Propylene Glycol Price | Current and Historical
Monitor Propylene Glycol Prices Worldwide
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See monthly Propylene Glycol prices in 5 locations: United States, South America, Europe, South Asia & Oceania, China, Africa. Also check Propylene Glycol price history since 2007. The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices - subscribe now and gain access to current prices of 237 commodities, including Propylene Glycol.
Data Legend. The Propylene Glycol price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 6 locations, as follows:
- US: Propylene Glycol, United States, transaction, fob
- SAM: Propylene Glycol, South America, transaction, fob, Brazil
- EUR: Propylene Glycol, Europe, transaction, fob, Germany
- SEA: Propylene Glycol, South Asia & Oceania, transaction, fob, Singapore
- CN: Propylene Glycol, China, transaction, fob
- AFR: Propylene Glycol, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. Propylene Glycol prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 237 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
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Price Dynamics. The Propylene Glycol price in United States decreased during November 2018 to 1,500 USD per metric ton, which represents a considerable decline of 7% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Propylene Glycol prices in United States increased significantly by 16%. Meanwhile, in Germany, the average price of Propylene Glycol amounted to 1,550 USD per metric ton, from 1,510 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Propylene Glycol price in Germany is 0.6% lower than the price one month before.
The price of Propylene Glycol in China declined throughout November 2018, reaching 1,350 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 4% lower than the average price in the previous month and 2% higher than the average price one year before. In contrast, Propylene Glycol prices in Singapore decreased modestly during November 2018, reaching 1,520 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 4% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 7% from the previous year’s price.
The Propylene Glycol prices in Brazil experienced a significant decline of 120 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,050 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Brazil meant a decrease of 10% on a monthly basis and a rise of 17% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in November 2018, the Propylene Glycol price in South Africa witnessed a decline of 140 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 1,240 USD per metric ton. The November 2018 price in South Africa is 4% lower than the price one year before.
About Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol (a.k.a. Propane-1,2-diol) is a clear, colorless, non-corrosive but strongly hygroscopic difunctional alcohol in such a way that it must be protected from exposure to the atmosphere. Unique among the glycols, propylene glycol has low toxicity to humans. The largest application of Propylene Glycol is in the production of polyester resins, although it also has a wide application in the food, pharmaceutical, and comestic industries. Propylene Glycol also has great solvent properties for several polar organic materials, such as phenols, alcohols, dyes, natural products, and even some resins. Moreover, due to its property of reducing the water freezing point, PG has been used as an option for aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids. This commodity was first manufactured in 1859 by the hydrolysis of propylene glycol diacetate but it wasn’t until 1931 that it was first commercialized and used as a substitute for glycerol in pharmaceuticals.
The main industrial process for manufacturing propylene glycol involves the direct hydrolysis of propylene oxide with water. This results in the simultaneous production of propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and tripropylene glycol, which are then separated through distillation. This separation consists of the water-glycol mixture being dehydrated in successive columns, followed by vacuum distillations to obtain these three glycols in high-purity form. The remaining mixture of higher glycols is a process residue and has limited commercial use. The process generates minimal waste and the resulting glycols are environmentally friendly, as they are readily biodegradable and have low toxicity.
Another remarkable chemical route to produce propylene glycol is the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. This process can be applied to produce both industrial and USP propylene glycol grades. In resume, it consists of glycerol transforming into acetol and then the conversion of acetol into propylene glycol. These two reactions are carried out in the presence of a metallic catalyst.
Propylene Glycol possesses a noncorrosive nature, enabling its transportation and storage in containers crafted from materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, and lined steel. While carbon steel containers are also permissible, it is important to note that extended storage periods may result in minimal iron contamination. For the storage of pharmaceutical (USP) grade, stainless steel containers are commonly employed. Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge that this material exhibits hygroscopic properties, meaning it has a tendency to absorb moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. Therefore, it is essential to safeguard it from unnecessary exposure to the atmosphere.
Propylene Glycol was first prepared in the 19th century, from the hydrolysis of propylene glycol diacetate. Nowadays, commercial production of PG is based on the hydrolysis of propylene oxide, which can be obtained by the dehydrochlorination of propylene chlorohydrin, and by the oxidation of propylene by an organic hydroperoxide. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Propylene Glycol are listed below.
- Propylene oxide + water (direct hydrolysis, coproduced with dipropylene glycol and tripropylene glycol),
- Glycerine (hydrogenolysis),
- Propylene carbonate + carbon dioxide + methanol (transesterification, coproduced with dimethyl carbonate)
The uses and applications of Propylene Glycol may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Propylene Glycol are high-purity industrial grade (99.5 wt% minimum purity); and higher-purity United States Pharmacopeia (USP - also 99.5 wt% minimum purity, but higher quality standards in terms of specific impurities, such as chloride and iron) grade.
Unsaturated polyester resins account for the majority of the commercial use of Propylene Glycol. Such resins, in turn, are used in thermoset composites.
