In Europe, methanol prices remained unchanged on Monday as market participants held back, constrained by subdued demand and lingering uncertainty. A polymer and chemical contact in Europe, choosing to remain anonymous, told a correspondent that although market fundamentals appear stable, activity has been muted because many customers are sticking to contractual volumes rather than spot purchases. The risk of economic headwinds has made buyers wary of committing higher volumes or making speculative purchases at current levels.
The assessments for methanol in Europe held firm, with FOB Rotterdam pricing pegged at EUR 293-294 per metric tonne, exactly matching end-of-week levels from Friday. There was no upward pressure despite reports of steady supply, and no signs yet that potential demand sources will emerge to shift the balance in the near term.
Meanwhile in Asia the market moved modestly higher. Methanol cargoes destined for China were assessed at USD 265-267 per metric tonne CFR, reflecting a USD +3/mt gain from the previous Monday (or from last Friday, depending on regional settlement). While this increase is small, it suggests that demand or import interest is inching up, or that FOB origins are incrementally tightening.
Across both markets, sentiment remains cautious. Buyers in Europe are largely defensive, avoiding exposure given macroeconomic ambiguity. In Asia, small price rises may tempt some market activity, but risk-averse behavior still predominates. If downstream demand strengthens, or if supply disruptions occur, these stable baseline prices could become the launching pad for more pronounced movements.
