Global Ethylene Glycols Market Trends and Forecast to 2030

The Ethylene Glycols Market is experiencing robust expansion, with market size projected to increase from (22.61 Billion) 2025 to (31.18 Billion) 2030, demonstrating a consistent year-over-year growth rate of 4.6%. Ethylene Glycols Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report, by Types (Diethylene Glycol (DEG), Monoethylene Glycol (MEG), Triethylene Glycol (TEG)), by Applications (Films, Polyester Fibers, PET, Antifreeze and Coolants, Others) And Regions (North America(United States, Canada, Mexico), South America(Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Rest of South America), Europe(Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Benelux, Nordics, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific(China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), MEA(Middle East, Africa)) : Industry Forecast and Opportunity Analysis for 2025 - 2030

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a versatile chemical compound utilised in a wide array of industrial applications. A colourless, odourless, and slightly viscous liquid that is mainly used in the manufacture of polyester fibres and resins for use in clothing, plastic bottles, and an assortment of other products. EG is also an important component of antifreeze and coolants for the automotive industry, enabling efficient engine temperature regulation in hot and cold weather conditions. Aside from these main applications, ethylene glycol finds uses mainly in the production of films, detergents, and others as a dehydrating agent in the natural gas industry. The compound is de-icing for aircraft and runways due to its property of lowering the freezing point of water. The ethylene glycol market is impacted by several factor such as the demand for polyester fibre, the performance of the automotive industry, and the rise and fall of raw material prices.

Ethylene Glycols Report Highlights

Report Metrics	Details
Forecast period	2019-2030
Base Year Of Estimation	2024
Growth Rate	CAGR of 4.6%
Forecast Value (2030)	USD 31.18 Billion
By Product Type	Diethylene Glycol (DEG), Monoethylene Glycol (MEG), Triethylene Glycol (TEG)
Key Market Players	Exxon Mobil Corporation Dow Inc. LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. China Petrochemical Corporation Reliance Industries Limited Shell Chemicals KUWAIT PETROLEUM CORPORATION SABIC Huntsman International LLC LOTTE Chemical CORPORATION
By Region	North America(United States, Canada, Mexico) South America(Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Rest of South America) Europe(Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Benelux, Nordics, Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific(China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) MEA(Middle East, Africa)

Ethylene Glycols Market Trends

Rapid industrialisation and increasing demands for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging solutions hold sway over the ethylene glycol market. With all the lightweight, good chemical resistance, and high tensile strength it has, PET packaging is progressively being applied in various end-use industries. This has in its turn boosted the polyester fibre market on the backs of pillows and upholstery. New technologies such as coal to ethylene glycol (CtEG), now being pursued, are cost-attractive as compared to naphtha routes. Other significant trends include large consumption of ethylene glycol for pharmaceutical and textile purposes. The growth of the automotive industries is also a strong growth driver because ethylene glycol is used in the production of polyester fibres and as a coolant in automobile engines. With constantly increasing numbers of vehicles throughout the world, high revenues from the ethylene glycol market are expected. Also, enhanced demand for PET, especially from the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions, will drive the market, while fluctuating raw material prices may inhibit growth.

Ethylene Glycols Market Leading Players

The key players profiled in the report are Shell Chemicals, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., Reliance Industries Limited, Huntsman International LLC, Exxon Mobil Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation, KUWAIT PETROLEUM CORPORATION, SABIC, Dow Inc., LOTTE Chemical CORPORATION

Growth Accelerators

The ethylene glycol market is primarily driven by the robust demand for polyester fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins. Polyester is a versatile material widely used in the textile industry for clothing, home furnishings, and industrial applications. The growing textile industry, particularly in developing economies, fuels the need for polyester fibers, consequently driving the demand for ethylene glycol. Similarly, PET resins are essential for producing plastic bottles and packaging materials, and the increasing consumption of packaged goods, especially in the food and beverage sector, significantly contributes to the growth of the ethylene glycol market.

Ethylene Glycols Market Segmentation analysis

The Global Ethylene Glycols is segmented by Type, Application, and Region.
By Type, the market is divided into Distributed Diethylene Glycol (DEG), Monoethylene Glycol (MEG), Triethylene Glycol (TEG) . The Application segment categorizes the market based on its usage such as Films, Polyester Fibers, PET, Antifreeze and Coolants, Others. Geographically, the market is assessed across key Regions like North America(United States, Canada, Mexico), South America(Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Rest of South America), Europe(Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Benelux, Nordics, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific(China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), MEA(Middle East, Africa) and others, each presenting distinct growth opportunities and challenges influenced by the regions.

