The global Propylene Glycol Prices landscape in September 2026 showed a predominantly firm regional trend, with four of the assessed markets recording upward movements while Northeast Asia remained unchanged. North America registered the highest price at 2.15 USD/KG, followed by the Middle East at 1.91 USD/KG and Europe at 1.81 USD/KG. Southeast Asia stood at 1.65 USD/KG, while Northeast Asia recorded the lowest price at 1.28 USD/KG. The regional price differences reflect variations in feedstock economics, supply availability, logistics, import exposure, and downstream procurement intensity. The IMARC Price Index indicates a generally strengthening pricing environment across major markets, with the exception of the stable Northeast Asian market.

Propylene glycol demand remains closely linked to pharmaceutical formulations, food processing, personal care, cosmetics, industrial solvents, coolants, antifreeze, and other chemical applications. Procurement strategies during the period were influenced by changing feedstock costs, availability of spot material, inventory positions, and regional logistics. Markets with stronger cost pressure and tighter supply conditions recorded more pronounced increases, while Northeast Asia maintained a comparatively balanced environment.

Regional Propylene Glycol Prices Outlook – September 2026: Where Are Prices Highest?

Northeast Asia: 1.28 USD/KG (Unchanged)

Europe: 1.81 USD/KG (19.1% ↑ Up)

Middle East: 1.91 USD/KG (16.5% ↑ Up)

Southeast Asia: 1.65 USD/KG (5.8% ↑ Up)

North America: 2.15 USD/KG (11.4% ↑ Up)

North America recorded the highest propylene glycol price among the assessed regions, indicating comparatively strong pricing support from production costs, downstream consumption, and regional supply conditions. The Middle East and Europe also maintained elevated price levels, reflecting stronger cost pass-through and procurement requirements.

Northeast Asia recorded the lowest price and remained unchanged, suggesting a comparatively balanced relationship between availability and consumption. The spread between North America and Northeast Asia highlights the influence of regional feedstock economics, freight exposure, import requirements, production structures, and downstream market conditions.

Regional Price Analysis of Propylene Glycol Prices – September 2026

Northeast Asia

Propylene glycol prices in Northeast Asia stood at 1.28 USD/KG and remained unchanged during September 2026. The stable pricing environment indicates a relatively balanced supply-demand situation, with available material broadly aligned with downstream requirements. Demand from pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, and industrial applications continued to support procurement, although buyers maintained disciplined purchasing strategies. Adequate availability and comparatively controlled procurement urgency limited significant upward pricing pressure.

Europe

Europe recorded propylene glycol prices of 1.81 USD/KG, representing a 19.1% increase. The sharp upward movement reflected stronger cost pressure through the supply chain, combined with firm procurement requirements across pharmaceutical, personal care, cosmetics, food processing, and industrial applications. Buyers faced a firmer pricing environment and were more focused on securing required volumes rather than building excessive inventories. Feedstock costs, production economics, import availability, and logistics contributed to the upward regional trend.

Middle East

Propylene glycol prices in the Middle East reached 1.91 USD/KG, increasing 16.5%. The increase reflected stronger pricing pressure amid changing feedstock economics, regional supply conditions, and logistics considerations. Demand from pharmaceutical, personal care, coatings, industrial solvent, and chemical-processing applications supported purchasing activity. Buyers remained attentive to replacement costs and supply availability, encouraging suppliers to maintain firmer offers across the market.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian propylene glycol prices reached 1.65 USD/KG, rising 5.8%. The moderate increase reflected a combination of stable downstream consumption and higher cost pressure within the regional supply chain. Pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food processing, and industrial users continued to generate regular procurement requirements. Buyers generally maintained requirement-based purchasing, while import economics, freight conditions, and upstream feedstock movements influenced seller pricing.

North America

North America recorded the highest regional price at 2.15 USD/KG, with an 11.4% increase. The firm movement reflected supportive pricing conditions across the supply chain, reinforced by demand from pharmaceutical, food-grade, personal care, automotive, industrial coolant, antifreeze, and chemical applications. Procurement managers remained focused on securing reliable supply as replacement costs strengthened. Production economics, feedstock availability, inventories, and logistics collectively contributed to the regional increase.

Supply and Demand Overview – September 2026

Supply conditions for propylene glycol during September were shaped by feedstock availability, operating rates at production facilities, inventory positions, import flows, and transportation conditions. Since propylene glycol production is closely associated with propylene oxide economics, changes in upstream cost structures can influence producer pricing and commercial negotiations. Regional differences in production capacity and import dependence further contributed to variations across markets.

