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 One-page commentaries and analysis of critical methanol and derivative issues

Recent Topics:

Issue No. Date Topic
24-19 18/06/19 China’s Import Tariff on US Methanol not expected to have a material impact on trade
23-19 11/06/19 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – Marginal demand disappoints, enabling lower prices
22-19 04/06/19 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – Above Normal, Despite Recent Corrections
21-19 28/05/19 US Biodiesel Demand – Slow but Steady Growth
20-19 21/05/19 Methanol Affordability in Chinese Gasoline Blending – Poised for Demand Growth Amid Uncertainty
19-19 14/05/19 Formaldehyde – Continued Source of Methanol Demand Growth
18-19 07/05/19 MTBE – Margins and Prices Recover
17-19 30/04/19 North American Methanol Projects – The Many and Few
16-19 23/04/19 China Coal and MeOH Pricing – Cash Margins for Methanol Remain Limited
15-19 16/04/19 Affordability Remains Heavy Ceiling for Methanol Prices
14-19 09/04/19 MTO – Retained Competitiveness Helps Lift Operating Rates
13-19 02/04/19 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 2Q 2019 – Price Recovery Occurring as Expected
12-19 26/03/19 EU Contract Price Determination  – MMSA Survey Consistently Frames Settlement with Broad Market Participation
11-19 19/03/19 Acetic Acid Prices and Margins: Margins Sink on Asian Imbalance, Expected to Recover
10-19 12/03/19 China Methanol Apparent Demand – Hope for 2019 Pinned to MTO Affordability
09-19 05/03/19 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – Still Near the Intersection of Marginal Supply and Demand
08-19 26/02/19 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – Back to Normal, Supporting Construction
07-19 19/02/19 US Biodiesel Demand – Low Growth, With US Production Replacing Imports
06-19 12/02/19 Methanol Affordability in Chinese Gasoline Blending – Present Despite Slowed Demand
05-19 05/02/19 MTBE – Margins, Prices, Sink with Energy Complex, Ample Supplies
04-19 22/01/19 China Coal and MeOH Pricing – Cash Margins for Methanol Production Plummet
03-19 15/01/19 Affordability Falls, and Methanol Prices Follow
02-19 08/01/19 MTO – On Better Competitive Footing, Lifting Hopes for Demand
01-19 01/01/19 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 1Q 2019 – Price Correction Stays Within Bounds, Recovery Expected
48-18 25/12/18 Top Ten 2018 Methanol Developments
47-18 18/12/18 Acetic Acid Prices and Margins: Prices Drop Along With Costs
46-18 11/12/18 China Methanol Demand Underperforms Two Years Consecutively
45-18 04/12/18 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – Near the Intersection of Marginal Supply and Demand
44-18 27/11/18 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – Returning to Prior Highs
43-18 20/11/18 US Biodiesel Demand Growth – Flat yet Supplied More Domestically
42-18 30/10/18 Methanol Supply – Essential for Continued Rates of Demand Growth
41-18 23/10/18 China Coal Pricing and MeOH Cash Margins – High and Supportive of Better Production
40-18 16/10/18 Chinese Gasoline Blending – Affordability Returns as Crude Rises
39-18 09/10/18 DME – Cash Margins Remain Dismal, Crimping Demand Ahead of Winter
38-18 02/10/18 MTBE – Margins Improve Ahead of E10 Implementation
37-18 25/09/18 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 4Q 2018 – MTO Restarts Support Global Pricing Near Term as More Arrives
36-18 18/09/18 Acetic Acid Prices and Margins: Margins Relax as Supply Returns
35-18 11/09/18 China Methanol Apparent Demand – Rising Tentatively on Affordability Constraints
34-18 04/09/18 Methanol Affordability – Comparing China and North America Helps Explain Pricing Behavior
33-18 28/08/18 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – Still Supporting US Construction Markets
32-18 21/08/18 USGC Methanol Projects – High Margins, Tough Financing
31-18 14/08/18 MTO in China – Profitability on the Margin, Limiting Methanol Price Rises
30-18 07/08/18 US Biodiesel Demand Growth – After Early Promise, Underwhelming 2018 Results
29-18 31/07/18 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – China MTO v China Production and Imports
