For the Quarter Ending June 2025
APAC
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Price Index in China showed high volatility: a 4% drop in April, a 5% rebound in May, and a sharp 10% decline in June. This reflects fluctuating raw material prices, PSVME oversupply, export adjustments, and variable downstream consumption.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Spot Price (FOB Qingdao) shifted from USD 1800/MT in April, rising in May, then falling to USD 1690/MT in June.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Production Cost Trend mirrored input trends: propylene oxide and methanol dropped sharply in April, stabilized in May, then declined again in June.
• Why prices changed in July 2025
o In July, the Price Index continued to decrease, due to cooling downstream demand in coatings, FMCG, and NEV-related sectors, easing feedstock prices, and inventory overhang.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Demand Outlook remains cautious; consumption from personal care and industrial coatings is steady but lacking a strong recovery.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Price Forecast suggests continued softness into Q3 unless global export orders pick up or downstream restocking resumes.
North America (USA)
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Price Index in the U.S. followed a similar pattern: −4% in April, +5% in May, and −10% in June.
• In Los Angeles markets, the Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Spot Price (CFR) moved from USD 1955/MT in April, to USD 2055/MT in May, then dropped in June.
• The Production Cost Trend was shaped by falling methanol and propylene oxide costs, partially offset by high freight and logistical constraints.
• Why prices changed in July 2025
o The Price Index slipped further in July, driven by continued weak coatings and personal care procurement, surplus import availability, and stable-to-lower input costs.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Demand Outlook suggests moderate demand in the FMCG and coatings sectors, but constrained by consumer caution and sluggish industrial activity.
• The Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Price Forecast indicates potential for further price softness unless infrastructure or consumer-facing sectors rebound.
Europe
• Pricing trends mirrored global movements, with the Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Price Index showing mixed fluctuations linked to upstream volatility and downstream demand swings.
• While detailed spot pricing isn’t available, Europe’s import dependence and feedstock cycles caused intermittent upward and downward movements in the index.
• Why prices changed in July 2025
o The Price Index likely declined moderately, factoring in eased raw material costs, soft industrial demand in coatings and adhesives, and subdued procurement activity from downstream users.
• The Production Cost Trend stabilized as logistics costs eased and input feedstock prices softened.
• The Demand Outlook remained cautious, with slow recovery in construction, packaging, and personal care sectors delaying stronger consumption.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
North America's Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether market in Q1 2025 experienced subdued demand driven by economic uncertainty and elevated borrowing costs, which constrained construction activity and downstream sectors such as paints and coatings.
Supply conditions improved due to steady imports and excess domestic inventory, exerting downward pressure on prices. While the personal care segment showed resilience, it was insufficient to offset weaker industrial demand, resulting in a generally bearish market sentiment that persisted through the quarter.
In the USA, prices declined marginally by 0.4% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 2002/MT in the current quarter. Monthly data reveal a consistent downward trend, reflecting subdued industrial demand and improved supply availability. High borrowing costs and inflation dampened construction-related consumption, while steady imports from China maintained ample inventories. The overall market remains bearish with a near-term outlook indicating modest price recovery potential in subsequent months.
Asia
In the APAC region during Q1 2025, Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether demand exhibited mixed signals, with subdued activity in construction and industrial sectors tempering overall consumption. While supply remained stable, driven by consistent production and export flows, demand was buoyed by growth in automotive and personal care segments. Inventory levels were generally adequate, reflecting cautious procurement amid economic uncertainties and policy-driven project delays. The regional market sentiment was cautiously optimistic, with early quarter weakness giving way to moderate recovery prospects. China's Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether prices rose by 2.89% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 1842/MT. Despite this quarterly increase, monthly data reveal a bearish intra-quarter trend, with prices declining from January through March. This price behavior reflects strong automotive sector demand counterbalanced by weakening construction activity and subdued domestic consumption. The overall trend is cautiously bearish, with near-term outlook dependent on export demand and stabilization in key end-use industries.
Europe
In Q1 2025, the European market for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (DPGME) experienced notable price fluctuations, influenced by sectoral demands and economic conditions. January saw a modest price increase due to steady demand from the coatings and paints industry, particularly in Southern Europe where milder winter conditions supported construction activities. However, February witnessed a slight dip as the automotive sector faced challenges, with companies like Volvo announcing significant job cuts amid declining sales and revenues, citing unprecedented industry challenges. This downturn in the automotive industry tempered demand for DPGME derivatives used in vehicle manufacturing.
