Prices for Monoethanolamine (MEA) FOB New York at the end of November 2025 were up 0.82%, indicating stable operating costs, stable Gulf Coast production, and balanced demand from cleaning products as well as limited exports.
During November, prices for MEA in the United States made a small rebound, with FOB New York prices increasing 0.82 percent from October. Although the increase is very small, it ends three months of consecutive falls. A small increase by MEA suppliers of list prices due to an uptrend in cost components of ammonia and a general downward trend in prices for ethylene oxide created a supportive price structure. A combination of an uptrend in ammonia and stability in contracts for ethylene oxide enabled suppliers to maintain and improve margins, and thus, there was a small positive movement.
Production conditions for MEA remained unchanged. The Gulf Coast rate of operation averaged 88-90 percent, with the two large integrated plants running at full rate and only a scheduled shutdown at a Louisiana facility. Ethylene oxide prices fell due to decreases in Henry Hub natural gas indices of 3 percent. Energy costs fell, and margins slightly increased. However, there were slight increases in feedstock ammonia prices. Inventories at internal plants were at 26 days of supply, as in previous seasonal conditions. A total of 8 percent of MEA production went for export, mainly into Canada and Mexico. Demand from Asia began to weaken due to more local capacity.
Demand dynamics for MEA were as expected during the fourth quarter. Herbicide formulators reduced demand by 6 percent as it followed the harvest season, and the demand for coatings decreased by 4 percent as there were low residential projects. Nevertheless, demands for MEA from cleaner manufacturers were unchanged due to end-of-year retail promotions. Demands for gas treatment were unchanged at refining sites as utilization rates were at about 86 percent. Geographically, orders slightly grew by 2 percent in Canada because of currency factors, and Brazilian buying groups rejoined for the first-quarter 2026 volumes, making spot demands of about 1,500 tons. Buyers from Asia failed to attend again, and U.S. suppliers were firmly rooted in hemispheric routes. Buying executives' methods were more ‘hand-to-mouth’ as markets were stable.
U.S. monoethanolamine (MEA) prices remained in a tight range during November, with well-balanced market fundamentals that offered no clear-cut stimulus for either a bullish or bearish market. Going forward, a very mild increase is forecasted for December MEA prices, with support offered by stable feedstock price indices and some end-of-the-year restocking on the cleansing product-manufacturing facilities. Demand from agrichem and paints might remain low with seasonal influences, but stable detergent volumes and a lukewarm response to international orders might offer some support for MEA prices.
