ITP’s analysis of global trade in diethylene glycol indicates a 6% increase in the volume traded in 2014 versus 2013, to 1.4 million tons. Trends in global trade volume generally indicate trends in demand.

Major trends in 2014 included expanded intra-regional trade in Asia-Pacific, up 7%, and higher imports into the region, up 4%, nearly all of which were from the Middle East.

Intra-regional trade also expanded in Western Europe, up 7%, but imports of nearly 200,000 tons were off by 1% on slightly lower volumes from the Middle East.

Trade within North America jumped 21%. Exports were relatively small and fell by 2% but imports, nearly all from the Middle East, rose 12%.