Methanol
Overview
The global methanol industry has suffered in recent years. First COVID-19, then the Russia-Ukraine conflict, followed by global inflation, stagnation and downward revised GDP forecasts. It is hoped 2022/2023 will be the performance valley for the sector, looking toward an improved—but still slowed—outlook. The huge China methanol appetite has slowed. The MTO sector sees minimal growth ahead. The rest of the world will have to generate increased demand, but with much of this sector tied to GDP performance, the outlook here too is reserved. New capacity continues to define the landscape, with several new units expected in the coming months.
Pricing is spiking in Q4’23 due to a myriad of methanol production outages around the world. Production will return and prices weaken some. However, the outlook is for the olefins and olefin derivative sectors to finally end their respective down cycles. Olefin/derivative prices are expected to improve, driving higher MTO methanol affordability values. The rest of the methanol industry is expected to follow China’s MTO methanol price strength.
Argus’ experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest methanol news
Mexico’s industrial output up 0.1pc in November
Mexico’s industrial output up 0.1pc in November
Mexico City, 13 January (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production edged up 0.1pc in November, as gains in autos and other manufacturing offset weaker construction, national statistics agency Inegi said. Mexican bank Banorte described the monthly increase as "rather small," noting it followed a 1.1pc decline in October and was largely driven by base comparison effects. The bank added that the overall industrial outlook remained "fragile." Manufacturing, which represents 63pc of Inegi's seasonally adjusted industrial activity indicator (IMAI), increased by 0.7pc in November, though it failed to fully recover from a 1.7pc drop in October. Transportation manufacturing, a key subsector accounting for 12pc of the sector, rose by 3.8pc after a steep 4.3pc decline the prior month. Despite recent volatility, Mexico's auto sector achieved record annual light vehicle production in 2024, reaching 3.99mn units. Yet, automaker association AMIA warned of potential challenges in 2025 because of economic uncertainty, which could affect investment and demand. Mining, which makes up 12pc of the IMAI, increased by 0.1pc in November following a 1.1pc decline in October. Growth was driven by a 41.4pc jump in mining-related services, while oil and gas output fell by 2.4pc, marking a fifth consecutive monthly decline for hydrocarbons. Construction, representing 19pc of the IMAI, contracted by 1.8pc in November after modest gains of 0.2pc in October and 1.1pc in September. As industry eyes potential policy shifts under US president-elect Donald Trump, Banorte projected a weak start to 2025 for Mexico's industrial output. But it expects momentum to build as government spending on priority infrastructure projects "moves more decisively." By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US physical trade in ethane, propane, rose in 2024
US physical trade in ethane, propane, rose in 2024
Houston, 9 January (Argus) — Growing natural gas liquids (NGL) production in the US last year led to higher volumes of physical trading for ethane and propane in 2024, according to Argus data. Volumes of physical ethane traded at the Enterprise (EPC) storage cavern in Texas surged last year by 43pc to 90.12mn bl from 63.2mn bl in 2023, according to trades recorded by Argus . The gains in physical in-well trading activity at Mont Belvieu, the world's largest storage hub for the feedstock, came even as spot ethane prices fell in 2024 to an average of 19.03¢/USG, down from 24.59¢/USG the previous year, on the back of production gains and weaker prices for natural gas. US ethane production from gas processing averaged 2.8mn b/d in the first 10 months of 2024, up from 2.64mn b/d during the same period in 2023, according to the latest US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Gains in US ethane production come amid growing demand from petrochemical buyers in China and Europe, which has bolstered US ethane exports and led to additional investments by both Enterprise Products Partners and Energy Transfer in additional dock capacity for the feedstock. US ethane exports averaged 478,800 b/d in the first 10 months of 2024, down by 1.8pc from 487,600 b/d in 2023, due in part to loading delays associated with tie-in work for additional refrigeration at Gulf coast facilities. But exports in January-October 2024 were up by 17pc from the same period in 2022 on additional term contracts with international ethylene producers. Higher trading volumes in 2024 were not limited to ethane. Physical in-well trading of propane at Energy Transfer's LST storage cavern in Mont Belvieu rose by 30pc to 44.7mn bl in 2024, and in-well trading of propane at Enterprise's EPC storage cavern rose by 19pc to 68.3mn bl in 2024 versus 2023, according to trades recorded by Argus . US propane production from gas processing averaged 2.13mn b/d in January-October 2024, according to the latest available EIA data, up from 2mn b/d during the same period in 2023. LST and EPC propane prices rose in 2024 versus 2023 alongside increases in crude. Prompt-month LST propane averaged 77.12¢/USG during 2024, up from 71.13¢/USG in 2023. EPC propane averaged 77.63¢/USG in 2024, up from 70.83¢/USG in 2023. Argus publishes volume-weighted averages of physical trading at Mont Belvieu in addition to daily ranges. Ethane's traded midpoint averaged a 0.009¢/USG premium over the volume-weighted average in 2024. LST propane's traded range averaged a 0.037¢/USG discount to the volume-weighted average, and EPC propane's traded midpoint averaged a 0.143¢/USG discount to the volume-weighted average last year. By Amy Strahan Physical trading '000 bl Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Global Li-ion battery shipments rise in 2024: EV Tank