28-18 24/07/18 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – Demand, Exports Growing as New Operations Get Underway
27-18 17/07/18 China Coal Pricing and Cash Margins – High Methanol Cash Margins With Room to Fall Further
26-18 10/07/18 Chinese Gasoline Blending Affordability – Methanol Prices Hit Ceiling 3rd Time in Two Years
25-18 03/07/18 MTBE – Margins drop as costs up in soft market
24-18 26/06/18 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 3Q 2018 – New USGC Production Arrives as MTO Slated to Restart
23-18 19/06/18 Acetic Acid Prices and Margins: Margins, at 11-Year Highs, to Continue
22-18 12/06/18 China Methanol Apparent Demand – Rising Below Expectations
21-18 05/06/18 Methanol Affordability in China – Strong Ceiling Slightly Raised
20-18 29/05/18 DME – Cash Margins, Affordability Plummet
19-18 22/05/18 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – Supporting US Construction Markets
18-18 15/05/18 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – 2018 Demand Grows as Expected Ahead of 2H Supply Burst
17-18 08/05/18 MTO in China – Methanol Pricing Remains Driven by Zero Cash Economics of MTO Operations
16-18 01/05/18 US Biodiesel Production – Improving Conditions and Demand
15-18 24/04/18 2018 MDA Forecasts Now Online – Prices and Margins Strong Even After Production Returns
14-18 17/04/18 China Coal Pricing and Cash Margins – Lowered Coal Supports Lowered Methanol Pricing and Strong Methanol Operations
13-18 10/04/18 Chinese Gasoline Blending Affordability – A Consistent Methanol Price Ceiling
12-18 03/04/18 MTBE – Rising China supply, E10 announcement frames market
11-18 27/03/18 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – Marginal costs to supply setting prices
10-18 20/03/18 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 2Q 2018 – timing for maintenance, then new production capacity to impact price direction in narrow limits
09-18 13/03/18 China Methanol Apparent Demand – Poised for Return to Growth as MTO Affordability Improves
08-18 06/03/18 Methanol Affordability in China – Despite Traditional Derivative Gains, Olefins and Gasoline Pin Down Methanol Prices
07-18 20/02/18 US Methanol Prices vs Lumber – In Line with US Housing Sector
06-18 13/02/18 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – 2017 Disappoints, 2018 Promises
05-18 06/02/18 US Biodiesel Use – After 2017 Disappoints, 2018 Uncertain
04-18 23/01/18 Methanol Delivered Cost Curves – Prices Well Above Marginal Supply Cost
03-18 16/01/18 USGC Methanol Projects – Delays, yet Renewed Hope
02-18 09/01/18 Chinese Gasoline Blending Affordability – Crashing through a Major Methanol Price Ceiling
01-18 02/01/18 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update – 1Q 2018
50-17 26/12/17 Top Ten 2017 Methanol Developments
49-17 19/12/17 MTBE Profitability – Prices and Margins Ahead of E10
48-17 12/12/17 MMSA Hosts 4th Consecutive Methanol Technology and Policy Commercial Congress in Frankfurt
47-17 28/11/17 Methanol Affordability in China – Testing the Ceiling Again
46-17 21/11/17 Chinese Methanol Apparent Demand – Growth Slowed, Temporarily
45-17 14/11/17 2017 IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference – Record Participation in the Time of Olefins
44-17 31/10/17 MMSA Hosts 12th Consecutive IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference
43-17 24/10/17 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – 2017 Growth Slows, For Now
42-17 17/10/17 Hurricane Harvey and US Methanol and Derivatives – Worst is Past
41-17 10/10/17 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs – Setting Methanol Price Floors
40-17 03/10/17 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Supply/Demand Update 4Q 2017 – Demand Growing in Advance of New Capacity
39-17 26/09/17 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 4Q 2017 – Affordability Ceiling Near, Limiting Price Increases
38-17 19/09/17 MTBE Profitability – Prices, Margins Remain Strong
37-17 12/09/17 MTO – Enabling Methanol Price Increases, for Now
36-17 05/09/17 Hurricane Harvey and US Methanol and Derivatives – Resilience on Display
35-17 29/08/17 Acetic Acid Prices and Margins: Better Yet Room to Grow
