Petrochemicals: Olefins, MEG, PTA, BTX, Styrene, Acetic Acid, MTBE & Acetone
Polyester, aromatics and solvent petrochemicals by the parcel, ISO tank and container
Petrochemical intermediates are bought against a standard and a certificate: fibre-grade MEG and ASTM E1119, PTA on 4-CBA and b-colour, refined benzene to ASTM D2359, nitration-grade toluene to ASTM D841, xylenes to ASTM D5211, styrene monomer to ASTM D2827 with TBC inhibitor, and glacial acetic acid to ASTM D3620. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers MEG (HS 2905.31), PTA (HS 2917.36), BTX (HS 2902.20, 2902.30, 2902.41-44), styrene monomer (HS 2902.50), glacial acetic acid and VAM (HS 2915.21 and 2915.32) and MTBE and acetone (HS 2909.19 and 2914.11) from producers' offtake and trader parcels against the producer's certificate of analysis, SGS or Intertek inspection at load, safety data sheets, certificates of origin and REACH registration confirmation for EU imports. The 2024 export declarations put HS 2902.43 paraxylene at about USD 13.06 billion, led by Korea at USD 4.67 billion; HS 2917.36 PTA at about USD 8.19 billion, led by China at USD 3.18 billion; HS 2902.50 styrene at about USD 7.89 billion, led by the USA at USD 1.70 billion; and HS 2905.31 MEG at about USD 7.43 billion, led by Saudi Arabia at USD 2.78 billion.
Liquids move in chemical-tanker parcels under the IBC Code, in 20-24 MT ISO tanks and in drums; PTA moves as powder in jumbo bags in containers. Most products are UN Class 3 flammable liquids and glacial acetic acid is Class 8, so ISO tank and drum lots carry dangerous goods documentation, and toluene and acetone carry precursor import documents where the destination requires them. Pricing is per MT on contract or spot basis against ICIS, Platts and Argus assessments and producers' monthly contract prices. Send the product, grade, volume, delivery form and discharge port.
Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.
Indicative reference
Per MT, on contract or spot basis USD / MT
as at September 2026
Reference level only — not an offer, and reviewed quarterly. Levels shown are as at September 2026. Firm pricing is quoted per RFQ, subject to volume, terms and inspection.
Products in this range
Petrochemicals: Olefins, MEG, PTA, BTX, Styrene, Acetic Acid, MTBE & Acetone we source and broker
Each product below is supplied to its own specification and grading. Open one for full specs, grades and typical applications — or send an RFQ covering several at once.
Monoethylene Glycol (MEG)
Fibre-grade and antifreeze-grade MEG by the parcel, ISO tank and drum
Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA)
PTA powder for polyester fibre, film and PET resin, in jumbo bags by the container
Benzene, Toluene & Xylenes (BTX)
Benzene, nitration-grade toluene, mixed xylenes and paraxylene
Styrene Monomer (SM)
TBC-inhibited styrene monomer for polystyrene, ABS, SBR and UPR
Glacial Acetic Acid & Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM)
Glacial acetic acid 99.8%+ and hydroquinone-inhibited VAM
MTBE & Acetone
MTBE for gasoline blending and acetone for solvents and MMA
Ethylene
Polymer-grade ethylene by the refrigerated gas-carrier parcel
Propylene
Polymer-grade and chemical-grade propylene by the gas-carrier parcel
Butadiene (1,3-Butadiene)
TBC-inhibited 1,3-butadiene by the semi-refrigerated gas-carrier parcel
Melamine 99.8% (Industrial Grade)
Urea-derived melamine powder at 99.8% purity for laminates, MF resins and moulding compounds
Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) & Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM)
The two chlor-vinyl intermediates between chlorine, ethylene and PVC, by the chemical-tanker and gas-carrier parcel
n-Butyl Acrylate (BA)
MEHQ-stabilised n-butyl acrylate, 99.5% min, for acrylic emulsions and adhesives
Typical Specification
Specifications are indicative and adjusted to the agreed contract and destination requirements. Final spec confirmed on COA / SGS.
Available Grades
Applications
- Polyethylene & polypropylene
- SBR & polybutadiene rubber
- Polyester fibre, film & PET resin
- Polystyrene, ABS & SBR
- Paint, ink & adhesive solvents
- PVA & VAE emulsions
- Unsaturated polyester resin
- Gasoline blending
- Antifreeze & coolants
Category
Petroleum & Energy
Incoterms
FOB · CFR · CIF
Pricing basis
USD / MT
Inspection
SGS / Intertek at load port
Petrochemicals: Olefins, MEG, PTA, BTX, Styrene, Acetic Acid, MTBE & Acetone — buyer questions
Which delivery formats are available for liquid petrochemical intermediates?
Liquid intermediates (MEG, BTX, styrene, acetic acid, acetone) move in 3,000 to 10,000 MT chemical parcel tankers with IMO II/III coated or stainless steel tanks, in 20-24 MT ISO tank containers, and in tight-head steel drums. Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) moves as dry powder in 1,000-1,200 kg woven polypropylene jumbo bags in shipping containers.
What quality certification comes with petrochemical shipments?
Cargoes are certified by SGS or Intertek at the loading terminal against ASTM or producer standards (such as ASTM E1119 for fibre-grade MEG and ASTM D2827 with TBC inhibitor for styrene). European deliveries include verification of EU REACH registration.
How are hazardous chemicals classified and shipped?
Aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylenes), styrene and acetone are UN Class 3 flammable liquids; glacial acetic acid is UN 2789 Class 8 corrosive. All lots move under dangerous goods declarations (DGD) with safety data sheets (SDS) and compliance with the IMDG Code and IBC Code.
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