Methanol Market Partially Rises

December 17 news

According to the commodity market analysis system, from December 8 to December 17 (up to 15:00), the quotation for methanol in the East China port of the Chinese market rose from 2,090 CNY/ton to around 2,140 CNY/ton, with a sequential increase of 5.16% and a year-on-year decrease of 18.74%. Recently, the Chinese methanol market has been supported by freight costs, showing firm prices in some regions. However, the port market is facing dual pressures of "high inventory and oversupply."

As of the close on December 17, the closing price of methanol futures on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange for delivery on December 16, 2025, rose. The main methanol futures contract, 2601, opened at 2,125 CNY/ton, reached a high of 2,171 CNY/ton, and hit a low of 2,121 CNY/ton. It closed at 2,156 CNY/ton in late trading, up 39 yuan from the previous day’s settlement price, representing an increase of 1.84%. Trading volume totaled 904,393 contracts, with open interest standing at 874,732 contracts, and daily net position change was -21,895 contracts.

Methanol Spot vs Futures Comparison Chart:

As of December 17, the summary of methanol market prices in various regions of China:

Cost Perspective: The fundamentals of the coal market remain relatively loose, causing the price center of gravity to shift downward and weakening cost support for methanol. The cost side of methanol is thus influenced by predominantly bearish factors.

Comparison Chart of Coal/Bituminous Coal (Upstream Raw Material) and Methanol Price Trends:

Demand Side: Downstream MTO demand remains weak, limiting the room for overall demand growth. Profits in downstream industries may come under pressure. Most downstream products are affected by methanol prices, and the demand side for methanol is weighed down by bearish factors.

Methanol-Acetic Acid (Downstream Product) Price Trend Comparison Chart:

Methanol-MTBE (downstream product) price trend comparison chart:

Supply side, Shanxi Yaxin and Shaanxi Weihua are undergoing plant maintenance; Chongqing Wanlilai's facility has reduced production; Jutai New Materials' facility has resumed operations. Overall, the amount of resumed production is greater than the losses, leading to an increase in the capacity utilization rate. Currently, statistics show that for the next period, planned maintenance and production cuts at methanol facilities will decrease, while the number of resuming facilities will increase, thus the overall market supply may increase. The supply side of methanol is influenced by bearish factors.

On the international market, as of the close on December 16, the CFR Southeast Asia methanol market closed at USD 316.5–317.5 per ton. The FOB U.S. Gulf methanol market closed at 87.5–88.5 cents per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon; and the European FOB Rotterdam methanol market closed at EUR 252.5–253.5 per ton, down EUR 1 per ton.

Looking ahead, the domestic methanol market currently boasts ample supply. Coupled with relatively stable freight rates, upstream producers in producing regions are mostly proactively lowering prices and pushing for sales. Methanol analysts forecast that China’s spot methanol market will remain in a narrow trading range, adopting a wait-and-see approach.