# Ethylene oxide: Trading

Too dangerous for traders: sold producer to user

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/trading/

What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.

#### Who buys, and where

- Producers' own derivative units (captive)
- Regional merchant sales within about 500 km

#### Who sells, and from where

- Ethoxylators, ethanolamine makers, sterilisation firms

#### Price benchmarks

| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| **EO ex-tank East China** | Argus / CCF | spot, daily/weekly |
| **Europe purified EO contract** | Argus / ICIS | monthly or quarterly contract, delivered |
| **US purified EO contract** | Argus / ICIS | monthly contract, delivered |

#### Exchanges

| Venue | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **none** | no EO futures | MEG futures on Dalian (EG) are the nearest hedge |

#### Contract types

- Cost-plus contracts linked to ethylene
- Long-term pipeline or rail supply to neighbouring plants

#### Traders and distributors

- Few traders handle EO because of hazard; trade is producer to consumer

#### How Indian buyers price it

- Indian ethoxylators buy EO from Reliance, IOCL or India Glycols under term contracts linked to ethylene or import parity of ethoxylates (indicative).
- No DGTR duty on EO found.

#### Recent price points

| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | **56.20 c/lb (about $1,239/t)** | US purified EO contract, delivered | Argus EO and Derivatives, Oct 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | **€1,294/t** | Europe purified EO contract, delivered | Argus, Oct 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | **CNY 6,300/t (about $885/t)** | ex-tank East China | Argus, Oct 2025 |

#### Good sources to follow
[Argus EO and Derivatives](https://view.argusmedia.com/rs/584-BUW-606/images/CHE-Sample-Report-Argus%20Ethylene%20Oxide%20and%20Derivatives%20%282025-10-01%29.pdf?version=0)paid research site · Argus Media

Weekly EO, MEG and derivatives prices and capacity (sample public)
[Argus Chemicals podcasts](https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/energy-and-commodity-podcasts)free podcast · Argus Media

Ethylene chain outlooks
[Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com)free newsletter · Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Reposts ICIS weekly Asia petrochemical updates

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/cycles/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/links/index.md)