MTBE Price in China Rises 2.4% to USD 1,107/tonne
Methyl tert-butyl ether in China gained 10.2% over the month to USD 1,107/tonne, moving close to its 52-week high.
Methyl tert-butyl ether in China was priced at USD 1,107/tonne as of 2026-09-04, up 2.4% from USD 1,080/tonne a week earlier and up 10.2% from USD 1,005/tonne on 2026-08-05. The 52-week high stands at USD 1,114/tonne on 2026-09-03 and the 52-week low at USD 980.61/tonne on 2026-08-14.
Several supply-side factors have shaped the move. Mysteel reported that MTBE unit operating rates hit a five-year low in July due to widespread plant shutdowns. Claight market monitoring shows that renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz and geopolitical tensions drove increases in international crude oil prices, and that concentrated export order deliveries in August tightened spot market availability and supported price increases.
On the demand side, ChemAnalyst reported that increased gasoline blending demand and pre-Golden September inventory building created upward pressure on domestic prices.
Liquidity has also tightened. According to Claight market monitoring, maintenance of Lihuayi production units and temporary withholding of stock by major manufacturers reduced market liquidity.