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Home > News > Morning Market Briefing on Ethylene Glycol

Morning Market Briefing on Ethylene Glycol

Published on 2026-09-22

I. Key Focus Points

  1. Reports indicate that the U.S. and Iran may resume negotiations, easing market concerns and causing international crude oil prices to fall.
  2. Ethylene glycol (MEG) inventory at major East China ports stood at 104,000 tons, a decrease of 10,000 tons from the previous statistical period.
  3. The MEG production capacity base is 30.819 million tons/year, with a capacity utilization rate of 64.11%.
  4. The polyester production capacity base is 90.775 million tons/year, with a capacity utilization rate of 72.57%.

Core Logic: Geopolitical tensions have eased somewhat, but expectations of tight supply continue.

II. Price Table

Category Date/Item Sep 20, 2026 Sep 21, 2026 Change % Change Unit
Crude Oil ICE Brent 103.87 100.34 -3.53 -3.52% USD/barrel
NYMEX WTI 100.30 95.78 -4.52 -4.72% USD/barrel
INE Shanghai 754.40 730.80 -23.60 -3.23% CNY/barrel
Methanol (MX) CFR China 1158 1166 8.00 0.69% USD/ton
Paraxylene (PX) CFR China 1216.00 1231.33 15.33 1.24% USD/ton
MEG Spot USD Basis 805 790 -15.00 -1.90% USD/ton
RMB Basis 7325 7165 -160.00 -2.23% CNY/ton
PTA USD Basis 936 939 3.00 0.32% USD/ton
Spot (RMB) 6995 7015 20.00 0.29% CNY/ton
Processing Spread 796 741 -54.99 -7.42% CNY/ton
Polyester Semi-dull Chips 8750 8635 -115.00 -1.33% CNY/ton
Bottle-grade Chips 8685 8650 -35.00 -0.40% CNY/ton
Filament Semi-dull POY 150D/48F 9700 9600 -100.00 -1.04% CNY/ton
Semi-dull FDY 150D/96F 9875 9825 -50.00 -0.51% CNY/ton
DTY 150D/48F Low Stretch 10600 10600 0.00 0.00% CNY/ton
Staple Fiber 1.4d Direct Spinning PSF 8750 8720 -30.00 -0.34% CNY/ton
Utilization Rate PX 80.39% 80.39% 0.00% 0.00% --
PTA 72.08% 73.79% 1.71% 2.32% --
MEG 64.11% 64.11% 0.00% 0.00% --
Polyester 73.23% 72.57% -0.66% -0.91% --
Weaving 51.94% 51.94% 0.00% 0.00% --

Note: Weaving operating rate data is updated every Thursday.

III. Data Table (Units: Tons, 10,000 Tons)

Data Type Sep 21 Sep 20 Change Rate Weekly Trend
MEG Shipments 9,133 8,634 5.78%
MEG Operating Rate 64.11% 64.11% 0.00%
MEG Port Inventory 10.4 11.4 -8.77%
Polyester Operating Rate 72.57% 73.23% -0.66%
PET Filament Sales Ratio 25.80% 14.20% 11.60%

Note: Shipment data refers to figures from the previous business day.

IV. Market Outlook

With geopolitical tensions easing, crude oil prices have fallen significantly from highs. This has lowered the cost floor for ethylene glycol. As expectations of tight supply in far-month contracts diminish, the market is likely to correct. Today's ex-warehouse spot price in East China is expected to range between 6,900 and 7,000 CNY/ton.

V. Data Calendar (Units: 10,000 Tons)

Data Type Release Time Previous Value Expected Trend
MEG Port Inventory Mon & Thu 11:00 AM 10.4
MEG Production Thu 4:00 PM 40.10
Polyester Production Thu 4:00 PM 136.21
Jiangsu-Zhejiang Weaving Rate Thu 11:00 AM 51.94%

Comments

0
  • Daniel Foster 2026-09-22 20:06
    With crude falling on US-Iran talk hopes, MEG’s cost floor weakens despite lower port inventories. Stable capacity utilization at 64% limits supply tightness, raising correction risks for spot prices. Downstream polyest..
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