Ethylene glycol is used as an intermediate in the production of polyesters and as an automotive antifreeze. Around 55% of world production is used in polyester fibres, 16% in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, 15% in antifreeze, and the balance in other applications such as de-icing fluid and surface coatings. There are three grades of ethylene glycol; fibre grade, industrial grade and antifreeze grade.
Specific applications include its use as a heat-transfer fluid in aircraft and runway de-icing mixtures, to provide freeze-thaw stabilisation to latex coatings, to improve flexibility and drying time of oil-based paints containing alkyd resins, as a dehydrating agent for natural gas, in motor oil additives, and as an additive in the formulation of inks, pesticides, wood stains, adhesives, and other products. In explosive water-gels and slurries, it lowers the freezing point and acts as a coupling agent between water and the other components. High purity ethylene glycol is used as a solvent and suspending medium for ammonium perborate, the conductor in most electrolytic capacitors. Ethylene glycol is also used to make glycol ethers.
Ethylene glycol is harmful, and a chronic poison if ingested. It is combustible, but not flammable.
ICIS pricing quotes ethylene glycol in Europe, Asia-Pacific, China and the US Gulf.
Frequency:
- Ethylene Glycol Daily (Asia Pacific) – formerly under Fibre Intermediates Daily (Asia) – published on Mondays to Fridays
- Published weekly on Fridays.
Ethylene Glycol (EUROPE)
Weekly Price Assessments:
Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) Contract prices
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
MEG Spot prices
- CIF NWE T2 (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- FCA RDAM T2 (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EXW Russia (Rb/MT & conversion to EUR/MT)
Diethylene Glycol (DEG) Spot Prices
- CIF ARA T2 (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- FD NWE (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
Feedstock Prices
- ETHYLENE OXIDE FD NWE monthly contract (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- ETHYLENE FD NWE quarterly contract (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
Ethylene Glycol (ASIA-PACIFIC) & Ethylene Glycol (China)
Daily Price Assessments:
MEG Spot Prices
- CFR CHINA MAIN PORT (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EX-TANK CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)#
- EX-TANK EAST CHINA [≥500 MT] (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
- EX-TANK EAST CHINA [<500 MT] (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
#appears only in MEG (Asia) daily report
Weekly Price Assessments:
MEG Fibre Grade Monthly Contract Prices
- CFR ASIA (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- DEL CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
MEG Spot Prices
- FOB N.E.ASIA (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)#
- CFR CHINA MAIN PORT (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EX-TANK CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)#
- EX-TANK EAST CHINA [≥500 MT] (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
- EX-TANK EAST CHINA [<500 MT] (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
- EX-TANK SOUTH CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
Diethylene Glycol (DEG) Spot Prices
- CFR CHINA MAIN PORT (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
- EX-TANK EAST CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
- EX-TANK SOUTH CHINA (CNY/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)*
#appears only in Ethylene Glycol (Asia) weekly report
* appears only in Ethylene Glycol (China) weekly report
Ethylene Glycol (US GULF)
Weekly Price Assessments
Ethylene Glycol Monthly Contract Prices (FOB)
- FOB EGI (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
- FOB EGF EXPORT (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
- FOB DEG (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
- FOB TEG (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
Ethylene Glycol Spot Prices (FOB)
- FOB BARGES EGAF (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
General Information:
Assessment window: Weekly Price assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to close of business on Fridays at 1700 hours in London and at 1700 hours in Singapore and Shanghai.
Daily assessments are based on information gathered throughout the day to close of business at 1700 hours in Singapore and Shanghai.
Specifications:
Europe and the US:
MEG % max DEG content – 0.5% (technical), 0.05% (fibre)
% max water content – 0.2% (technical), 0.05% (fibre)
Acidity – 0.005% (technical), 0.002% (fibre)
DEG minimum purity 99.5-99%
% max water content – 0.1-0.2%
In Asia, ICIS pricing quotes fibre-grade MEG of 99.8% purity
Timing: Generally cargoes loading or delivered four-eight weeks forward from the date of publication, except for China domestic business which are for immediate delivery of up to three days.
Terms: In Europe and the US, standard terms are 30 days. In Asia regional cargoes are delivered (CFR) four weeks forward from the date of publication. Deep-sea cargoes are delivered eight weeks forward from the date of publication. Payment terms for spot cargoes in Asia are on a letter of credit (L/C) 90 days basis. Deals concluded on a L/C at sight or L/C 30-60 days basis will be converted to an L/C 90 days equivalent prices before factoring into the assessment. For Chinese domestic contract quotes in CNY, terms are at least 90 days credit; China domestic spot business is cash on delivery or cashier’s order.
