Overview
The Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) market globally is going through a phase of uncertainty, with both upstream supply conditions and downstream consumption trends playing key roles. Recent weeks have seen international crude oil prices moving upwards, leading to an increase in production costs for many refinery-based products, including MTBE. This upward pressure has encouraged some producers to adjust their offer levels to protect margins and capture gains from rising feedstock costs.

However, this price optimism has been met with caution on the demand side. The sharp rise in crude oil prices has added uncertainty across energy markets, leading downstream buyers and fuel blenders to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. The high input costs, combined with limited end-user consumption, have softened buying interest from middle and downstream sectors. As a result, overall trade activity for MTBE has remained moderate despite the recent gains in upstream values.

The MTBE continues to show regionally varied price movements driven by seasonal gasoline blending demand, regional supply availability, and export-import dynamics.

Comparison for Asia (China & Singapore) and Europe (Rotterdam) and US between July 2024 levels and the latest June 2025.

Asia – FOB China

  • July 2024 Average Price: Approx. $0.90 /kg

FOB China MTBE market witnessed a decline 22 per cent from last year. This downtrend reflects weaker gasoline blending demand within China, coupled with improved domestic MTBE production and steady inventory levels. Export competition from other Asian players has further pressured the Chinese FOB market.

Asia – FOB Singapore

  • July 2024 Average Price: Approx. $0.84 /kg
  • June 2025 Price: $0.682 /kg

Singapore MTBE prices recorded an 18.8 per cent year-on-year drop. Despite regional blending demand from Southeast Asia, higher product availability and weak export pull from Northeast Asia (including China and Korea) have softened prices. Additionally, reduced arbitrage opportunities to Western destinations have kept FOB Singapore values under pressure.

Europe – FOB Rotterdam

  • July 2024 Average Price: Approx. $0.97 /kg
  • June 2025 Price: $0.765 /kg

FOB Rotterdam MTBE prices fell by approximately 21.1 per cent compared to July 2024 levels. The European market saw a combination of factors, including higher intra-regional supply, reduced exports to Asia, and moderating gasoline blending demand post-winter stockpiling. Softer European gasoline cracks also played a role in the downward adjustment.

US – FOB US Gulf

  • July 2024 Average Price: Approx. $0.995 /kg
  • June 2025 Price: $0.731 /kg

FOB US Gulf MTBE prices saw a sharp year-on-year decline of approximately 26.5 per cent, falling from $0.995 /kg in July 2024 to $0.731 /kg in June 2025. The price downturn primarily reflects softer regional gasoline blending demand driven by lower summer driving activity and increased ethanol substitution in US gasoline pools. Additional pressure came from improved domestic MTBE supply availability and limited export opportunities, as global MTBE markets remained oversupplied. Market sentiment was further weighed down by sluggish downstream demand across Latin America and West Africa.