General Background
Chem Currents collects information from a wide range of sources including producers of commodity chemicals, distributors, traders, packagers, and various consumers. Whereas some experienced consulting companies publish monthly reports, our reports are updated every two weeks giving subscribers a more timely and accurate picture of the state of particular markets. And unlike services that do publish more than one monthly report, Chem Currents personnel are dedicated to a specific market and develop valuable relationships and understanding that leads to objective independent chemical information services you can actually use.

Price Quotes
Actual transactions verified by both sellers and buyers provide the foundation upon which Chem Currents bases the majority of price quotes included in published reports. Unconfirmed deals from established sources are sometimes used to gauge price levels during periods of extreme inactivity and are always included as part of the market discussion in the text of the reports. Chem Currentsis unique in its’ ability to maintain relationships with high level personnel to gain a greater understanding of the marketplace and provide quality objective assessments.

Contract prices mentioned in reports generally refer to supply agreements extending over one or more years. Pricing is usually negotiated monthly, quarterly, or even yearly (based on a seasonal need for instance). Large buyers with established relationships are represented at the low end of the contract range, while smaller buyers are generally represented by the high end. Contract prices can also change retroactively following negotiations concerning the price or competitive situations. Nominated contract prices are released by producers and often become the subject of negotiation. Net contract prices referenced in the report refer to an estimated range of actual transaction prices, which is often a function of benchmark contract prices minus an established discount. By gathering information on discount ranges off benchmark contract prices, Chem Currents is one of the only companies to publish an estimated net contract range in a number of markets.

Spot prices refer to the sale of a single shipment made during a specific time period between a willing buyer and seller. Spot quotes represent verified activity in the marketplace on the last day of the week before publication. Distressed deals not indicative of regular market activity at the time of publication are not included in spot price ranges, but are included in the report text.

Global Price Methodology

Oxygenates and Glycols

  1. Introduction and Governance

Chem Currents develops, maintains, and periodically reviews its price assessment methodologies in consultation with market participants. The methodologies are designed to reflect prevailing commercial practices, typical contract structures, regional logistics frameworks, and observable market liquidity.

Chem Currents publishes price assessments based primarily on first-person market intelligence, gathered through direct engagement with producers, consumers, traders, distributors, and logistics providers.

Assessments are intended to reflect the value of commodities traded between willing buyers and willing sellers in arm’s-length transactions under typical market conditions.

Chem Currents does not make retrospective changes to published assessments based on information received after the stated publication cut-off time.

  1. Core Price Formation Principles

Across all products and regions, Chem Currents applies the following hierarchy:

  1. Confirmed Transactions
    Confirmed arm’s-length transactions that meet Chem Currents’ specifications carry the greatest weighting.
  2. Verified Bids and Offers
    Where liquidity is limited, bona fide bids and offers are used to inform the assessment.
  3. Producer Announcements / Posted Prices
    For contract markets, producer postings and announcements are validated through first-person confirmation of implementation and market acceptance.
  4. Calculated or Formula-Based Indicators
    Where transactional data is insufficient, Chem Currents may publish calculated indicators (cash costs, formula-based prices, import parity estimates). These are clearly identified as calculated values.

Transactions deemed distressed, non-repeatable, intra-company, or otherwise unrepresentative of broader market conditions may be excluded.

All qualifying transactions meeting specification criteria are treated equally.

PART I – ETHYLENE-BASED GLYCOLS

(MEG, DEG, TEG)

United States

MEG

Contract / Posted Prices

  • US MEG Contract Estimate
  • MEGlobal NAB

Determined through first-person confirmation of negotiated settlements and validation of producer announcements.

Spot Prices

  • Export FOB USG
  • Barge FOB USG
  • Rail FCA USG
  • Truck FCA USG
  • Truck FCA USEC
  • Truck FCA USMW

Spot assessments prioritize confirmed transactions. Verified bids and offers are used where liquidity is limited.

DEG

Contract

  • US DEG Contract Estimate
  • MEGlobal DEG NAB

Assessed via producer announcements and direct confirmation of contract settlements.

Spot

  • Rail FCA USG
  • Truck FCA USG

Confirmed trades carry primary weighting.

TEG

Spot

  • Truck FCA USG

Due to lower liquidity, confirmed transactions are prioritized, supplemented by validated bids and offers.

US Feedstocks and Cost Indicators

  • MEG Cash Cost Estimate – Basis USG
  • Spot Ethylene Delivered USG
  • EO C2 Formula-Based Indicator

Cash costs and formula values are calculated indicators clearly identified as such.

