As of January 26, 2026, domestic methanol social inventory stood at 1.8959 million tons (an increase of 9,700 tons month-on-month and 666,600 tons year-on-year), with port inventory at 1.4575 million tons (an increase of 22,200 tons month-on-month and 527,800 tons year-on-year) and plant inventory at 438,400 tons (a decrease of 12,500 tons month-on-month). Port inventory remains at historically high levels, and the pace of destocking has fallen short of expectations, limiting the potential for price rebounds.
Chempricehub’s analysis of methanol assigns a bearish score of -1.5. The article indicates that as of January 26, 2026, methanol port inventory reached 1.4575 million tons (an increase of 22,200 tons month-on-month and 527,800 tons year-on-year), remaining at historically high levels with slower-than-expected destocking progress. Social inventory also increased month-on-month. This reflects oversupply and weak demand, significantly constraining the rebound potential of spot prices and highlighting clear bearish factors.
Combined with methanol futures data, the main contract 2605 (Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange) closed at 2,352 yuan/ton on January 29, 2026, with a change of +12.00, but open interest decreased by 9,459 lots, indicating capital outflows and weak market confidence. Against the backdrop of high inventory, although futures prices have seen a slight increase, destocking pressure will limit future gains, and short-term prices are expected to face downward pressure.