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 – 2023-03-28

With limited available calendar year data, it appears, on the surface, that US methanol demand is taking a much different tack than it has the past two years. Year on…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-03-21

With only scant data available as 2023 gets underway, China methanol production is at sub maximum levels, with few signs that apparent demand has changed……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-03-14

The European Quarterly Contract Price (EU CP), which is referred by MMSA and other price reporting agencies, is used as reference for most of the methanol……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-03-07

MTO competitiveness versus naphtha-based olefins remained steady for a 3rd consecutive month, and both naphtha and MTO remain only marginally profitable. MTO-based ethylene costs…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-02-28

Global methanol spot prices moved in mixed directions a 2nd straight week. Asia was mixed, EU up slightly, while the US slipped down. The final Feb ‘23 MMSA NEA/SEA NTR is USD…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-02-21

US lumber prices remain near their floors as the supply and demand balance resets. Meanwhile, relatively flat methanol pricing continues. Thus 5-year average ratios of methanol versus lumber pricing remain well…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-02-14

MMSA assessment of European apparent methanol demand through December 2022 confirms deteriorating market conditions after a strong first half to the year. Apparent demand (a combination of in-region production plus imports) is at…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-02-07

Southeast Asia biodiesel production and consumption are struggling to increase despite of the headwinds of Ukrain war, the long and tough lockdowns in China in the past three years, driven by non-ester forms of fuel in…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-01-31

Global methanol prices have not enjoyed the run-up that most other commodities have after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Ample supply, artificially maintained in China, combined with a slowdown in demand growth globally in…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-01-24

Events in Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) natural gas markets may prove pivotal to global methanol markets in 2023. Trinidad is second to the United States in methanol production capability in the Atlantic Basin, a key supplier to…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-01-17

United States (US) D4 RIN consumption continues to rise, with more than all of the growth coming from biodiesel which does not contain methanol. Data through November 2022 show that production and biodiesel market…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-01-10

As expected, the Russian methanol industry has suffered post its invasion of Ukraine. Plagued with a domestic recession, the Russian economy also suffers from reduced exports to its main partner Europe,…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2023-01-03

MMSA supply and demand balance updates for the 2022 Methanol and Derivative (MDA) service have been uploaded to client dashboards. 2022 global demand growth estimates have shrunk to …..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-12-27

As 2022 ends, it is clearer that US methanol apparent demand will suffer a year-on-year decline. Production over the same period is much higher, forcing reliance …..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-12-20

As 2022 comes to a close, Chinese methanol demand continues to disappoint, thanks to slowed growth in the MTO sector and dismal performance in most other sectors of demand. However, the…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-12-13

Chinese methanol producers continue to suffer under the weight of high coal prices, keeping the world’s methanol price floor near record highs. Other global producers with lower operating …..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-12-06

In a manner described in earlier Notes™, MMSA continues extensive efforts in evaluating the role of methanol in the energy transition. In addition to modeling all major current and proposed……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-11-29

When methanol prices are “MTO affordable,” the large MTO consuming sector of demand is typically active, tightening global markets, and vice-versa. Both MTO and naphtha……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-11-22

US lumber prices have reached a floor after a noteworthy descent at a pace quicker than methanol pricing falls. 5-year average ratios of methanol versus lumber pricing……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-11-15

MMSA estimates of European apparent methanol demand through August 2022 indicates deteriorating market conditions after a strong first half to the year. Apparent demand (a combination of in-region production plus imports…….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-11-08

Profitability for a hypothetical Middle Eastern MTBE producer remains at record high levels as costs to produce fell and market prices rallied. Supply of the ether remains somewhat limited in relation to demand….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-10-18

The 2022 edition of the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) 56th Annual Meeting was held in Berlin from October 4th to 6th in Berlin under the motto “From Resilience to Transformation”. It was the first in-person EPCA gathering since 2019 …..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-10-11

MMSA supply and demand balance updates for the 2022 Methanol and Derivative (MDA) service are now uploaded to client dashboards. Notably, 2022 global demand growth estimates are now……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-10-04

United States (US) D4 RIN consumption continues to rise, with more than all of the growth coming from biodiesel which……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-09-27

Expectations for US methanol apparent demand in 2022 continue to track towards a year-on-year decline while production………

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-09-20

As USGC methanol production continues to expand its Atlantic Basin footprint (despite high natural gas feedstock prices), traditional……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-09-13

As Russia continues its war in Ukraine, the Russian methanol industry continues to struggle, although a bit less than earlier….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-09-06

As thermal coal pricing in China keeps at record highs, marginal supply costs remain elevated, keeping the world’s methanol price floor near all-time highs……..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-08-30

When methanol prices are “MTO affordable,” the large MTO consuming sector of demand is typically active, tightening global markets. As MTO……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-08-23

US lumber prices are maintaining a noteworthy descent at a pace quicker than methanol pricing falls. 5-year average……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-08-16

