MMSA Methanol Notes are one-page summaries of items critical to the methanol and derivatives industries, issued Monday evenings Singapore time. Topics range broadly and include notices and brief overviews of ongoing MMSA updates to its supply and demand forecasts, price forecasts, methanol affordability analysis, MTO economics, and much more. Please browse a list of historic topics below.
New notes are updated weekly. If you are an existing client of this report, visit your Client Dashboard to view or download the report. New customers, please visit our Service Inquiries page for information on how to subscribe.
Individual Methanol Notes are also available for purchase on the Purchase Reports page.
52-week Methanol Notes Index
We offer 1-year access for Methanol Notes for individuals and companies. Non-members can also purchase individual Notes.
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-05-13
Each month, MMSA estimates full delivered cash costs for producers practically able to deliver to China and plots their merchant…
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-05-06
Southeast Asia biodiesel production and consumption held steady in the year of 2025 despite of the headwinds….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-04-29
United States (US) D4 RIN issuance figures dropped dramatically in Q1 2025, with both methanol based forms of biodiesel and renewable….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-04-22
Supply and demand balances for the MMSA Methanol and Derivatives Analysis (MDA) (2Q 2025 vintage) have been updated….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-04-15
Another key component of methanol pricing and market behavior is the “value versus volume,” or affordability….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-04-01
As the first quarter of 2025 comes to a close, Chinese methanol demand has underwhelmed. As usual, January and February activity was muted….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-03-25
On 20–21 March 2025, MMSA hosted its second annual Methanol Briefing in Houston, Texas, a convenient timing and….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-03-18
The behavior of methanol markets in China after a recent correction in thermal coal pricing is notable. Despite a….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-03-11
Stagnant and steady MTO economics remain a challenge for methanol market expansion. Olefins, naphtha….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-03-04
US lumber prices have risen over the past three months, while methanol prices have been flat. Ratios of methanol to lumber pricing fell back below….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-02-25
Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) methanol loadings through the first two months of 2025 are below average figures, a signal that some combination of 1) natural gas being….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-02-18
Iran is the largest methanol producer in the Middle East, a key supplier to China and India methanol markets, with product made from….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-02-11
Each month, MMSA estimates full delivered cash costs for producers practically able to deliver to China and plots their merchant supply capability….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-02-04
In 2018, responding to market requests for more inclusion in guiding the quarterly EU Contract price settlement, MMSA developed a survey of key regional….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-01-28
United States (US) D4 RIN consumption figures methanol-based forms of biodiesel produced in the US fell in 2024, losing ground to non-methanol….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-01-21
Over the past three months, profitability for a hypothetical Middle Eastern MTBE producer selling MTBE to Singapore ceased a prolonged decay, as MTBE prices in Singapore….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-01-14
Southeast Asia biodiesel production and consumption looks to accelerate in the new year of 2025 with higher mandate target set in the two biggest….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2025-01-07
MMSA supply and demand balances for the Methanol and Derivatives Analysis (MDA) service (1Q 2025 vintage) have been updated and uploaded….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-12-31
Overall, China methanol demand will grow for another year. Apparent growth (net imports plus production) slowed month-on-month….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-12-17
In January 2025, the United States will inaugurate President Donald Trump for a second time. Given that Congress will also be controlled….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-12-10
MTO economics remain near parity with naphtha, with both means to manufacture olefins only marginally….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-12-03
US lumber and methanol prices have risen at similar rates since September, with ratios of methanol…..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-11-26
Most Russian methanol for export is now flowing via costly routes to China and Turkey with totals down year……
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-11-19
Trinidad is second to the United States in methanol production capability in the Atlantic Basin, a key supplier……
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-11-12
The China methanol delivered cost curve for October 2024 shows that methanol prices remain close to a slowly rising floor……
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-11-05
MMSA conducted its monthly survey of European contractual buyers and sellers of methanol in late October. This Note™……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-10-29
In one week, MMSA, in conjunction with IMPCA, will again assemble key industry stakeholders at the world’s largest internationally attended methanol conference……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-10-22
United States (US) D4 RIN consumption figures continue to show methanol-based forms of biodiesel losing ground to non-methanol……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-10-15
Over the past three months, profitability for a hypothetical Middle Eastern MTBE producer selling MTBE to Singapore fell further……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-10-08
MMSA supply and demand balances for the 2024 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis (MDA) service have been updated and uploaded to client dashboards. The picture is like……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-10-01
Apparent methanol demand growth in China increased month-on-month with higher imports and stable……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-09-24
MMSA prices for conventional methanol bunkers and conventional methanol energy equivalents remain above energy affordability limits……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-09-17
Global methanol prices are moving upwards, in concert with prior MMSA projections. The US has risen as expected, whereas Europe pricing has……..
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-09-10
MTO economics remain impacted by weak olefins markets, containing methanol prices. Olefins prices (esp propylene) have been relatively………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-09-03
US lumber and methanol prices have both held relatively constant over the past several months, with near term ratios of methanol to lumber pricing………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-08-27
Although sanctions on Russian methanol to the European Union and UK continue to lower exports from the country, Russian apparent domestic………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-08-20
Slowly waning Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) natural gas is being made less available to existing methanol operators in 2024 amidst declining………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-08-13
Each month, MMSA estimates full delivered cash costs for methanol producers practically able to deliver to China and plots their………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-08-06
In 2018, responding to market requests for more inclusion in guiding the quarterly EU Contract price settlement, MMSA developed a survey of key regional buyers and sellers………
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-07-30
For the past 4 years, MMSA has tracked deep sea cargoes of methanol globally, creating a comprehensive database of 830+ methanol vessels……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-07-23
United States (US) D4 RIN consumption figures show methanol consuming forms of biodiesel……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-07-16
Over the past three months, profitability for a hypothetical Middle Eastern MTBE producer selling……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-07-09
More than 6 years ago, in response to market concerns about transparency in settling the quarterly……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-07-02
MMSA supply and demand balances for the 2024 Methanol and Derivatives Analysis (MDA) service (for 3Q 2024) have been updated……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-06-25
Apparent methanol demand in China is slowly accelerating, supplied by restarts of coal-based facilities in……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-06-18
MMSA prices for conventional methanol bunkers and conventional methanol energy equivalents……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-06-11
Global methanol price direction continues to move upwards as expected on the continuation of supply issues……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-06-04
Over the past three months, MTO economics have worsened. Economics at current methanol……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-05-28
While sanctions on Russian methanol to the European Union and UK have notably……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-05-21
US lumber prices have slipped while methanol prices have gained, and now 5-year average……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-05-14
Trinidad natural gas was made increasingly available to existing operators in 2023 despite……….
MMSA Methanol Notes – 2024-05-07
The China methanol delivered methanol cost curve shows improvement in China’s methanol……….