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Home Commodities Chemicals Glycol-ethers Glycol ethers prices, markets & analysis

Glycol ethers prices, markets & analysis

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The ICIS Glycol Ether reports are published in Asia, Europe and the US on a weekly basis. Asia and US markets focus on both the ethylene and propylene based glycol ethers within this report, while in Europe these are published separately as glycol ethers and propylene glycol ethers.

Our locally based reporters gather market intelligence on demand, supply, upstream movements, production schedules and any other key factors influencing prices at the time. Follow our universally-trusted reports to help you make informed commercial decisions.

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Market Overview

Updated to Q4 2020

Asia

Supply in Asia import markets had been decreasing all the way through Q4. In October some cargoes had been delayed as a result of poor weather conditions. In November, some unexpected plant issues of one active producer further tightened the supply side in both China and southeast Asia import markets. Meanwhile, feedstock markets were firmer amid tightened supply resulting from ongoing turnarounds.

Booming export orders from downstream users and low inventory in the domestic market boosted buyers’ sentiment in the import market of China. Downstream in southeast Asia was lacklustre in the beginning. However, due to increasing demand from China, more sellers diverted some of their cargoes from southeast Asia to China which lead to tightened supply in this region and further boosted buying sentiment of both traders and end users. Healthy pick-up in demand continued through the end of the year.

Europe

Glycol ethers supply tightened in Q4 with some producers facing constraints towards the year end. Dow Chemical’s US exports were limited and BASF also had limited spot supply from mid-Q4 onwards. Exports to Asia increased due to an attractive arbitrage. Shortages in upstream NBA added pressure to European producers and made supply shorter in December.

Glycol ethers demand was healthy in Q4, with the first half of the quarter seeing steady sales meeting sellers’ expectations. After supply conditions tightened further in the second half of the quarter, demand rose with sellers unable to meet increased requests for product. Demand for European product on the global market also increased due to shortages and higher prices in Asia.

US

Q4 supply of US glycol ethers BG, BDG, PM and PMA was largely balanced with demand from coatings, cleansers and disinfectants markets despite some mid-quarter supply constraints following a producer’s plant outage. Transportation constraints – truck-driver shortages as well as port and railhead congestion – also were lengthening domestic delivery lead times. Cost pressures continue from propylene and ethylene.

US BG, BDG, PM and PMA demand from architectural coatings, as well as the cleansers and disinfectants markets, gained momentum in Q4, from a blend of heightened coronavirus-related buying interest, pent-up demand stemming from previous spring coronavirus lockdowns and from some restocking for early 2021. With the coronavirus continuing to escalate in Q4, the do-it-yourself (DIY) paint sector also remained strong. Some economic optimism centred on the implementation of coronavirus vaccines, however.

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How we can help

Glycol ethers news and market information products from ICIS

We offer the following regional Glycol ethers analysis and news coverage to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices in the Glycol ethers marketplace.

  • Price reporting

    More information about the price reports we publish on Glycol ethers
    Independent price assessments and market coverage by region

    • Asia
    • Europe
    • US
  • Price history

    More information about the historical price data we publish on Monopropylene glycol
    Track historical price data

    • Asia
    • Europe
    • US
  • News & analysis

     

    News & market analysis specifically relating to Glycol ethers

    Breaking news of latest developments affecting the markets.

    Insight and analysis of factors driving prices.

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Services

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Pricing Intelligence

Pricing information

Regional price assessments, published daily or weekly, enabling you to keep track of trading prices, understand price drivers/fluctuations and set a benchmark for contract price settl ements. ICIS offers reports on over 180 commodities across the global petrochemical, energy and fertilizer markets. Information covered in our price reports includes:

  • Spot and contract price assessments
  • Market commentary on trends and developments
  • Transactions reported and confirmed
  • Plant and production news

Information is accessed online, via the ICIS dashboard service and is configurable to suit your preferences.

  • Find out more about ICIS pricing reports >>

Price forecast services

Produced by the ICIS Consulting team, these reports give a robust rolling 12-month price forecast, trade balances and in-depth analysis into where markets are heading – providing a valuable tool to support your short- to medium-term plans.

  • Find out more about ICIS chemicals forecast reports >>

  • Find out more about ICIS fertilizers forecast reports >>

Dashboard – Easy access to ICIS pricing data

ICIS pricing intelligence is delivered to you online via the ICIS dashboard. Here you can view your reports and also access other useful services including related news, analysis, historical data and market alerts.

