Price Watchâ„¢ provides real-time price assessments and price forecasts for Methyl Ethyl Ketone across top trading regions:
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone Regional Coverage | Methyl Ethyl Ketone Grade and Country Coverage | Methyl Ethyl Ketone Pricing Data Coverage Explanation |
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              Asia-Pacific Methyl Ethyl Ketone Pricing analysis |
Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade-Industrial Grade (99% min) FOB Prices at Shanghai Port, China | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Export Prices from Shanghai Port, China to Global Markets |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade-Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Busan Port, South Korea, Importing from China | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Busan Port, South Korea from China | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Haiphong Port, Vietnam, Importing from China | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Haiphong Port, Vietnam from China | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Jakarta Port, Indonesia, importing from China | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Jakarta Port, Indonesia from China | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Nhava Sheva Port, India, importing from China | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Nhava Sheva Port, India from China | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) Ex-Mumbai Domestic Prices, India | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Domestic Prices in Mumbai, India | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) FOB Prices at Tokyo Port, Japan | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Export Prices from Tokyo Port, Japan to Global Markets    | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Haiphong Port, Vietnam, Importing from Japan | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Haiphong Port, Vietnam from Japan | |
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  Europe Methyl Ethyl Ketone Pricing analysis  |
Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) FOB Prices at Rotterdam Port, Netherlands | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Export Prices from Rotterdam Port, Netherlands to Global Markets |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Hamburg Port, Germany Imported from Netherlands | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Hamburg Port, Germany from Netherlands | |
| North America Methyl Ethyl Ketone Pricing analysis
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Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) CIF Prices at Houston Port, USA Imported from Netherlands
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Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Import Prices at Houston Port, USA from Netherlands |
| Middle East & Africa Methyl Ethyl Ketone Pricing analysis
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Methyl Ethyl Ketone; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min) FOB Prices at Durban Port, South Africa | Weekly Price Update on Methyl Ethyl Ketone Real-Time Export Prices from Durban Port, South Africa to Global Markets |
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Price Forecasts & Market Foresight Q3 2026
Outlook: Strongly Bearish
Confidence: Moderate to High
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) prices across Asia and Europe FOB markets are expected to trend strongly bearish during Q3 2026, as prices correct sharply from recent peak highs back towards normalized levels, pressured by softer butane and butylene feedstock costs, improving supply availability, and easing tightness that had previously driven the market higher.
Asia FOB prices are likely to witness the steepest decline, driven by expanding regional production, aggressive export offers, and subdued downstream demand from paints, coatings, and printing ink industries amid monsoon-related slowdown and cautious buyer sentiment.
Europe FOB is expected to mirror this weakness, as previously elevated prices unwind on the back of improved feedstock availability, softer energy costs, and muted industrial demand across key consuming sectors.
Global Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Market Overview by Region (July–September 2026)
| Country | Grade/ Incoterm | Outlook |
| China | Purity: ≥99% FOB Shanghai | Strongly Bearish |
| South Korea | Purity: ≥99% CIF Busan (CHINA) | Strongly Bearish |
| Vietnam | Purity: ≥99% CIF Haiphong (CHINA) | Strongly Bearish |
| Indonesia | Purity: ≥99% CIF Jakarta (CHINA) | Strongly Bearish |
| India | Purity: ≥99% CIF Nhava Sheva (CHINA) | Strongly Bearish |
| Japan | Purity: ≥99% FOB Japan | Strongly Bearish |
| Vietnam | Purity: ≥99% CIF Haiphong (JAPAN) | Strongly Bearish |
| Netherlands | Purity: ≥99% FOB Rotterdam | Strongly Bearish |
| USA | Purity: ≥99% CIF Houston (Netherlands) | Strongly Bearish |
| Germany | Purity: ≥99% CIF Hamburg (Netherlands) | Strongly Bearish |
| South Africa | Purity: ≥99% FOB Durban | Strongly Bearish |
| India | Purity: ≥99% Ex-Mumbai | Strongly Bearish |
*Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Forecast represents an analytical assessment based on information available at the time of publication. Actual market prices may vary due to unforeseen operational, regulatory, geopolitical, or economic developments.
Explore the Complete Price Watch™ Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Forecast
Access comprehensive Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) market intelligence, including a 3-Month Rolling Forecast, 12-Month Price Forecast, forward price curves, country-wise market outlooks, procurement insights, and monthly forecast updates.
Explore Price Watch™ Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Forecasts
What’s Included
The 3-Month Forecast (Updated Monthly)
It reflects changes in Butanone feedstock costs, energy prices, producer operating rates, plant outages, inventory levels, trade flows, freight rates, regional demand, and geopolitical developments affecting the global Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) market.
The 12-Month Forecast (Published Annually)
It provides a strategic outlook based on expected capacity additions, supply-demand balances, feedstock economics, macroeconomic conditions, industrial production trends, trade policies, seasonal demand patterns, and long-term supply chain developments, supporting procurement, budgeting, and strategic planning.
