Monoethylene Glycol (MEG)

Fibre-grade and antifreeze-grade MEG by the parcel, ISO tank and drum

Monoethylene glycol (HS 2905.31) is sold in two commercial grades, and the grade decides the buyer. Fibre grade is the polyester feedstock: it is reacted with purified terephthalic acid to make polyester staple fibre, filament yarn and bottle-grade PET, and a polyester plant buys it on purity, water, UV transmittance (the check for trace impurities that yellow the polymer), aldehydes, iron, chloride and colour. Antifreeze or industrial grade is the same molecule with wider limits, bought by coolant and antifreeze blenders, de-icing fluid makers, unsaturated polyester resin plants and heat-transfer fluid formulators. ASTM E1119 is the specification for industrial-grade ethylene glycol and names the tests: acidity, appearance, colour, glycols content, water, ash, distillation range, relative density and water miscibility. MEG has a closed-cup flash point of 111 °C. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 2905.31 total about USD 7.43 billion across 85 reporters: Saudi Arabia USD 2.78 billion and 6.02 million MT, the USA USD 1.75 billion and 3.34 million MT, Canada USD 782 million and 0.87 million MT, Singapore USD 276 million, Malaysia USD 146 million and 0.30 million MT, Korea USD 118 million and Taiwan USD 56 million.

The buyer is a polyester fibre or PET resin plant, a coolant blender or a distributor. Plants with tank storage take chemical-tanker parcels; MEG is carried under the IBC Code as a chapter 17 product, with the ship type and pollution category stated on the certificate of fitness of the tanker nominated. Smaller buyers take 20-24 MT ISO tanks or steel drums in containers. Pricing is on contract or spot: MEGlobal and SABIC publish a monthly Asian Contract Price CFR Asian main ports, and ICIS, Platts and Argus publish spot assessments that buyers use for formula pricing. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers fibre-grade and antifreeze-grade MEG from US, Canadian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Korean and Taiwanese producers' offtake and from Saudi Red Sea (Yanbu) supply, against the producer's certificate of analysis, SGS or Intertek inspection at load, the safety data sheet, a certificate of origin and the REACH registration position of the EU importer, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Send the grade, monthly 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.