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected methanol and derivatives markets on many fronts. This note focuses on the impact to key feedstocks for methanol; namely……..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-08-09

Southeast Asia biodiesel production and consumption continues to rise, driven by non-ester forms of fuel in this category. Data through May 2022 show that production…………

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-08-02

Moving into the third quarter of 2022, Chinese methanol demand has a better chance at growth over the calendar year than it just three months ago, thanks to continued growth in the MTO sector and despite….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-07-26

MMSA has completed a significant technical milestone in the creation of generic in-house material balances for significant methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia processes. The balances are supported by flow diagrams…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-07-19

MMSA supply and demand balance updates for the 2022 Methanol and Derivative (MDA) service are now uploaded to client dashboards. In the past three months, 2022 global demand growth estimates have been assessed…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-07-12

MMSA supply and demand balance updates for the 2022 Methanol and Derivative (MDA) service are now uploaded to client dashboards. In the past three months, 2022 global demand growth estimates have been assessed…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-07-05

United States (US) D4 RIN consumption continues to rise, driven by non-ester forms of fuel in this category. Data through May 2022 show that production of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) based biodiesel cotinues to fall, and the share of FAME based….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-06-28

US methanol apparent demand for 2022 continues to underwhelm, with a slew of 2Q derivative outages contributing to a slowdown in annualized rates of consumption. MMSA estimates of net trade and production through September 2022, suggest that overall demand…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-06-21

MMSA estimates of European apparent methanol demand through April 2022 indicates healthy market conditions at the beginning of the year couple with a significant increase in imported supply. Apparent demand (a combination of in-region production plus imports) was…….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-05-31

When methanol prices are “MTO affordable,” the large MTO consuming sector of demand is typically active, tightening global markets. Yet while MTO economics have remained supportive in the past three months, with hypothetical non-integrated MTO cash margins positive, Chinese operations have not…….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-05-24

US lumber prices corrected severely in May, while methanol pricing has been relatively flat in comparison, moving back near 5-year average ratios versus lumber pricing. Lumber markets corrected as the US begain to raise its Federal lending rates……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-05-17

Before Russia launched a war in Ukraine, things were looking up for the Russian methanol industry. Steady apparent demand growth, increased production, and rising net exports were all hallmarks of their industry. Unfortunately, the war…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-05-10

Methanol spot prices were mixed across regions. China and SEA rose marginally amid feared coal feedstock restrictions and SEA turnarounds. US and EU spot fell on thin spot demand. Preliminary May ‘22 NEA/SEA MNTR is at……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-05-03

For the first time in over 20 years, while there is plenty of time left for things to change, Chinese methanol demand is on track to shrink over a calendar year. Although methanol remains affordable in the key olefins sector, overall apparent demand has been crushed by a lockdown policy which has impacted production and trade…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-04-26

Today in Singapore, restrictions related to the spread of COVID-19 are being relaxed. Offices are opening back up to full occupancy, and the wheels of commerce in the Lion City should be fully greased soon. The country is a significant consumer or methanol…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-04-19

Profitability for a hypothetical Middle Eastern MTBE producer has returned to historically high levels on the back of a rise in refined product spreads and mostly excellent blending economics. Supply of the ether has been somewhat limited in relation to demand, especially in……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-04-12

Global MMSA supply and demand balance updates marking the first installment of 2022 Methanol and Derivative (MDA) service are now uploaded to client dashboards. Results of methanol demand assessment for 2021……

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-04-05

United States (US) biodiesel consumption continues to rise, driven by non-ester forms of the renewable fuel. Data through February 2022 show that that producers of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) based biodiesel conitinue to consume less methanol. Additionally, the share…..

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-03-29

Methanol can simultaneously help achieve joint goals of global decarbonization and petrochemical demand growth. MMSA has completed a study (click for table of contents) which assesses methanol’s role in the transition of energy into a lower carbon source future, including a view on the markets for low carbon methanol long term. MMSA also offers a service which includes workshops (click for description) on the topic.

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-03-22

Annualized US methanol apparent demand for 2022 was crimped by a record January drop in US methanol exports (annualized pace of 5.04M mtpa of methanol exports). Nevertheless, factoring MMSA estimates of net trade and production through May 2022, modest growth….

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-03-15

MMSA is concluding its comprehensive techno-commercial analysis of pathways involving “low carbon methanol,” now titled Low Carbon Energy Transition: Methanol’s Role (see Methanol Notes™ August 31, 2021, December 14, 2021) As the world decreases its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-based energy in providing power to end users,…

MMSA Methanol Notes – 2022-03-08

As thermal coal pricing in China keeps at record highs, marginal supply costs are supported in that country, keeping the world’s methanol price floor elevated. Lower cost producers globally (i.e., Middle East, US Gulf Coast) continue to benefit from these higher costs….