A spot methanol barge traded today in Houston, Texas, at the highest level since January 2025 as growing export demand for US volumes competes with domestic demand.
The barge sold at 115¢/USG fob ITC, the highest level since 29 January 2025, Argus data show. The trade marks a 5¢/USG increase from sales at the end of last week, and 15¢/USG higher than the end of February.
US Gulf coast barge prices have steadily increased over the past two weeks by about 15pc as war in the Mideast Gulf upends global energy markets and disrupts established trade flows. While US methanol production and supply is not at risk, offshore demand from Europe is driving US Gulf coast prices higher. Europe is a major consumer of US-produced methanol, with shipments to Belgium and the Netherlands comprising nearly half of US exports last year, Census data compiled by Global Trade Tracker show.
Fighting in the Mideast Gulf is also disrupting trade lanes to Asia, raising prices in Europe and Asia and lifting the global cost floor. Iran is a major methanol supplier to China, and methanol production capacity in the Middle East accounts for 38pc of global capacity, excluding China.
