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Home Commodities Chemicals Ethylene-glycol Ethylene glycol prices, market data and analytics

Ethylene glycol prices, market data and analytics

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Get the latest data, tools and insight for various ethylene glycol (EG) by-products – monoethylene glycol (MEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) – with ICIS pricing and market intelligence.

Our short-to-long term solutions – from pricing, analytics, industry news and supply and demand data –
ensure that you can evaluate EG markets from every angle.

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ethylene-glycol

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MARKET OVERVIEW

Updated to Q4 2020

Asia

Supply in Q4 2020 remained limited amid several global plant maintenance. Due to poor margins, some MEG producers continued to cut operations or delayed plant restarts. Import discussions were buoyed by falling inventories and short supply. The arbitrage window between Asia and Europe remained open given the tight supply in Europe.

Downstream demand was healthy in October and slowed down towards the end of the year. Most polyester plants were running at higher rates due to lower feedstock cost, while downstream textile converters had high inventories amid the traditional off-peak season for the textile industry. In December, production at polyester plants and downstream converters slipped due to a power cut in east China caused by the shortage of coal.

Europe

European MEG supply was limited due to fewer imports and localised production constraints. EG spot supply from the US was tight after outages during hurricane season, limiting imports to Europe. The EU antidumping probe on material originating from Saudi Arabia and the US launched in October 2020 also hindering imports entering Europe. DEG was also short in December.

European MEG contractual demand increased in the face of rising spot prices and more limited material. Demand for Asian imports increased, to cover shortfalls caused by lack of availability from the US. Downstream PET demand levels were better than expected, due to container shortages hindering imports.

US

Supply began to recover in November from a severe shortage in September and October that disrupted downstream production, though MEG spot availability remained limited through the end of 2020. DEG is co-produced in far smaller volumes than MEG and as such remained scarce, with Europe demand in particular providing pressure.

Demand for MEG into PET continued to be healthy as downstream run rates ramped back up along with recovering MEG supply. The persistent coronavirus pandemic supported demand for single-use packaging, a primary use for PET resin. Demand for DEG remained unseasonably strong on mild winter weather that helped extend the construction season, as well as continuing strength in durable goods purchases using downstream polyurethane systems and unsaturated polyester resins.

 

Regional Outlook

Updated to Q1 2021

Asia

Supply may face a further decline amid the heavy plant turnarounds in Asia and the Middle East. The turnaround season in the US is also expected to see falling exports to Asia. There were no plans heard in Asia and the Middle East to increase production, given the weak margins. Port inventories in China may drop amid an anticipated fall in imports in Q4.

Downstream demand will slow down with the approach of the year-end lull season. Buying activities from converters may tilt slower amid the coronavirus-hit demand. Polyester producers may lower operations further on slowing sales and rising inventories.

Europe

The European MEG spot market is dry, with supply tightness expected to spill into the first couple of months of 2021. Reduced availability from the Middle East is expected to continue due to feedstock limitations. Local EO production issues continue to cause tightness in Europe.

The downstream PET outlook seems upbeat, as tourism and beverage sales could flourish once lockdowns ease. Container shortages are still set to impact PET imports. Antifreeze demand took a real hit during the first round of lockdowns in Europe, as automotive manufacturers were forced to close, so the outlook is uncertain.

US

Supply should recover in November, as plants restart from planned and unplanned shutdowns. If demand for high-purity EO derivatives such as cleaning and hygiene products continues, producers could divert the feedstock away from less profitable glycols and this could constrain EG supply.

Demand into PET is expected to decline on seasonality with the approach of colder weather. However, the pandemic has kept PET demand strong since late March and could remain strong until a coronavirus vaccine is available and end-consumers’ buying behaviour returns to normal. With the onset of winter, antifreeze demand for MEG is likely to increase, as is demand for TEG as a dehydrating agent to prevent natural gas pipes from freezing.
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Whether you are buying or selling EG, ICIS provides you with the right pricing data, analytics, news and market analysis you need to confidently plan and make your trades, as well as shape future strategies and maintain a competitive advantage.