ICIS dashboard also makes it easy for you to create pricing charts, download price history and export data to create tailored analytical models.

  • Find more about ICIS dashboard >>
  • Find out more about new ICIS data delivery options: Excel Plug-In & API >>

Margin reports

ICIS weekly margin reports deliver the detail you need to understand how production costs and prices are affecting margins, enabling you to judge the likely impact on your business and optimise your upstream and downstream business decisions.

Find out more about ICIS margin reports >>

Supply and Demand Window on ICIS Dashboard

The Supply and Demand Window on the ICIS Dashboard provides a snapshot view of historical and forecast information for supply and demand, production capacity and trade flows – a key tool to help safeguard future investments within the chemicals market.

Find out more about the ICIS Supply and Demand Window

Industry News

 

24-hour global coverage of breaking news in the petrochemical industry, including updates on production, shutdowns and key transacted deals, keeping you informed of market developments as they happen. The ICIS news service allows you to customise the market alerts delivered to your email inbox, providing the business-critical information you need straightaway.

  • Find out more about ICIS news service >>

Analytics

Supply & Demand Data

An expert view of supply and demand comprising four fully-reconciled databases, giving you access to extensive data for more than 100 markets. Information is included on global and regional trade flows, production, capacity and sources of demand in the short-, medium- and long-term. Data can be downloaded, customised and queried to support your planning requirements and your strategic decisions.

  • Find out more about the ICIS supply and demand database >>

Training and Conferences

Training courses

ICIS provides specialist training courses across the global petrochemicals, base oils and fertilizers industries. Our training team of industry experts can help you increase your knowledge of the industry and gain the insight and know-how needed to operate and trade effectively.

  • Find out more about ICIS training courses >>

Conferences

ICIS produces a series of highly informative and timely conferences. Extensive research is carried out to ensure that each programme delivers the information you need and addresses current industry issues. We source speakers who have the appropriate expertise and experience to deliver excellent quality papers.

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Consulting

Global markets

Working closely with you to understand your strategies, challenges and ambitions, the ICIS consulting team deliver tailored advice and solutions to suit your unique requirements. With many years’ experience of 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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China markets

ICIS expert consultants can provide your organisation with the insight, intelligence and data needed to build and grow your business in China. We can help you to gain a clear view on the short and long-term supply and demand picture in the chemicals, energy, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals and paper and pulp markets in China.

  • Find out more about ICIS consulting expertise in China >>

Methodology

ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Glycol ethers, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity. Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.

Glycol Ethers Methodology

A large proportion of glycol ethers goes into the paints and coatings industry, though other uses include inks, cleaning products, plasticisers, brake fluids, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and personal care products.

Read More

About Glycol ethers

There are two groups of glycol ethers: E-series and P-series depending on whether they are made from ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO). They are used mainly as a solvent in a variety of domestic and industrial applications such as paints and coatings.

E-series glycol ethers are used as solvents and coalescing aids in paint formulations while higher molecular weight glycol ethers are used in hydraulic brake fluids. They are used as intermediates to make esters.

Propylene glycol ethers (PGE) are high performance industrial solvents used in paints and coatings, cleaners, inks and other applications.

In the electronics industry, PGEs are used with other solvents in the manufacture of laminates and semiconductor processes for making circuit boards.

Other applications include agricultural, cosmetic, ink, textile and adhesive products.

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Ethylene

News

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Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:00

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced that the country has set a GDP growth target of more than 6% for 2021. Li was speaking at the National People's Congress (NPC), China's annual parliamentary...

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VIDEO: China's BG market propelled by strong upstream, limited supply
Fri, 26 Feb 2021 07:11

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- Watch markets editor Bonnie Yin discuss the recent developments in the China's glycol ether (BG) market which has surged after the Lunar New Year holiday, driven by cost pressure...

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Constrained 2-EH, PVC supplies limit US PA demand into plasticizers
Thu, 25 Feb 2021 21:56

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Lingering effects from a winter storm that disabled more than half of US 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) production likely will limit demand for phthalic anhydride (PA) into plasticizers. US...

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PODCAST: MEG global markets deal with fallout from US Gulf production disruption aft
Thu, 25 Feb 2021 19:43

LONDON (ICIS)--Global monoethylene glycol (MEG) markets deal with fallout from US storms in February, causing all glycol suppliers to declare force majeure. To listen in a separate window,...

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