The conflict that began in Iran on February 28, 2026 has spread across the region, curtailing production and delaying or rerouting shipments of ethylene glycol through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Middle East is, by far, the world’s largest exporter of mono-ethylene glycol, shipping 7.6 million tons in 2025, out of total global exports of 12.4 million tons. As such, a protracted disruption in the region would have a major impact on trade flows globally.
Other exporting regions in 2025: North America, 4,375,000 tons; Western Europe, 276,000 tons; Eastern Europe, 3,000 tons; Asia-Pacific, 59,000 tons. Because of its secure feedstock position and ample supply, North America is poised to fill some of any supply gap.
The Middle East exported close to 90% of its total to Asia-Pacific, with sizable volumes also to Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Africa:
Saudi Arabia was the largest exporter in the Middle East, accounting for close to 80% of the region’s 7.6 million ton total. Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Iran accounted for the remainder. (Iran did not publish export statistics for most of 2025. However, in 2024 Iran actually reported 1 million tons of MEG exports, nearly all to China. Imports from Iran tend to be understated in trading partner import statistics.)
From International Trader Publications’ MEG World Trade Analysis, continuously updated analysis of global trade based on latest statistics from all reporting countries.
