Methanol Market Prices Undergo Slight Adjustment

February 13 news

According to the commodity market analysis system, from February 6 to 13 (as of 10:00), the quotation for methanol in the East China port of the Chinese methanol market fell from 2,223 CNY/ton to around 2,201 CNY/ton, with a price decrease of 0.97% during the period, a month-on-month decrease of 1.89%, and a year-on-year decrease of 15.46%. The Chinese methanol market showed a narrow fluctuation, with an increase in the unloading of foreign vessels, a slight accumulation of methanol inventory at the port, and a gradual weakening of the negotiation atmosphere in the coastal market as the Spring Festival approached. The prices mainly operated within a narrow range.

As of the close on February 12th, the methanol futures closing price on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange in China fell. The main contract for methanol futures, 2605, opened at 2,254 CNY/ton, reached a high of 2,259 CNY/ton, a low of 2,230 CNY/ton, and closed at 2,231 CNY/ton, down 10 yuan from the previous trading day's settlement, a decrease of 0.45%. The trading volume was 495,670, the open interest was 758,354, and the daily change in open interest was -28,349.

Methanol Spot and Futures Comparison Chart:

As of February 13, the summary of methanol market prices in various regions of China:

Cost Perspective: As the Spring Festival approaches, downstream coal users have largely completed their pre-festival inventory preparations, and prices are mainly experiencing stable to slightly adjusted movements. The impact on costs is mixed, with both positive and negative factors at play.

Coal/Power coal (upstream raw material) - Methanol Price Trend Comparison Chart:

Demand side, the profits of acetic acid and MTBE industries in China have declined. Due to the approaching holidays, freight rates in some regions have increased, and there is a need for restocking by some downstream sectors, leading to a rise in transaction prices in certain areas. This has passively resulted in a slight decrease in production profits. Most downstream products are influenced by methanol prices, with the demand side for methanol in China being affected by negative factors.

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

Methanol-MTBE (Downstream Product) Price Trend Comparison Chart:

Supply side, Anhui Huayi plant maintenance; Anhui Huayi plant resumed operation; the overall loss is greater than the recovery, hence production decreased, and the capacity utilization rate declined. Methanol supply is affected by bearish factors.

On the international markets, as of the close on February 12, the CFR Southeast Asia methanol market closed at USD 322.5–323.5 per ton. The FOB U.S. Gulf methanol market closed at 106.5–107.5 cents per gallon; and the FOB Rotterdam, Europe methanol market closed at EUR 298.5–299.5 per ton.

Looking ahead, although the approaching Chinese New Year holiday will provide some support due to pre-holiday stocking, downstream transaction prices are expected to rise by no more than 100 yuan. Currently, the supply of imported methanol continues to decline, and expectations for maintenance shutdowns in the spring of 2026 are gradually intensifying. Methanol analysts forecast that the spot methanol market in China will mainly experience consolidation and volatile fluctuations.