March brought renewed price pressures, driven by rising raw material costs, particularly for propylene oxide, and supply constraints due to production disruptions from maintenance and unplanned shutdowns. Additionally, logistical challenges increased delivery times and costs, further tightening the market and pushing prices upward.
The construction sector showed signs of recovery, with EUROFER forecasting a 1.1% growth in 2025 after years of decline. This resurgence, supported by EU funding and infrastructure projects, bolstered demand for DPGME in construction-related applications.
Overall, Europe's DPGME market in Q1 2025 was shaped by a recovering construction sector and a struggling automotive industry, leading to a nuanced pricing landscape influenced by varying sectoral demands and economic factors.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
The North American Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (DPGME) market exhibited an overall upward price trend in Q4 2024, driven by evolving supply and demand dynamics. While the quarter began with subdued prices due to a decline in feedstock costs, including propylene and methanol, the latter half witnessed a notable recovery in prices.
Early-quarter declines were influenced by weak demand from downstream industries such as paints and coatings, which faced challenges from a fluctuating construction sector. High inventory levels, coupled with minimal supply chain disruptions, further exerted downward pressure on prices during this period.
In contrast, the second half of the quarter saw a reversal in price trends, supported by improved demand from the food, cosmetics, and residential housing sectors. Seasonal growth in these industries and festive demand spurred consumption, while supply constraints—caused by maintenance activities and logistical bottlenecks—tightened availability. Additionally, rising operational costs, including elevated energy prices and logistical inefficiencies, prompted producers to adjust pricing strategies.
This combination of recovering industrial demand, constrained supply, and strategic inventory management led to an overall inclining price trend for DPGME in North America during Q4 2024.
APAC
The APAC market for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (DPGME) experienced an overall upward price trend during Q4 2024, driven by dynamic shifts in both supply and demand. Early in the quarter, prices faced pressure from weak demand and high inventories, particularly in China. Economic stimulus measures supported manufacturing growth, but their initial impact was offset by a subdued global economic outlook, slowing downstream demand in sectors like paints, coatings, and chemicals. Furthermore, the depreciation of the yuan against the USD enhanced the competitiveness of Chinese exports but added volatility to pricing patterns.
In the latter half of the quarter, DPGME prices rebounded significantly, fueled by a combination of constrained supply and strengthening demand. Maintenance activities, limited feedstock availability, and higher raw material costs, including propylene derivatives, tightened supply chains. Meanwhile, demand grew in key industries such as coatings, automotive, and construction, with a notable recovery in industrial applications like shipbuilding, furniture manufacturing, and machinery. Strategic stockpiling by downstream buyers amid market uncertainties further elevated prices.
This dual-phase trend highlights the interplay between weak early-quarter performance and late-quarter recovery, leading to a net incline in DPGME prices across the APAC region.
Europe
The European market for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (DPGME) exhibited a mixed price trend in Q4 2024, shaped by varying supply and demand dynamics. Early in the quarter, prices faced downward pressure due to weak demand from key industries like automotive and construction. Economic uncertainties across Europe weighed heavily on industrial activity, with seasonality further dampening consumption in downstream applications such as coatings, inks, and cleaners. Additionally, competitive pressures from alternative solvents contributed to lower prices as buyers sought cost-effective solutions.
However, the latter half of the quarter saw a rebound in DPGME prices. Supply constraints emerged due to production disruptions from maintenance and unplanned shutdowns, coupled with logistical challenges that increased delivery times and costs. Rising raw material costs, particularly for propylene oxide, further tightened the market, pushing prices upward. At the same time, selective recovery in sectors like packaging and specialty chemicals supported a gradual increase in demand.
This dual-phase trajectory of early-quarter declines followed by late-quarter recovery reflects the interplay of economic, seasonal, and supply-driven factors, resulting in an overall mixed trend for DPGME prices in Europe.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
In Q3 2024, the Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether market in North America experienced a significant uptrend in prices, particularly in the USA. The price surge was primarily driven by low inventory levels, increased demand from the paints and coatings industry, and cost support from feedstock methanol and propylene oxide.