Asia

MEG

Contract Prices

  • ACP Average
  • MEGlobal ACP
  • SABIC ACP
  • MEGlobal India Contract Price

Based on producer announcements validated through confirmation of implementation.

Spot

  • CFR China Main Ports
  • CFR Northeast Asia
  • China Domestic East
  • China Domestic South

Confirmed cargo and domestic transactions carry primary weight.

DEG

Contract

  • Northeast Asia DEG Contract Estimate

Spot

  • CFR China Main Ports
  • China Domestic East
  • China Domestic South

Confirmed transactions prioritized; bids/offers used when needed.

Asia Feedstocks

  • MEG Cash Cost Estimate – Basis NEA
  • Spot Ethylene CFR NE Asia

Cash costs are calculated production indicators.

Europe (Northwest Europe – NWE)

MEG

Contract

  • Contract MEG NWE

Reflects negotiated monthly settlements confirmed through first-person contact.

Spot

  • CIF NWE T2
  • FCA NWE

Confirmed cargo transactions prioritized.

DEG

Spot

  • CIF NWE T2
  • FCA NWE T2

Europe Feedstocks

  • MEG Cash Cost Estimate – Basis NWE
  • Spot Ethylene CIF NWE

PART II – PROPYLENE-BASED GLYCOLS

(MPG & DPG)

United States

MPG (PGI & PGUSP)

Contract Estimates (Net FCA USG)

  • PGI
  • PGUSP

Based on confirmed negotiated settlements.

Spot

  • PGI Truck/Rail FCA USG, USEC, USMW
  • PGUSP Truck/Rail FCA USG, USEC, USMW

Confirmed spot transactions carry highest weighting.

DPG

Contract Estimate – Net FCA USG

Spot

  • Truck FCA USG
  • Truck FCA USEC
  • Truck FCA USMW

Propylene & PO Feedstocks

United States

  • MPG Cash Cost Estimate – Basis USG
  • PO Contract Formula Estimate – Basis USG
  • Spot C-Grade Propylene Delivered USG

Asia (Import Economics Reference)

  • Spot Propylene FOB NE Asia
  • MPG Cash Cost Estimate – Basis NE Asia
  • PO Contract Formula Estimate – Basis NE Asia

Asia indicators are published to provide context for US import economics and are clearly identified as reference values.

PART III – METHANOL

United States

Contract / Posted

  • List FOB USG
  • Weighted Contract Average
  • Methanex MNDRP
  • Valenz MPP

Posted and reference prices are based on official announcements and validated through first-person confirmation.

Large Spot – USG

  • Barges FOB USG
  • Rail FOB USG

Confirmed bulk spot transactions carry primary weighting.

Terminal & Distribution Markets

To Distribution

  • Truck FOB Houston
  • Truck FOB South Louisiana
  • Truck & Rail FOB New Jersey (Bayonne & Perth Amboy combined)
  • Truck & Rail FOB Wilmington
  • Truck & Rail FOB Chicago

To Consumer

  • Truck FOB Houston
  • Truck FOB South Louisiana
  • Truck & Rail FOB New Jersey
  • Truck & Rail FOB Wilmington
  • Truck & Rail FOB Chicago

Terminal assessments prioritize confirmed transactions.

Canada

Contract / Posted

  • Contract List FOB Eastern Canada
  • Contract List FOB Western Canada
  • Methanex WCDP

Spot

  • Terminal Delivered Eastern Canada
  • Terminal Delivered Western Canada

Calculated Indicator

  • USG Rail Estimate Delivered Western Canada

Asia

  • Spot CFR China
  • Spot CFR Southeast Asia
  • Methanex ACP

Confirmed cargo transactions prioritized.

Europe

  • Contract List FOB NWE
  • Spot FOB NWE T2
  • Methanex ECP
  1. Liquidity and Calculated Assessments

In markets where transactional activity is insufficient to support a transaction-based assessment, Chem Currents may publish:

  • Cash cost indicators
  • Formula-based values
  • Import/export parity estimates

Such prices are clearly identified as calculated and are not intended to represent directly executable trades.

  1. Integrity and Verification

Chem Currents cross-checks all price information gathered. Information may be excluded where verification raises concerns regarding accuracy or representativeness.

All assessments are conducted independently and reflect observable market conditions at the time of publication.

 

 

For more information about specifications and market dynamics please contact us at admin@chemcurrents.com or call us at 281.948-8944.