In July 2024, methanol spot prices were the highest in the U.S. market, at some 353 U.S. dollars per metric ton. This represented an increase in comparison to the same month of the previous year, when the prices of methanol were around 229 U.S. dollars per metric ton. Meanwhile, in the European market and the Chinese market, methanol spot prices in July 2024 stood at 349 and 294 U.S. dollars per metric ton, respectively. During the period in consideration, prices of methanol peaked in October 2021 for all three regions.

Learn about the factors affecting the price of methanol per metric ton, including market conditions, production costs, and supply and demand factors. Explore how the COVID-19 pandemic and growing demand for formaldehyde and alternative fuel sources are impacting methanol prices, and discover how renewable energy sources can affect production costs.

The methanol prices in the United States for Q3 2024 reached 737 USD/MT in September. The market witnessed a notable rise in prices due to supply chain interruptions and reduced imports, creating a tight market. The strong demand from industries like formaldehyde and chemicals, along with rising raw material costs and port delays, further pushed prices higher, leading to a positive market outlook.

The North American Methanol market in Q4 2024 experienced notable price surges and dynamic market conditions driven by fluctuating demand and supply factors. Methanol prices in the USA rose sharply, with significant increases in October and November due to strong demand from the downstream Acetic Acid and Dimethyl Amine sectors, supported by heightened consumption in the paints and coatings industry.

Methanol decreased 138 CNY/T or 4.99% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Methanol.

Production of methanol across the globe has been on a continual annual increase during the last few years. In 2022, methanol production is estimated to reach over 111 million metric tons, an increase of nearly four percent in comparison with the previous year. Since 2017, global production of methanol grew by roughly 22.6 million metric tons. As with most commodities, the price of methanol has been continually increasing during the last two years.

Uses of methanol

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is one of the most common petrochemicals globally, accounting for roughly 16 percent of primary petrochemical consumption. The compound is an important building block to produce a large number of everyday products such as plastics, paints, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Common methanol-derived chemicals include acetic acid, olefins, formaldehyde, silicone, and methyl methacrylate. Methanol can also be used as an alternative fuel with significantly lower emissions than conventional fuels.

Methanex: a global methanol leader

Methanex, a Canadian company headquartered in Vancouver, is the largest producer of methanol worldwide. The company’s methanol production amounted to some 6.5 million metric tons in 2021. In that same year, Methanex’s revenue reached 4.41 billion U.S. dollars, up from 2.65 billion dollars recorded a year earlier. Other important methanol producers worldwide include Proman, Sabic, Yankuang, and Zagros.

The methyl formate prices in the United States for Q3 2024 reached 1840 USD/MT in September. The region saw prices decline amid rising production costs and oversupply. Stable methanol costs allowed competitive pricing, but weakening demand in industries such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals pressured the market, leading to a bearish pricing trend.

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The average price of ethylene worldwide amounted to some 896 U.S. dollars per metric ton in 2023. The global production capacity of ethylene reached approximately 225.52 million tons in 2022. Petrochemical products Ethylene is the most commonly used petrochemical globally. A major part of its production is used to produce polyethylene, a common plastic material that accounts for roughly 30 percent of global thermoplastic production. Other ethylene-derived products include ethylene glycol, ethylene dichloride, and styrene. Apart from ethylene, other widely produced petrochemicals are propylene, methanol, and paraxylene. Together they account for over 80 percent of the global upstream petrochemical capacity. Petrochemical prices Petrochemical prices are highly dependent on the price of oil and related products. Feedstock costs represent the largest share of petrochemical production costs, ahead of fixed costs, power, and transportation. As with oil prices, the price of petrochemical products fell sharply during 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, petrochemicals such as ethylene, propylene, or benzene registered the lowest price in recent years, although they picked up shortly after.

Ethanol increased 0.06 USD/GAL or 3.25% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Ethanol - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

The acetic acid prices in Q2 2024 reached 736 USD/MT in June across the United States. The country saw an increased cost of feedstock methanol and a higher production expense just because of higher natural gas prices. The market showcased resilience during the quarter, along with strategic responses to shifting economic conditions supporting a stable supply to meet both domestic and international demand.

The chloroform prices in the United States for Q2 2024 reached 550 USD/MT in June. The prices were stable as high supply levels and moderate demand influenced market dynamics. It was essential to prioritize selling inventory at reasonable prices because of steady methanol costs, allowing for flexibility in adjusting expenses. The pricing outlook for chloroform was influenced by seasonal demand factors, resulting in a subdued market sentiment.

The dimethyl sulphate prices in the United States for the third quarter of 2024 reached 1710 USD/MT in September. The market experienced notable price hikes resulting from production difficulties and lower imports, fueled by strong demand from industries like water treatment and agrochemicals. Disruptions in the supply chain, such as port congestion and shortages of raw materials, along with increasing costs for methanol and sulfuric acid, played a role in this situation.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, the monochloroacetic acid prices in the United States reached 1020 USD/MT in December. The MCA prices declined due to ample supply and weak demand from the fertilizer sector. Rising methanol prices posed cost pressures, but sluggish downstream activity and high shipping costs prevented significant price hikes. Fertilizer demand also weakened as seasonal applications ended.

Explore IMARC’s newly published report, titled “Monochloroacetic Acid Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data Report 2024 Edition,” offers an in-depth analysis of monochloroacetic acid pricing, covering an analysis of global and regional market trends and the critical factors driving these price movements.