What is Polyether Polyol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Polyurethane Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 390729 is 2026-07 at USD 2,546.33/ton, -3.8% against the previous month and +22.2% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 13-economy panel was 812,542 tonnes over the window, 67,712 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +24.8%.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 390729. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Key Market Impact
Customs unit values for this heading are the single most checkable price signal available without a subscription: they combine the product mix actually crossing borders, the average contract level behind those shipments and freight-relevant volume. Treat them as the trade-weighted baseline for the heading, and read the coverage note above before applying them to a single grade.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade public trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-03
Demand-side factors
- Polyether polyol demand is set by polyurethane output — flexible slabstock and moulded foam for furniture, mattresses and automotive seating, rigid foam for insulation panels and appliances, and CASE systems for coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers — so it follows construction insulation, furniture and vehicle build rates.
- Related market pages on this site: Propylene Oxide (the main alkoxylation feedstock), Ethylene Oxide (the co-monomer that sets polyol reactivity), Propylene Glycol (the starter diol for the polyol chain), 1,4-Butanediol (the chain extender used with polyether polyol in polyurethane).
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 390729 moved from USD 2,084.56/ton in 2025-08 to USD 2,546.33/ton in 2026-07 (+22.2% across the window). The window high was USD 2,725.15/ton in 2026-05 and the low USD 1,632.98/ton in 2025-11. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +24.8% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 1,741.1 million of export value on 812,542 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 67,712 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
The EU side of the same heading is one month fresher than the panel above: Eurostat Comext records EU27 imports of HS 390729 from outside the EU at USD 3,483.25/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 3,004.59/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +3.3% against 2026-07, on 27,341 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 316,768 tonnes. On the 12 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +34.8% on the export panel and -10.1% on the EU import side, so the two point in opposite directions, and the gap between them is the thing to resolve before either is used as a price reference. Import values are recorded on a CIF-type basis by a single bloc, so the level is not comparable with the export panel — the comparison above is directional.
2026-08 is deliberately not in the series: of the 13 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 10 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-03, while the heading drew 18 filers in total that month; 2026-09 drew 0 filings for this heading, 0 of them from panel members, and 2026-10 drew 0 (0 from the panel). Splicing a partly-filed month onto a fixed panel would move the unit value through composition alone, so the window stays at 2026-07 until the whole panel for 2026-08 has reported.
HS 390729 covers polyethers other than polyacetals in primary forms, so it carries the polyether polyols used in polyurethane together with polyethylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol and the other polyether grades that share the residual line; polyacetals sit in 390710, epoxide resins in 390730 and polyester polyols in 390799. The series is a polyether composite rather than a polyol-specific quote, and the polyurethane systems and foams made from the polyol are classified outside chapter 39.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 13 economies: AUS (36), BRA (76), CAN (124), CZE (203), FIN (246), GRC (300), GTM (320), MEX (484), NLD (528), POL (616), PRT (620), IND (699), SWE (752). The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 1,632.98 to USD 2,725.15/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 2,546.33/ton, -3.8% against the previous month, on 66,393 tonnes.
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
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Data Sources
Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page, the EU cross-check, the exchange rate used to express it in dollars and the HS classification reference:
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
- Eurostat Comext DS-045409, EU27 extra-EU imports, monthly: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409?format=JSON&freq=M&reporter=EU27_2020&partner=EXT_EU27_2020&flow=1&indicators=VALUE_IN_EUROS&indicators=QUANTITY_IN_100KG&product=390729&sinceTimePeriod=2025-07
- ECB euro reference rate, monthly average (EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A): https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/data/EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A?format=csvdata&startPeriod=2025-07&endPeriod=2026-10
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Polyester Polyol | Direct functional substitute for polyether polyol in polyurethane systems. Used in CASE applications (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers) and rigid foams where superior hydrolytic stability under dry conditions, higher tensile strength, and better solvent resistance are needed. Requires no reformulation of the isocyanate side; the polyol is simply swapped, though processing conditions (viscosity, reactivity) must be adjusted. Less preferred in flexible slabstock foam due to higher cost and hydrolysis susceptibility in humid environments. |
| Polycarbonate Polyol | Replaces polyether polyol in high-performance elastomers, TPU, and coatings where exceptional hydrolysis resistance, UV stability, and mechanical durability are required (e.g., automotive, medical devices). Drop-in replacement at the formulation level but at significantly higher cost; typically used only where polyether or polyester polyols cannot meet performance specs. |
| Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol (PTMEG / PTMG) | Replaces polyether polyol (specifically PPG-based diols) in high-performance spandex fibers, TPU, and elastomers where superior low-temperature flexibility, resilience, and hydrolysis resistance are needed. Used as a drop-in diol in two-component PU systems. Higher cost limits use to specialty applications. |
| Mannich Polyols (amine-initiated rigid foam polyols) | Used as a substitute or partial replacement for standard sucrose/glycerol-initiated polyether polyols in rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam insulation. Mannich polyols provide autocatalytic behavior (reducing amine catalyst loading) and improved fire performance. Substitution is straightforward within rigid foam formulations. |
| Phenolic Resins (for rigid insulation) | In rigid thermal insulation board applications, phenolic foam systems can substitute for polyurethane/polyisocyanurate rigid foam (which uses polyether polyol) where very low lambda values and superior fire performance are required (e.g., building facades). This is a system-level substitution, not a drop-in replacement; the entire chemistry changes. |
| Epoxy Resins | In structural adhesives, coatings, and composite matrices, epoxy systems can substitute for polyurethane systems based on polyether polyol where higher rigidity, chemical resistance, or adhesion to metals is prioritized. Requires complete reformulation; not a drop-in replacement. Common in aerospace, marine, and industrial flooring applications. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Propylene Oxide — the cyclic ether polymerised onto the initiator.