34-17 22/08/17 Methanol and the Solar Eclipse – Towards “Liquid Sunshine”
33-17 15/08/17 Methanol Affordability – Improved yet Restrictive
32-17 08/08/17 US Biodiesel Use – Healthy Growth Continues in 2017
31-17 01/08/17 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
30-17 25/07/17 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – Level Production, Higher Net Imports Continue
29-17 18/07/17 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Supply/Demand Update 3Q 2017 – on Track for Growth after Delay
28-17 11/07/17 Chinese Methanol Apparent Demand – Update
27-17 04/07/17 DME Update – Hope and Despair
26-17 27/06/17 Chinese Methanol Production – Room for Improvement as Markets Steady
25-17 20/06/17 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 3Q 2017 – Asia Near the Floor, Steadying Markets
24-17 13/06/17 MTO – Improved, Suboptimal Affordability
23-17 06/06/17 MMSA Presents in NYC – Methanol Prices Bound Between Compressed Limits
22-17 30/05/17 MTBE Profitability – Reduced Feedstock Costs Bolster Margins
21-17 23/05/17 Chinese Methanol Inventories – Seeking affordable restock supply, Part II
20-17 16/05/17 Acetic Acid Price and Margin Outlook – Patience Required
19-17 09/05/17 China Gasoline and Methanol – Return to Affordability
18-17 02/05/17 US Biodiesel Consumption – Demand Sustained Despite New EPA Leadership Concerns
17-17 25/04/17 China Coal Pricing and Cash Margins – Room for methanol pricing falls exists
16-17 18/04/17 US Methanol Apparent Demand – Growth relies on increased net imports
15-17 11/04/17 2017 MDA Forecasts Now Online – Balance Between MTO Affordability, Methanol Production Viability to Guide Markets
14-17 04/04/17 DME – Another Struggling Methanol Consumer
13-17 28/03/17 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
12-17 21/03/17 MMSA Price Forecast Update – 2Q 2017
11-17 14/03/17 MTO – Living on the Edge, Urging Methanol Price Relief
10-17 07/03/17 China Production by Province – Inland Integrated operations lead to 2016 record
09-17 28/02/17 MTBE Profitability – Rising Feedstock Costs Restrict Butane Based Production
08-17 21/02/17 Global Methanol Prices – 2017 Asian NTR Figures Available
07-17 14/02/17 Acetic Acid Price and Margin Outlook – Bleak Now, Not Forever
06-17 07/02/17 Chinese Methanol Inventories – Seeking affordable restock supply
05-17 31/01/17 US Biodiesel Demand – Record in 2016, Uncertainty in 2017
04-17 24/01/17 Chinese Thermal Coal Pricing – On the way down, supporting methanol production
03-17 17/01/17  Chinese Gasoline Blending Affordability – Crippled and Adding Weight to Methanol Price Ceiling
02-17 10/01/17 US Apparent Demand Update
01-17 03/01/17 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update – 1Q 2017
49-16 27/12/16 Top Ten 2016 Methanol Developments
48-16 20/12/16 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
47-16 13/12/16 MTO – Surging Methanol Prices Meet a Ceiling
46-16 06/12/16 2016 Methanol Technology and Policy Commercial Congress
45-16 29/11/16 Methanol Prices – Continued Increases, Testing Ceilings, Driven by Costs
44-16 22/11/16 Chinese Methanol Apparent Demand: Still setting records
43-16 15/11/16 MTBE Price Update – Low but Substantial Margins Persist
42-16 08/11/16 MMSA Hosts 11th Consecutive IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference
41-16 25/10/16 US Biodiesel – Still on track for record year
40-16 18/10/16 MMSA Keynote at GSTC 2016: More Methanol Production Needed
39-16 11/10/16 US Apparent Demand – Growing as US Forced into Global Methanol Supplier Role
38-16 04/10/16 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Supply/Demand Update – 4Q 2016 – A Slowly Tightening Global Market Emerges
37-16 27/09/16 China Production by Province – Pace of growth slows along with laggards
36-16 20/09/16 MTO – Not Most Profitable, Yet Profitable
35-16 13/09/16 Chinese Gasoline Blending Affordability – Still Strong Despite Sideways Crude Pricing
34-16 06/09/16 Indian Methanol – Demand Promise, Supply Uncertainty
33-16 30/08/16 Chinese Thermal Coal Pricing – Rising, threatening production given current prices
32-16 23/08/16 Chinese Apparent Methanol Demand – Back on Track