Our Proprietary Hybrid Forecasting Model Evaluates:
- Feedstock & production economics
- Plant operating rates & outages
- Inventory and supply-demand balance
- Regional trade flows & freight
- Import-export dynamics
- Macroeconomic & geopolitical developments
Track Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Supply Disruptions in Real Time
As geopolitical risks continue to reshape global supply chains, stay ahead of the events that drive price movements by monitoring plant shutdowns, maintenance turnarounds, force majeure events, logistics bottlenecks, trade restrictions, and operational disruptions before they impact Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) markets.
Access the Price Watch™ GIO Tracker
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Price Trend Q2 2026
In Q2 2026, the global Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Price Index recorded extreme volatility, with gains ranging from 40% to an exceptional 140%, rooted in acute disruption to the sec-butanol feedstock chain as the Iran-Israel geopolitical conflict impacted naphtha cracker output, refinery throughput, and crude trade flows.
Since MEK is produced primarily via dehydrogenation of sec-butanol derived from butylene, or alternatively via liquid-phase butane oxidation, any disruption to crude oil and naphtha feedstock directly halts production economics, as starkly illustrated in the Netherlands where regional trade shutdowns brought output to a near standstill.
The MEK Price Chart showed prices holding at multi-quarter highs through April, as feedstock scarcity and logistics gridlock pressured coating, printing ink, adhesive, and vinyl resin solvent applications worldwide. As geopolitical tensions eased through May, feedstock trade routes and refinery operating rates began gradually normalizing.
By June 2026, the MEK Price Index retreated from its quarterly peaks, though several regions, notably the Netherlands, remained well above pre-quarter levels, reflecting the slow but steady rebalancing of global supply-demand dynamics.
China: MEK Export prices FOB Shanghai, China; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) price in China surged by an average of 55% over the first quarter, as the Iran-Israel geopolitical conflict severely tightened the C4 feedstock chain, with butylene and sec-butanol availability from FCC and steam cracker units constrained alongside sharply elevated naphtha and crude-linked energy costs.
The MEK price trend in China remained sharply elevated through April, as reduced sec-butanol dehydrogenation unit run rates, tight hydrogen co-product balance, and higher operating costs squeezed output, even as printing ink, coating, and adhesive solvent formulators maintained aggressive procurement to secure supply.
As geopolitical risk began easing through May, C4 feedstock flows and cracker throughput started to recover. In June 2026, the MEK price in China corrected from its quarterly peak, reflecting improved butylene and sec-butanol availability along with stabilizing dehydrogenation unit utilization.
Japan: MEK Export prices FOB Tokyo, Japan; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in Japan climbed by an average of 46% compared to the first quarter, driven by constrained sec-butanol feedstock supply from regional naphtha crackers, aggravated by the broader disruption stemming from the Iran-Israel tensions.
The MEK price trend in Japan stayed firm through April, as limited feedstock allocation and elevated energy costs at dehydrogenation units pressured production economics, even as demand from coatings, printing inks, and vinyl resin solvent applications held steady.
As tensions normalized through May, feedstock throughput began recovering. In June 2026, the MEK price in Japan eased, tracking improving sec-butanol availability and moderating cracker feedstock costs.
Netherlands: MEK Export prices FOB Rotterdam, Netherlands; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in the Netherlands spiked extraordinarily by an average of 140% over the first quarter, by far the steepest increase among all covered markets, as the near-complete non-availability of required crude oil and naphtha feedstock in the region, triggered by trade shutdowns linked to the Iran-Israel conflict, brought sec-butanol dehydrogenation and butane oxidation-route MEK production to a near standstill.
The MEK price trend in the Netherlands remained acutely elevated through April, as refinery and cracker feedstock starvation, coupled with halted import cargoes and severe logistics gridlock across the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) hub, left downstream coating, ink, and adhesive manufacturers scrambling for material at extreme premiums.
As the geopolitical situation gradually normalized through May, crude and naphtha trade flows began cautiously resuming. In June 2026, the MEK price in the Netherlands retreated sharply from its quarterly high, though it remained well above pre-quarter levels, reflecting the slow restoration of feedstock trade routes and gradually recovering refinery and dehydrogenation unit operating rates.
South Africa: MEK Export prices FOB Durban, South Africa; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in South Africa increased by an average of 40% versus Q1, driven by tight C4 and sec-butanol feedstock supply and elevated freight costs linked to the Iran-Israel geopolitical tensions affecting global crude and naphtha trade routes.
The MEK price trend in South Africa held firm through April, as constrained refinery feedstock allocation and higher import logistics costs supported prices amid consistent demand from paint, coating, and printing ink solvent applications.
As geopolitical risk eased through May, feedstock and freight conditions began to improve. In June 2026, the MEK price in South Africa softened, reflecting recovering feedstock supply and easing shipping cost pressures.
South Korea (CIF from China): MEK Import prices CIF Busan, South Korea; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) price in South Korea as an importing country surged by an average of 57% over the first quarter, as the Iran-Israel geopolitical conflict disrupted regional naphtha cracker throughput and constrained sec-butanol feedstock supply needed for dehydrogenation-route MEK production, while war-risk freight surcharges further inflated landed costs.
