). The parent group is older. China Petrochemical Corporation was first established in 1983, and the State reorganized it into the current Sinopec Group in July 1998. Sinopec Corp. shares trade in Hong Kong (HKEX: 386) and Shanghai (SSE: 600028). The company applied in 2022 to delist its American depositary shares from the New York Stock Exchange.

What Does Sinopec Make?

Sinopec runs four connected businesses: oil and gas production, refining, chemicals and fuel retail.

Refining

Sinopec processed 250 million tonnes of crude oil in 2025 and produced 149 million tonnes of refined oil products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Chemicals

Sinopec’s refineries feed its chemical plants. In 2025 the group produced 44.22 million tonnes of light chemical feedstock and 15.28 million tonnes of ethylene, the base material for polyethylene, ethylene glycol and many other products. Total chemical sales reached 87.12 million tonnes, up 3.6 percent. External chemical sales revenue was RMB 378.0 billion, down 9.6 percent because of lower prices. Sinopec reported that fast capacity growth in China narrowed chemical margins in 2025.

Oil and gas

Oil and gas output reached a record high in 2025. Domestic crude oil output was 255.75 million barrels, and overseas crude oil output was 26.65 million barrels.

Fuel retail

Sinopec had 31,195 service stations under its brand at the end of 2025.

A Sinopec service station. The group had 31,195 stations under its brand at the end of 2025.

Source: Sinopec Corp. 2025 annual results.

Sinopec Chemical Products Buyers Ask About

These are the product lines that industrial buyers most often ask about. Always confirm the exact grade with the selling company before ordering.

Ethylene

Ethylene is the starting material for polyethylene, ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide. Sinopec produced 15.28 million tonnes in 2025, 13.5 percent more than in 2024. Ethylene is a gas that is costly to ship, so most of it is converted into derivatives near the plant where it is made. Buyers usually purchase those derivatives, not ethylene itself.

A large Sinopec petrochemical plant in China.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic used in packaging, textiles, automotive parts and medical products. Sinopec group plants, including Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, list polypropylene among their chemical products. Impact-copolymer grades suit parts that need more resistance to cracking. Buyers should ask for the exact grade, the melt flow index and a certificate of analysis for each batch.

Polypropylene resin pellets, a plastic raw material also produced by Sinopec group plants.

Workers at a chemical production site.

Acrylonitrile and acrylics

Acrylonitrile is used to make acrylic fibers, ABS plastics and nitrile rubber. Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical reports acrylics among its products. Buyers should confirm the purity level, stabilizer content and packaging rules, because acrylonitrile is a hazardous liquid with strict shipping requirements.

Acrylonitrile, a chemical used to make acrylic fibers, ABS plastics and nitrile rubber.

Sinopec refining and chemical plants in China.

Lubricants

Sinopec also sells lubricants. For mine sites and plants, these matter for heavy equipment fleets. Buyers should confirm the viscosity grade and the equipment maker’s approval list before ordering.

A Sinopec lubricants plant.

What Buyers Should Check Before Ordering Sinopec Chemicals

Confirm exactly which company sells the product, because Sinopec is a group of many subsidiaries and some are separately listed.

• The selling company name and business license
• The exact grade, the specification sheet and a certificate of analysis for each batch
• Independent inspection before shipment by SGS or Bureau Veritas
• Packaging and dangerous goods documents for hazardous chemicals
• TT payment terms, including deposit and balance, agreed in writing before any money is sent
• Sanctions screening of the selling company and the destination country under the rules that apply in the buyer’s country

Chemical export volume rose 29.8 percent in 2025, so Sinopec-group products do reach overseas buyers. Order size, grade and delivery terms still decide whether a Sinopec-group plant or another manufacturer is the better fit. CAMAL’s chemical sourcing site, camachem.com, covers industrial, mining and water-treatment chemicals. To see how CAMAL runs an order from manufacturer check to delivery, read the How We Work page.

Where Does Sinopec Operate Outside China?

Sinopec operates mainly in China, with overseas oil and gas production and international partnerships. Overseas crude oil output was 26.65 million barrels in 2025, compared with 255.75 million barrels in China.

In 2024 Sinopec agreed with TotalEnergies to combine research on biofuels, green hydrogen and carbon capture. It also took a 30 percent stake in a polyethylene project in Kazakhstan and announced plans for a refinery at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka.

A Sinopec green hydrogen project in China.

A Sinopec carbon capture facility in China.

Sinopec FAQ

Are PetroChina and Sinopec the Same Company?

No. PetroChina is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), and Sinopec is a separate group under China Petrochemical Corporation. Sinopec has a smaller overseas oil and gas presence than PetroChina, and its income comes mainly from refining, marketing and petrochemicals. Read CAMAL’s CNPC profile to see how PetroChina’s parent group compares.

Is Sinopec State-Owned?

Yes. Sinopec Corp. was established by China Petrochemical Corporation, a state-owned enterprise that remains the majority shareholder. Public shares trade in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

What Is the Difference Between Sinopec Group and Sinopec Corp.?

Sinopec Group (China Petrochemical Corporation) is the state-owned parent, and Sinopec Corp. is the listed company it controls. The Group is the majority shareholder of Sinopec Corp.

Where Is Sinopec Headquartered?

Sinopec is headquartered in Beijing, at No. 22 Chaoyangmen North Street, Chaoyang District.

What Chemicals Does Sinopec Make?

Sinopec group plants report ethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, benzene, PX and acrylics among their chemical products, as well as lubricants.

Can Overseas Buyers Buy Chemicals From Sinopec?

Yes, in many cases. Sinopec’s chemical export volume rose 29.8 percent in 2025. Availability depends on the product, grade and order size, and the seller is often a group subsidiary. CAMAL can confirm the selling company and the specification before any deposit is paid.

Conclusion

Sinopec is one of the largest energy and chemical groups in China, with refining, chemical and fuel retail operations at very large scale. For buyers, the key points are to confirm the selling company, the exact grade and the payment terms before ordering. For a wider comparison, read CAMAL’s ranking of the largest chemical companies in the world, which covers Sinopec alongside other global producers. Buyers who want to compare a private petrochemical group can read the Rongsheng Petrochemical profile. Buyers who need inorganic chemicals can start with CAMAL’s guides to sulfuric acid manufacturers in China and hydrochloric acid manufacturers in China.

A look at the best chemical companies in China that source the right chemicals for you!

How CAMAL Helps With Chemical Sourcing From China

Buying chemicals from China takes more than a price list. Each order needs a checked manufacturer, a confirmed specification and clear payment terms. CAMAL gives buyers:

• A check of the selling company and its business license
• Specification and certificate of analysis review before production
• Independent inspection by SGS or Bureau Veritas before shipment
• TT payment terms agreed in writing

Send your chemical requirement to CAMAL for a free consultation.