31-16 16/08/16 Methanol Prices – Both floors and ceilings inching upwards, little room between
30-16 09/08/16 MTBE Price and Margin Update
29-16 02/08/16 Methanol Affordability – Ceiling Still Weighs Heavy
28-16 26/07/16 Methanol Trade to Asia: New patterns, New stresses
27-16 19/07/16 Biodiesel in US
26-16 12/07/16 US Apparent Demand Update – Still Growing Amid Ample Supply
25-16 05/07/16 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Supply/Demand Update – 3Q 2016
24-16 28/06/16 China Road, Auto, Gasoline, and Methanol/Gasoline Update
23-16 21/06/16 India – Driving Asia ex-China Methanol Demand Growth
22-16 14/06/16 MTO Affordability – Keeping methanol pricing in check
21-16 07/06/16 MMSA presents in NYC
20-16 31/05/16 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
19-16 24/05/16 China Apparent Demand Update – Strong Growth, Below Expectations
18-16 17/05/16 Methanol Prices – Off the Floor, Still Constrained
17-16 10/05/16 Methanol and the Environment – Lessons from Tacoma, WA, USA
16-16 03/05/16 Methanol Affordability – Collaring Methanol Price Rises
15-16 26/04/16 US Biodiesel Demand – A Running Start in 2016
14-16 19/04/16 Chinese Coal Prices – Accommodating Methanol Production
13-16 12/04/16 MMSA Methanol Notes – MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Supply/Demand Update – 2016 Study Version – For Client Use Only
12-16 05/04/16 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Price Update – 2Q 2016
11-16 29/03/16 Methanol Projects – Economic Headwinds Remain
10-16 15/03/16 US Apparent Demand Update – Improved, but Oversupply Remains
09-16 08/03/16 MTBE Price and Margin Update
08-16 01/03/16 Biodiesel Policy and Economics Update
07-16 23/02/16 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
06-16 16/02/16 China and Methanol Markets Globally
05-16 02/02/16 China Methanol Production by Province
04-16 26/01/16 Methanol Prices: Riding Flat Along a Fine Line
03-16 19/01/16 DME- Affordability Wanes after Brief Recovery
02-16 12/01/16 MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update – 1Q 2016
01-16 05/01/16 Methanol Cash Costs and Price Floors
51-15 29/12/15 Top Ten 2015 Methanol Developments
50-15 22/12/15 China Methanol Apparent Demand Growth – Update
49-15 15/12/15 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update – US Self Sufficiency Improves in No Growth Environment
48-15 08/12/15  2015 MMSA Methanol Policy and Technology Forum Summary
47-15 01/12/15 Methanol Affordability Update – Ceiling Remains Firm
46-15 24/11/15 US Methanol Projects – Many Announced, Few Soon
45-15 17/11/15 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
44-15 10/11/15 MMSA Hosts 10th Consecutive IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference
43-15 27/10/15 2015 MMSA Methanol Policy and Technology Congress (MPTC), December 1-3, Frankfurt, Germany
42-15 20/10/15 2015 IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference – Two Weeks Away
41-15 13/10/15 China Methanol Production by Province
40-15 06/10/15 Global Methanol Prices – 4Q2015 Updated Forecast
39-15 29/09/15 MMSA 2015 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
38-15 22/09/15 Impact of Affordability on MTO Operations
37-15 15/09/15 US Methanol Apparent Demand Update
36-15 08/09/15 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs to China by Region
35-15 01/09/15 China Methanol Apparent Demand Growth – Update
34-15 25/08/15 The China Meltdown and Methanol Markets
33-15 18/08/15 Methanol Prices: Pressure on CFR China Mounts
32-15 11/08/15 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
31-15 04/08/15 Methanol Prices and Chinese Inventory
30-15 28/07/15 Methanol Price Ceiling Lowers
29-15 21/07/15 MMSA 2015 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
28-15 14/07/15 Methanol as Marine Fuel – Economic Comparison
27-15 07/07/15 Methanol in Russia – Conference Notes
26-15 30/06/15 Global Methanol Prices – 3Q2015 Update to Outlook
25-15 23/06/15 MTO Affordability – China
24-15 16/06/15 MMSA Presentation at IMPCA mini conference in Prague
23-15 09/06/15 MMSA presents in London and NYC
22-15 02/06/15 China Methanol Apparent Demand Growth – Update
21-15 26/05/15 US Methanol Apparent Demand
