Monoethylene glycol
The glycol in polyester and PET bottles, made from ethylene oxide or, in China, from coal; a heavily traded commodity tied to textiles.
Commodity chemicals · Derivatives & intermediates · No. 37
- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 35 Mt produced a year (2025, indicative)
- 2.2 t CO₂e per t
- HS 290531
Every PET bottle and polyester shirt is about a third glycol, and China now makes some of it from coal.
Chart: Illustration: Monoethylene glycol
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Most MEG comes from hydrating ethylene oxide with a large excess of water. China has also built about 10 Mt a year of coal-to-MEG capacity using syngas.
Three things to know
- World capacity is about 60-65 Mt a year against output of about 35 Mt, so plants run far below their potential.
- MEG sank to about $508 a tonne CFR China on 1 October 2025, close to multi-year lows.
- Coal-based MEG once failed fibre-grade UV tests, because trace impurities turn polyester yellow, and sold at a discount.
The journey
- 1 Ethylene or coal0.6 t ethylene, or coal syngas
- 2 Ethylene oxideAbout 0.75 t EO per tonne
- 3 HydrationWater at 200 C gives about 90% MEG
- 4 Tanker tradeNon-hazardous liquid, Gulf to China
- 5 Polyester0.34 t MEG per tonne polyester