Competitive Landscape

In the ethylene glycol market, competition consists of a couple of large and medium-scale players with great production capabilities and innovative solutions. Several significant names, including BASF SE, Dow Chemical, and Indorama Ventures, lead the market using advanced production technologies to cater to increasing demand from applications such as automotive, textiles, packaging, etc. These companies also invest strongly in R&D to improve their product lines and sustain their competitive edge. Strategic moves like acquisitions and capacity expansions are also surfacing in the market. INEOS and SABIC are more focused on increasing their market share through organic growth strategies.

Challenges In Ethylene Glycols Market

Recent activity in the ethylene glycol market shows a clear trend of strategic acquisitions and partnerships to augment production capabilities and gain a greater presence in the market. Among them is Eastman Chemical Company, which plans to invest US$250 million in a methanolysis facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, that converts polyester plastic into mono-ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate and will have a capacity of 150,000−200,000 tonnes annually. Also, Technip Energies acquired glycol purification technology from Shell to accelerate the commercialisation of Technip Energies' Bio-2-Glycols™ technology for bio-based MEG production from glucose. Strategic partnerships also remain a major trend in the market. An example is Sojitz Corporation joining forces with Braskem S.A. in producing biomass-derived monoethylene glycol (bioMEG) and monopropylene glycol (bioMPG) and establishing a joint venture to scale up production for commercialisation. In the glycol ethers market, Sherwin-Williams Company acquired AquaSurTech to strengthen its presence in the vinyl/PVC building products market. These strategic manoeuvres allow companies to better their position in the market and broaden their product portfolio in response to the rising demand for sustainable and efficient ethylene glycol production.

Risks & Prospects in Ethylene Glycols Market

The ethylene glycol market exhibits tremendous opportunities owing to the mounting automotive demand for antifreeze and coolants, coupled with the accelerating production of electric vehicles. Increasingly pervasive use of PET fibres in the textile industry for synthetic textiles, in conjunction with the packaging industry's demand for PET in food and beverages, further stimulates the market for this product. Other emerging opportunities relate to the demand for bio-based ethylene glycol alternatives, which coincide with the promotion of sustainability, reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Additional prospective applications arise from burgeoning infrastructure development and construction activity. This scenario creates demand for ethylene glycol in antifreeze and construction chemicals. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and growing disposable incomes in emerging economies, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, hold abundant growth opportunities. Developments in production processes, particularly those that are more efficient and cost-effective, spice up the market position.

Key Target Audience

, In the ethylene glycol (EG) market, the main target audience consists of manufacturers of polyester fibre and resin. These companies account for the larger part of EG consumption, using it as a major raw material in their many product lines. So, EG producers focus on creating strong ties to these manufacturers and studying their particular needs in quality, amount, and delivery schedules. This segment shows considerable price sensitivity to EG and seeks reliable suppliers to guarantee steady production., Wider apart from polyester producers, the target audience includes companies in the automotive industry who manufacture antifreeze and coolants. Smaller but significant target segments are those manufacturers of miscellaneous products—for example, films, detergents, and those in natural gas processing. EG producers, therefore, pay special attention in marketing and sales to the peculiar requirements and buying behaviour of each target segment, being conscious that the versatile chemical has numerous applications and even more diverse demands.

Merger and acquisition

Recent activity in the ethylene glycol market shows a clear trend of strategic acquisitions and partnerships to augment production capabilities and gain a greater presence in the market. Among them is Eastman Chemical Company, which plans to invest US$250 million in a methanolysis facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, that converts polyester plastic into mono-ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate and will have a capacity of 150,000−200,000 tonnes annually. Also, Technip Energies acquired glycol purification technology from Shell to accelerate the commercialisation of Technip Energies' Bio-2-Glycols™ technology for bio-based MEG production from glucose. Strategic partnerships also remain a major trend in the market. An example is Sojitz Corporation joining forces with Braskem S.A. in producing biomass-derived monoethylene glycol (bioMEG) and monopropylene glycol (bioMPG) and establishing a joint venture to scale up production for commercialisation. In the glycol ethers market, Sherwin-Williams Company acquired AquaSurTech to strengthen its presence in the vinyl/PVC building products market. These strategic manoeuvres allow companies to better their position in the market and broaden their product portfolio in response to the rising demand for sustainable and efficient ethylene glycol production. >

Analyst Comment

Keen demand from prime users, such as automotive, textiles, and packaging, is driving steady growth in the ethylene glycol market. As of the year 2023, the global ethylene glycols market stood at USD 17.76 billion. Ethylene glycol is extensively used in antifreeze, polyester fibres, and PET resins, and the expanding automotive manufacturing and shift towards lightweight materials in transportation are increasing the adoption of these products. One basic reason for the increase in demand for ethylene glycols is the textile and automotive industries. This is mainly due to the rise in electric vehicles, which will bolster demand for ethylene glycol as an important ingredient in battery cooling systems and thermal management solutions. The ethylene glycol market in the Asia Pacific region was dominated.