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Trading, margin and production data

    • Key trading prices: Spot/contract, import, export, domestic prices for different types of EG – monoethylene glycol (MEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG)

  • Price alerts and market updates: Shifts in prices, breaking news, market developments and changes to regulations and demand trends
  • Plant data: Production and capacity, plant maintenance and shutdowns
  • Feedstock/ Downstream information: Prices and market commentary on upstream commodities such ethylene, crude and downstream markets such as polyester filament yearns and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
  • Cash margins: Profit margin trends for downstream markets and its implications to inventory levels
  • Weekly market sentiment: Near-term price direction and appetite of buyers and sellers
  • Supply and demand: Analysis of domestic and international supply and demand
  • Regional coverage: Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, US Gulf

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Ethylene glycol price assessments

Asia:

  • MEG Fibre grade – CFR Asia and DEL China contract

Key trading regions countries

  • MEG Fibre grade – CFR Asia and DEL China contract
  • MEG – CFR China Main Port and Ex-tank east China
  • DEG – CFR China Main Ports

* Due to active EG trading in Asia, daily reports are available for our Asian coverage.

China

  • MEG – CFR China Main Ports and Ex-tank China
  • DEG – CFR China Main Ports, Ex-tank Jiangsu China and Ex-tank south China

Europe

  • MEG Contract – FD NWE
  • MEG Spot – CIF NEW T2, FCA NWE T2, Ex-works Russia

US Gulf

  • MEG Contract – EGI FOB USG, EGF FOB USG Export, DEG FOB USG
  • MEG Spot – EGAF FOB USG Barges

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Ethylene glycol analytics

Each ICIS EG pricing subscription comes with analytics tools that take away the hassle of developing your own analysis. Quickly access data such as:

  • Price Drivers Analytics: An interactive map identifying net price differences between regions, factoring in freight costs and duties, to enrich the global picture of cross-regional competition and import and export opportunities.

Ethylene glycol analytics

  • Price Optimisation Analytics: An interactive map identifying net price differences between regions, factoring in freight and duties costs, to enrich the global picture of cross-regional competition and import and export opportunities.
  • Live Disruptions Tracker – Supply View: Real-time view of domestic and global supply, plant outages and start-ups for the next 12 months, plus the impact of these changes.
  • Live Disruptions Tracker – Impact View: A tool that visualises supply disruptions using live data, as validated by ICIS production news with an impact view connecting downstream shutdowns to show consumption capacity loss in real time.
  • Supply & Demand Outlooks: Quarterly supply and demand outlooks for ethylene glycol.

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Industry news

ICIS brings you breaking chemical news as it happens – including market moves, analysis, data and more. The service is reliable, authoritative and always available when you need it most.

Stay on top of ethylene glycol (EG) markets across all regions with ICIS news.

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Ethylene glycol supply and demand data

Get a long-term view of the market with ICIS Supply and Demand Data Service, which offers end-to-end perspectives of the EG markets.

Gain quick access to data on import and export volumes, plant capacities, production, product trade flows, companies and route. With historical data from 1978 and forecast available up to 2040, this powerful data and analytics service from ICIS helps senior management, strategists, business planners, analysts and risk managers to:

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Consulting service

Working closely with you to understand your strategies, challenges and ambitions, the consulting team at ICIS delivers tailored advice and solutions to suit your unique requirements. With many years of experience in guiding business leadership teams, we show you how market conditions can make a positive or negative impact on your long-term plans.

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Why Choose ICIS?

Our Pricing Methodology: ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising of consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters worldwide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyers and sellers, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Interested to find out how we derive our prices? Find out more about our EG methodology coverage here

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Our locally based experts provide in-depth regional price reports into specific chemical markets.

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