20-15 19/05/15 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
19-15 12/05/15 Methanol Affordability – North America
18-15 05/05/15 Successful Commercial-Scale Trial of Methanol as a Marine Fuel
17-15 28/04/15 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline – Update
16-15 21/04/15 Methanol Price Nears Ceiling
15-15 14/04/15 MMSA 2015 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
14-15 08/04/15 MDA 2Q2015 Global Methanol Price Forecast Update
13-15 31/03/15 Chinese Methanol Conference Notes
12-15 24/03/15 Global Methanol Prices – Update on Outlook
11-15 17/03/15 MTO Affordability Update
10-15 10/03/15 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs to China by Region
09-15 03/03/15 China Methanol Apparent Demand Growth – Update with Final 2014 Figures
08-15 24/02/15 Biodiesel Policy and Economics Update
07-15 17/02/15 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
06-15 10/02/15 DME Economics and Methanol Prices
05-15 03/02/15 China Methanol Production by Province
04-15 27/01/15 MTO Project Update
03-15 20/01/15 MDA 1Q2015 Supply and Demand Update
02-15 13/01/15 Methanol Cash Costs and Price Floors
01-15 06/01/15 Impact of Crude Oil on Methanol Pricing: Squeezed Between MTO and Coal
52-14 30/12/14 Top Ten 2014 Methanol Developments
51-14 23/12/14 Global Methanol Prices – Contract and Spot
50-14 16/12/14 MTO Economic Update
49-14 09/12/14 2014 MMSA Methanol Policy and Technology Forum
48-14 02/12/14 China Methanol Apparent Demand Update
47-14 25/11/14 Thermal Coal, Methanol Prices and Margins
46-14 18/11/14 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
45-14 11/11/14 DME Economics and Methanol Prices
44-14 04/11/14 MMSA Hosts 9th Consecutive IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference
43-14 28/10/14 Methanol Cash Costs and Natural Gas Affordability
42-14 21/10/14 Methanol Affordability in Gasoline
41-14 14/10/14 MDA 4Q2014 Price Update
40-14 07/10/14 MMSA 2014 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
39-14 30/09/14 Methanol Affordability Update
38-14 23/09/14 Global Methanol Prices – Contract and Spot
37-14 16/09/14 MTO Economics Update
36-14 09/09/14 US Methanol Apparent Demand
35-14 02/09/14 Biodiesel Production Economic Update & Outlook
34-14 26/08/14 MTBE Price and Margin Update
33-14 19/08/14 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
32-14 12/08/14 DME Economics and Methanol Prices
31-14 05/08/14 China Methanol Apparent Demand Update
30-14 29/07/14 Thermal Coal and Methanol Prices
29-14 22/07/14 MDA 3Q2014 Price Update
28-14 15/07/14 MMSA 2014 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
27-14 08/07/14 MTO Project Update
26-14 01/07/14 China Methanol Production by Province
25-14 24/06/14 EU Formaldehyde Demand – Positive Trends
24-14 17/06/14 Methanol Affordability Update incl MTO
23-14 10/06/14 MMSA IMPCA Presentation and 3Q 2014 Euro Contract
22-14 03/06/14 MTO Economics Update
21-14 27/05/14 Global Methanol Contract Pricing: Update and Outlook
20-14 20/05/14 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
19-14 14/05/14 DME Economics and Methanol Prices
18-14 06/05/14 China Methanol Apparent Demand Update
17-14 29/04/14 MMSA 2014 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis Update
16-14 22/04/14 MTO Project Update
15-14 15/04/14 Thermal Coal and Methanol Prices
14-14 08/04/14 MMSA 2014 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis – Price Forecast Update Available
13-14 01/04/14 Methanol Delivered Cash Costs to China and USGC Production
12-14 25/03/14 Northeast Asia ex-China Methanol Demand Update
11-14 18/03/14 China Methanol Production by Province
10-14 12/03/14 Methanol Affordability Update
09-14 04/03/14 Biodiesel Production Economic Update & Outlook
08-14 25/02/14 Global Methanol Contract Pricing 2013-2014
07-14 18/02/14 Methanol Cash Costs and Natural Gas Affordability
06-14 11/02/14 MTO Economic Update
05-14 04/02/14 DME Economics and Methanol Prices
04-14 28/01/14 Methanol in Europe – Issues and Influences
03-14 21/01/14 Methanol Prices: CFR versus Import Parity
02-14 14/01/14 Methanol Supply and Demand, Pricing Outlook Update – 1Q2014
01-14 07/01/14 China Road, Auto, Gasoline, and Methanol/Gasoline Progress