During the first half of March 2025, there was a noticeable rise in methanol pricing in various European countries, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands. This price increase was mainly attributed to a combination of constraints on supply, transportation issues, and the increased prices for feedstock natural gas, which also raised production costs. Demand from industry, especially from the pharmaceutical and coatings industries, was described as average, creating a difficult environment.

The price of methanol in France market faced upward pressure resulting from multiple logistical issues. Strikes impacted ports all around the country with vessel scheduling delays and ships already backed up at the terminals. French manufacturers scaled back production volumes in February due to a decline in new orders. Demand from key industries, such as Acetic acid and Formaldehyde, remained subdued. Supply issues related to global supply and low inventory levels left France vulnerable to higher pricing. Demand from downstream sectors such as coating and pharmaceuticals was lower than expected, with incoming new orders still low. Worsening the situation, feedstock natural gas prices were rising, impacting methanol manufacturing prices.

In Germany, the methanol market showed a similar trend, with prices inclining during the first half of March. Port congestion and other supply chain issues continued to keep pressure on the prices of methanol in Germany, too. At the CTA terminal, a full berthing line and 65%-yard utilization led to logistical bottlenecks due to the backlog. Additionally, a 36-hour strike impacting vessels resulted in further delays. At the CTB terminal, ongoing automation work compounded delays due to full capacity. Manufacturing activity improved slightly against the previous month, but pressure on the overall market remained due to lower new order intakes in pharmaceuticals and coatings sectors. Supply disruptions and feedstock cost increases drove methanol prices higher in Germany.

In the Netherlands, like in other markets, methanol prices started to climb due to similar supply chain concerns (port congestion, labor shortages in conjunction with a spike in natural gas prices). The ECT Rotterdam part of the terminal was dealing with yard congestion and labor shortages to get barges and feeder vessels on schedule. Meanwhile, a strike at Hutchinson Port Delta II disrupted productivity again and delayed vessel schedules and some supply. At the RWG terminal, a full business of berthing and yard congestion meant that operating inefficiencies also added delays into the system. Demand from the coatings and pharmaceuticals sectors remained lukewarm despite a small rise in new orders, and this pressure along with the cost pressure of production, added to the price increase for methanol in the Netherlands.

According to ChemAnalyst, the prices of Methanol are expected to increase in future due to the supply chain disruptions unless they are resolved as soon as possible.