Standard cargo size: In Europe, the MEG CIF NWE T2 quote reflects bulk spot trade for a minimum of 1,000 tonnes to the fibre and coolant sectors. The CIF ARA T2 DEG quote reflects bulk spot trade for a minimum of 500 tonnes. MEG FCA NWE T2 and DEG FD NWE reflect spot trade on trucks or railcars in the distribution sector of typically 20-25 tonnes.
In Asia, standard imported cargo size is 1,000-3,000 tonnes unless otherwise stated. For the Chinese domestic market, cargoes in eastern China are either 500 tonnes and above, or smaller than 500 tonnes. In southern China, standard cargo size is below 500 tonnes.
In China, DEG import cargoes are either 500 tonnes and above. Standard domestic transactions in east and south China are 20-50 tonnes ex-tank.
In the US, standard cargo size for spot assessments is 5,000-10,000 tonnes. The standard cargo size for EGI, DEG and TEG contract assessments is truckload and railcar amounts, or about 2,000-3,000 tonnes.
Assessment basis: In Asia, ICIS pricing has since 1 January 2012 changed the methodology for the CFR China Main Port weekly assessment of MEG to the simple average of daily assessments for a full work week, instead of the previous weighted-to-Friday approach. Meanwhile, the MEG daily price assessment in the MEG Daily (Asia) report has been changed to the simple average of deals captured throughout the day, instead of the previous full-market approach.
The mid-point of the published MEG price range in the MEG Daily (Asia) report is the simple average of deals captured throughout the day up to close of business at 1700 hours in Singapore. Prices for bonded warehouse cargoes are normalised to those for shipment cargoes according to the market before being factored into the assessments. The recorded deals prices are net prices after deducting commission fees. In exceptional cases, ICIS will use editorial discretion to exclude certain “outlier” deals found to be non-repeatable or not representative of market fundamentals. During illiquid trading days without confirmed deals, ICIS will use the mid-point of the best bid-offer levels to form the range. If no deals are done when prices suddenly change to a different level during the day, ICIS will assume one deal using the mid-point of the best bid-offer levels.
The range of the published daily MEG prices is set according to the price volatility during the day. The alpha that ICIS use to minus from or add to the mid-point is the smaller spread between the mid-point and deal prices at two ends. During weeks when prices are highly volatile, ICIS will cap the alpha at $30/tonne, but will discuss the volatility in the text.
The weekly range of MEG prices is the simple average of daily MEG assessments for a full week. However, the daily price published in the daily reports may not be strictly the same as the one used to derive the weekly range because some deals may be confirmed in the latter part of the week. Weekly price range is based on the final price assessment sheet displayed in the weekly report.
Chinese domestic cargoes quoted in yuan (CNY) terms are assessed by taking into account deals, bids, offers and price ideas heard throughout the week.
The Asia DEG spot prices are assessed as the full-market range from 1 January 2012, moving away from the previous weighted-to-Friday approach to reflect trades throughout the full work week. The published ranges represent a tradable range, mainly formed by deals concluded by close of business on Friday. If no deals are done, when prices increase or decrease to a different level, notional adjustments are made to accurately reflect the levels at which business would probably take place.
The European monthly contract price reflects a settlement confirmed by at least two producers and two consumers agreed on an arm’s length basis.
Factors affecting price movements, including supply and demand, plant operating rates, feedstock and derivative markets, cargo movements, and general sentiment, will also be taken into account. A commentary and quote on DEG spot prices is included in the Europe, Asia-Pacific and China reports. European FD and FCA assessments reflect business done for the current calendar month.
The US contract prices represent levels paid by distributors on an FOB plant basis prior to any discounts, incentives or terminal upcharges. The EGF Export contract price is derived from Asian contract prices and is based on an average of that month’s nominated Asian contract prices, minus current estimated freight rates.
US spot prices represent barge amounts of EGAF on an FOB basis. The US report carries trade data from the Department of Commerce.
All regional reports offer market commentary that includes details of traced transactions, news on the supply/demand balance, export/import information, contract price negotiations and general sentiment for price direction. Where applicable there is product information, comments on up and downstream market developments and general market intelligence. This includes commentary and pricing information on anti-freeze as well as DEG and TEG.
20 March 2013