# 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.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/meg/

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
 Commodity chemicals · Derivatives & intermediates · Foundation · Matter

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

1. World capacity is about 60-65 Mt a year against output of about 35 Mt, so plants run far below their potential.
2. MEG sank to about $508 a tonne CFR China on 1 October 2025, close to multi-year lows.
3. Coal-based MEG once failed fibre-grade UV tests, because trace impurities turn polyester yellow, and sold at a discount.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Ethylene or coal**0.6 t ethylene, or coal syngas
2. 2 **Ethylene oxide**About 0.75 t EO per tonne
3. 3 **Hydration**Water at 200 C gives about 90% MEG
4. 4 **Tanker trade**Non-hazardous liquid, Gulf to China
5. 5 **Polyester**0.34 t MEG per tonne polyester

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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