The MEK price trend in South Korea remained sharply elevated through April, as importers faced longer lead times, thinner cargo availability, and cautious restocking by coatings, printing ink, and adhesive solvent formulators despite the elevated cost base.
As geopolitical risk began easing through May, feedstock throughput and cargo flows started to recover. In June 2026, the MEK price in South Korea corrected from its quarterly peak, reflecting improved sec-butanol availability and moderating freight premiums.
Vietnam (CIF from China): MEK Import prices CIF Haiphong, Vietnam; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in Vietnam on CIF basis rose by an average of 56% versus Q1, driven by constrained C4 raffinate and sec-butanol feedstock supply from regional naphtha crackers and elevated freight costs linked to the Iran-Israel geopolitical tensions affecting key shipping lanes.
The MEK price trend in Vietnam held firm through April, as import scarcity and cautious restocking by coating, adhesive, and printing ink solvent manufacturers kept landed costs elevated despite steady downstream consumption.
As geopolitical risk eased through May, feedstock and cargo flows began improving. In June 2026, the MEK import in Vietnam softened, reflecting recovering sec-butanol supply and easing freight-related cost pressures.
Indonesia (CIF from China): MEK Import prices CIF Jakarta, Indonesia; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in Indonesia on CIF basis climbed by an average of 57% compared to the first quarter, driven by tight regional C4 and sec-butanol feedstock supply from naphtha crackers, aggravated by the broader disruption stemming from the Iran-Israel tensions, alongside steeply elevated tanker freight and insurance costs.
The MEK price trend in Indonesia stayed firm through April, as constrained feedstock allocation and higher shipping expenses pressured landed prices, even as demand from coatings, printing inks, and vinyl resin solvent applications held steady.
As tensions normalized through May, feedstock and freight flows began recovering. In June 2026, the MEK price in Indonesia eased, tracking improving sec-butanol availability and stabilizing logistics costs.
USA (CIF from Netherlands): MEK Import prices CIF Houston, USA; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) price in the USA as an importing country skyrocketed by an average of 135% over the first quarter, as a substantial share of import volumes sourced from the Netherlands are caught in the near-total non-availability of crude oil and naphtha feedstock across the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) hub, where regional trade shutdowns tied to the Iran-Israel geopolitical conflict brought sec-butanol dehydrogenation and butane oxidation-route MEK production to a near standstill.
The MEK price trend in the USA remained extraordinarily elevated through April, as the collapse in Dutch export cargoes, combined with limited alternative sourcing from other MEK producing hubs and steep war-risk freight surcharges, left downstream coatings, printing ink, and adhesive solvent formulators facing severe supply shortages.
As the geopolitical situation gradually normalized through May, Netherlands-origin feedstock trade routes began cautiously resuming and export availability slowly improved. In June 2026, the MEK import price in the USA retreated sharply from its quarterly high, though it remained well above pre-quarter levels, reflecting the gradual restoration of Dutch refinery and dehydrogenation unit operating rates alongside recovering transatlantic cargo flows.
Germany (CIF from Netherlands): MEK Import prices CIF Antwerp, Germany; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK import price in Germany surged by an average of 137% compared to the first quarter, as heavy reliance on Netherlands-origin supply left the German market directly exposed to the ARA hub’s crude oil and naphtha feedstock crisis, triggered by trade shutdowns amid the Iran-Israel geopolitical conflict that halted sec-butanol dehydrogenation-route MEK output at source.
The MEK price trend in Germany stayed acutely elevated through April, as the near-total non-availability of Dutch export cargoes, coupled with congested regional logistics and minimal alternative feedstock allocation, drove landed costs sharply higher for coating, printing ink, and adhesive solvent manufacturers dependent on cross-border supply.
As tensions began normalizing through May, feedstock and trade flows out of the Netherlands started a gradual recovery. In June 2026, the MEK import price in Germany corrected from its quarterly peak, though it stayed elevated versus pre-quarter levels, reflecting the slow restoration of Dutch refinery throughput and improving intra-European cargo movement.
India (CIF from China): MEK Import prices CIF Nhava Sheva, India; Grade- Industrial Grade (99% min)
In Q2 2026, the MEK price in India on import basis surged by an average of 60% compared to the first quarter, as heavy reliance on imports from key Asian suppliers left the Indian market directly exposed to crude oil and naphtha feedstock disruptions triggered by trade shutdowns amid the Iran–Israel geopolitical conflict, which curtailed sec-butanol dehydrogenation-route MEK production at source.
The MEK price trend in India stayed acutely elevated through April, as the near total non-availability of export cargoes, coupled with congested shipping logistics and minimal alternative supply availability, drove landed costs sharply higher for coating, printing ink, and adhesive solvent manufacturers dependent on imports.
As tensions began normalizing through May, feedstock availability and export trade flows from major Asian suppliers started a gradual recovery. In June 2026, the MEK price in India corrected from its quarterly peak, though it stayed elevated versus pre-quarter levels, reflecting the slow restoration of regional refinery throughput and improving cargo movement across Asian trade routes.