- Ethylene Oxide — the comonomer that adjusts polyol functionality and reactivity.
- Propylene Glycol — the starter molecule for many polyol grades.
- 1,4-Butanediol
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2006 | Pre-registration or registration for substances produced or imported at >1 tonne/year; polymers registered at the monomer level if >1 tonne/year | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32006R1907 |
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2018 (latest revision) | Polymer registration for substances produced or imported at >1 tonne/year | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32006R1907 |
| EU | REACH restriction of synthetic polymer microparticles | European Commission / ECHA | 2025 | Restriction applies to synthetic polymer microparticles; registration requirements when extracted from salt pans by December 2025 at latest | |
| US | TSCA Section 5 - Premanufacture Notice (PMN) Program | United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 1976 (as amended) | PMN submission required for new chemical substances before manufacture or import; no tonnage threshold specified for existing substances | https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/pmnsnunmcantmea-submissions |
| US | Clean Air Act (CAA) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) - Polyether Polyols Production | United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 2012 | MACT standards for hazardous air pollutants; wastewater treatment requirements under CAA | https://www.epa.gov/regulatory-information-sector/chemical-manufacturing-sector-naics-325 |
| US | HFC Phasedown Program | United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 2025 | Restrictions on higher-GWP HFCs in foams (including polyurethane foam insulation) starting January 1, 2025 | https://www.epa.gov/hfcs/frequent-questions-phasedown-hydrofluorocarbons |
| China | No specific MEE regulation identified | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | N/A | No specific emission standards or thresholds identified for polyether polyols production | https://www.mee.gov.cn/ (official site, no matching standards found in searches) |
| WTO | No specific anti-dumping or tariff measures identified | World Trade Organization (WTO) | N/A | No active anti-dumping duties or tariffs on polyether polyols identified | https://edb.wto.org/ (Environmental Database) |
| Global | UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods / IMDG Code | United Nations / International Maritime Organization (IMO) | Annual updates (latest editions) | Classification of polyether polyols under relevant hazard classes; no specific UN number or threshold for this substance | https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/DangerousGoods/Pages/Default.aspx |
| Global | GHS Classification (Globally Harmonized System) | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) | 2019 (as updated) | Polyether polyols typically classified as non-hazardous (Category 5 flammability or lower); no specific thresholds | https://unece.org/transport/dangerous-goods/ghs-revision |
Key Influence Events
Polyether polyol is a class of oligomeric or polymeric compounds characterized by a polyether backbone (repeating ether linkages, –C–O–C–) and multiple terminal hydroxyl (–OH) groups. They are produced primarily by the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethers—most commonly propylene oxide (PO) and/or ethylene oxide (EO)—onto a low-molecular-weight initiator (starter) molecule such as glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, or propylene glycol, using an alkaline (KOH) or double-metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst. The resulting polyols range from low-viscosity liquids to waxy solids depending on molecular weight, functionality, and EO/PO ratio. They are the principal reactive component in polyurethane systems, reacting with isocyanates to form flexible foams, rigid foams, elastomers, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Key commercial parameters include hydroxyl number (OH number), molecular weight, functionality, viscosity, and water content.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Polyether Polyol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Polyurethane Demand
Polyether polyol is a class of oligomeric or polymeric compounds characterized by a polyether backbone (repeating ether linkages, –C–O–C–) and multiple terminal hydroxyl (–OH) groups. They are produced primarily by the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethers—most commonly propylene oxide (PO) and/or ethylene oxide (EO)—onto a low-molecular-weight initiator (starter) molecule such as glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, or propylene glycol, using an alkaline (KOH) or double-metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst. The resulting polyols range from low-viscosity liquids to waxy solids depending on molecular weight, functionality, and EO/PO ratio. They are the principal reactive component in polyurethane systems, reacting with isocyanates to form flexible foams, rigid foams, elastomers, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Key commercial parameters include hydroxyl number (OH number), molecular weight, functionality, viscosity, and water content.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Representative Grade / Application |
|---|
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton; they are not subscription price assessments. Numeric assay rows were removed because no public product-grade source is cited for them - confirm grade-level specifications with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with the HS classification reference.
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=390729&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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