Additionally, disruptions from plant shutdowns further tightened the supply, leading to bullish market sentiments. The overall market trend showed a positive trajectory, with strong buying interest and a gradual strengthening of prices throughout the quarter. In August, Lyondell Chemical Company implemented a price increase effective September, which had already begun to influence the spot market positively. Moreover, imports from China faced delays due to significant port congestion at key shipping hubs like Shanghai-Ningbo and Port Klang. While wait times began to ease, ongoing delays continued to support elevated spot rates. The situation was exacerbated by a hazardous goods incident in Ningbo, although experts did not anticipate a long-term market impact from this event.
In the USA specifically, the market saw no change in prices in comparison to the previous quarter. The domestic market benefited from improved demand, especially from the construction sector, despite inflation easing and concerns about interest rate cuts. The quarter ended with Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether priced at USD 1950/MT CFR Los Angeles, reflecting a robust and upward pricing environment.
APAC
In Q3 2024, the APAC region experienced a significant increase in Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether prices, driven by various factors. The market saw strong demand from downstream industries, particularly in the construction sector, leading to a surge in prices. Additionally, supply constraints and high production costs contributed to the upward trend in pricing. China witnessed the most notable price changes, with a bullish market sentiment prevailing throughout the quarter. Seasonal factors, such as heavy rainfall impacting construction activities, further boosted prices. Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether prices in the Chinese market experienced a significant upward trend, driven by low inventory levels and improved export demand. Lyondell Chemical Company implemented a price increase effective September, which was already reflected in the spot market. While feedstock prices for propylene oxide and methanol remained low, they had a minimal impact on Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether pricing. Despite this price strength, domestic demand for Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether from the downstream paints and coatings industry remained average, largely due to ongoing challenges in the construction sector amid a prolonged real estate crisis. In the China specifically, the market saw the most pronounced price changes, with slight change of 1% in comparison to the previous quarter. Despite these challenges, the market remained resilient, with prices steadily increasing. The quarter-ending price of Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether FOB Qingdao in China stood at USD 1750/MT, reflecting a 10% increase from the first half of the quarter.
Europe
During Q3 2024, the pricing pattern of Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether in Europe exhibited mixed trends, influenced by a combination of demand fluctuations and supply challenges. The growth trajectory of the paints and coatings industry, a significant consumer of Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, varied across different regions within Europe. In some areas, robust economic indicators fueled demand, while in others, economic fluctuations led to inconsistent consumption patterns. This disparity created a patchwork of demand levels, affecting overall market dynamics. Several supply-side challenges contributed to the mixed pricing trends. Unexpected plant shutdowns and technical difficulties at Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether production facilities temporarily limited supply in certain regions, driving prices higher. Additionally, fluctuations in the costs of key raw materials propylene oxide and methanol impacted production expenses, which in turn affected pricing. Port congestion emerged as another critical factor. Delays at major European ports hindered the timely import and export of Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, complicating the supply chain. This congestion, combined with varying inventory levels held by producers and distributors, resulted in further fluctuations in pricing. Regions with low inventory faced upward price pressure due to limited supply, while those with higher inventory levels experienced downward price adjustments. Overall, the Di Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether market in Europe during Q3 2024 was characterized by these mixed trends, driven by regional demand variations, production challenges, and supply chain disruptions. As the market adapted to these dynamics, participants remained cautiously optimistic about future pricing stability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the current price of Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether?
o As of June 2025, the Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Spot Price was approximately USD 1690/MT (FOB Qingdao) and USD 1850/MT (CFR Los Angeles). Prices declined further into July due to weak demand and lower input costs.
2. How is the global market situation for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether?
o The Price Index across major regions is trending downward overall. Oversupply, export-based restocking, and weak downstream demand are weighing on global pricing.
3. What factors influence the Production Cost Trend for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether?
o Feedstock costs (methanol, propylene oxide), logistical bottlenecks, freight volatility, and energy prices all drive the Production Cost Trend. Q2 saw significant shifts in raw material pricing impacting margins.
4. What is the Demand Outlook for Dipropylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether into H2 2025?
o The Demand Outlook remains guarded. Continued consumption in coatings, FMCG, and NEV-related sectors provides some support, but major recovery hinges on economic stabilization and downstream restocking activity.