Global Li-ion battery shipments rise in 2024: EV Tank
Beijing, 6 January (Argus) — Global shipments of electric vehicle (EV) power batteries and energy storage batteries surged in 2024, and could continue growing until 2030, according to Chinese research institution EV Tank. Global EV power battery shipments increased by 22pc on the year to 1,051GWh in 2024. This was mainly driven by continued rises in China's EV sales, which were supported by government incentives such as old vehicle trade-in subsidies, outpacing a slowdown in European and US markets caused by weakening economies and rising inflation. Global shipments of energy storage batteries rose by 65pc over the same period to 370GWh, supported by China's government-led promotion of energy storage systems in wind and solar industries, falling manufacturing costs, as well as firm physical demand in the US and effects from its investment tax credit. GWh-level orders from some emerging markets such as UK, Saudi Arabia and Australian also grew over 2024. Global total shipments of lithium-ion batteries increased by 29pc from a year earlier to 1,545GWh in 2024, including 1,215GWh in China that rose by 37pc on the year and accounting for 79pc of the total. Continued demand growth in China and the country's elevated investment in overseas production boosted global shipments. EV Tank forecasts global lithium-ion battery shipments will rise to 1,899GWh in 2025 and 5,127GWh in 2030. It also estimates China's shipments of sodium-ion battery shipments to more than double to 2GWh in 2024 from 0.7GWh in 2023. But this was far below earlier expectations of 3 GWh/yr, because of higher manufacturing costs for sodium-ion batteries compared with ternary and lithium iron phosphate lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries. Consecutive falls in lithium carbonate feedstock prices in the past couple of years, mainly caused by rapid supply expansions, have reduced manufacturing costs for lithium-ion batteries. Current average manufacturing costs for lithium-ion batteries fell to 0.50 yuan/Wh as of June 2024, lower than Yn0.60/Wh for the sodium-ion battery, according to EV Tank. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Maersk warns of US east, Gulf coast ports strike
Maersk warns of US east, Gulf coast ports strike
New York, 2 January (Argus) — Containership owner Maersk is warning clients that a potential port labor strike could disrupt cargo shipping operations on the US east coast and Gulf coast later this month. A temporary agreement on wages that was struck in October between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire on 15 January. The short-term agreement, which ended a brief strike, was intended to provide more time for negotiating the remaining contract issues. "Considering the status, we strongly encourage our customers to pick up their laden containers and return empty containers at US east and Gulf coast ports before 15 January," Maesrk said on 31 December. "This proactive measure will help mitigate any potential disruptions at the terminals." During negotiations last year, the ILA's demands included no new automation technology at US ports that would replace workers, describing this position as "non-negotiable". US president-elect Donald Trump appeared to back the union after meeting with ILA's president and executive vice president in mid-December. "The amount of money saved [from automation] is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers, in this case, our longshoremen," Trump said on social media. The US president does not have direct power over union negotiations, but the president can issue executive orders affecting workers and intervene in strikes, if doing so would be in the national interest. The current labor agreement covers approximately 25,000 workers employed in container and roll-on/roll-off operations at ports from Maine to Texas. Movements of dry bulk cargo, such as coal and grains, are expected to be less affected by any work stoppage, though there could be side effects from the congestion of other products being rerouted to ports not affected by the strike. Movement of crude, refined products and many petrochemicals would like be unaffected by a strike, as ILA members do not work within the private terminals that handle nearly all US dry bulk, oil, and gas exports. But some polymers that are moved by container, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene, could be disrupted. A segment of US steel imports could also be disrupted by the strike, as about 9pc of those imports come in via containers, according to data from Global Trade Tracker. By Stefka Wechsler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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