21st IMPCA Asian Methanol Conference
[Click here for details]

5th Methanol Technology and Policy Commercial Congress
[Click here for details]

2018 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis

2Q 2019 Supply & Demand Balance Updates now available
[Click here for details]
2Q 2019 Price Forecast Updates now available
[Click here for details]

 

Methanol Notes™ Subscription now available!

[Click here for details]

MMSA Offers Intermediate Petrochemical Training Courses
[Click here for details]
 Register with MMSA to to find out more!
[Click here to register]

MMSA specializes in global methanol, acetic acid, and formaldehyde market and technical analysis, tracking the demand for all major derivatives of these strategically important and versatile petrochemicals. 

MMSA services are targeted to clients needing efficient and comprehensive assessments of the market and technical risks associated with petrochemical operations in Asia. These clients come from a broad range of the Asian petrochemical industry, including senior management, functional management, and financial interests. The ability of MMSA to listen to client needs, assisting them to quickly and objectively assess bottom-line affecting elements of petrochemical markets and operations, is the cornerstone of MMSA value.

Methanol Notes™ Subscription Service Now Available – Email Us!

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

Recent Topics:

Issue No. Date Topic
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