Pharmaceuticals: High demand

Food Processing: High demand

Personal Care and Cosmetics: High demand

Automotive and Coolants: Moderate to high demand

Industrial Solvents and Chemicals: Moderate demand

Coatings and Resins: Moderate demand

Overall, the market displayed a firm supply-demand balance, with stronger pricing pressure evident across most assessed regions. Northeast Asia was the exception, where unchanged pricing indicated comparatively stable market equilibrium. In the higher-priced markets, procurement requirements and replacement-cost considerations provided greater support to seller offers.

Key Factors Affecting Prices – Monthly Perspective

Raw Material Availability: Propylene oxide availability and associated feedstock economics remain important determinants of propylene glycol production costs. Changes in upstream availability can quickly influence producer pricing expectations.

Downstream Demand: Pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, personal care, automotive, and industrial applications provide a broad demand base. Consistent consumption from these sectors supports procurement activity and can strengthen prices when supply availability becomes tighter.

Logistics: Freight availability, transportation costs, import requirements, and regional distribution conditions influence delivered propylene glycol economics. Markets with greater logistics exposure can experience stronger price sensitivity.

Energy Costs: Energy requirements across chemical production and processing influence operating costs. Changes in energy economics can affect producer margins and the pricing levels required to maintain commercial viability.

Trade Dynamics: Import and export flows influence regional availability and competitive positioning. Changes in trade activity can alter the balance between locally produced and imported material, affecting procurement negotiations.

Recent Developments (September 2026 Highlights)

Producers and distributors continued to adjust commercial offers in response to changing feedstock economics and regional replacement costs.

Procurement activity remained closely linked to pharmaceutical, food, personal care, cosmetics, and industrial consumption requirements.

Regional logistics and import availability continued to influence delivered costs, particularly in markets with greater dependence on cross-border supply.

Buyers increasingly emphasized inventory management and requirement-based purchasing as regional price movements diverged.

The September market environment demonstrated that propylene glycol pricing remained highly dependent on the interaction between upstream costs, regional availability, downstream consumption, and procurement timing. The divergence between stable and rising regional markets reinforces the importance of monitoring localized pricing conditions rather than relying solely on a global benchmark.

For detailed insights, charts, and forecasts, explore: https://www.imarcgroup.com/propylene-glycol-pricing-report/requestsample

Propylene Glycol Price Chart Analysis – Monthly Movement

The September price chart highlights a broad upward regional trend, with North America maintaining the highest assessed price and Northeast Asia remaining comparatively stable. The chart is particularly useful for identifying differences in regional momentum and assessing where procurement costs are experiencing the greatest pressure.

Early September: Regional markets entered the period with differing supply-demand conditions, creating a wide pricing range between Northeast Asia and North America. Procurement decisions remained focused on prevailing availability and replacement requirements.

Mid-September: Upward pricing pressure became more evident across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America, while Northeast Asia maintained a stable position. Buyers increasingly evaluated purchase timing against changing supplier offers.

Late September: The regional pricing picture remained firm, with North America at 2.15 USD/KG and Northeast Asia at 1.28 USD/KG. Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia also maintained elevated positions following their respective increases.

For procurement managers, the price chart provides a practical visual framework for identifying regional divergence, evaluating purchasing pressure, and comparing current market positioning. It can support contract negotiations, inventory planning, supplier discussions, and budgeting decisions.

Propylene Glycol Price Index & Historical Analysis

The September 2026 Propylene Glycol Price Index reflected a predominantly upward market direction, supported by stronger prices across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America. Northeast Asia remained unchanged, providing a counterpoint to the broader regional strengthening. The current index environment therefore reflects a market where local supply conditions and cost structures are playing an important role in determining price direction.

Historically, propylene glycol prices can experience cyclical movements as upstream feedstock economics, manufacturing activity, inventory levels, and downstream production schedules change. Periods of stronger industrial utilization can increase procurement requirements, while comfortable inventories and weaker manufacturing activity can reduce buying urgency.

Raw Material Availability: Changes in propylene oxide and related feedstock availability can influence producer cost structures and pricing decisions.

Production and Processing Capacity: Plant operating rates, maintenance schedules, capacity utilization, and regional production availability can affect the balance between supply and demand.

Downstream Manufacturing Cycles: Pharmaceutical, food, personal care, automotive, coatings, and chemical manufacturing cycles can alter procurement intensity and influence regional pricing momentum.

The September divergence demonstrates that propylene glycol pricing should be evaluated through a regional lens. Procurement teams can gain greater visibility by tracking price direction alongside supply availability, downstream consumption, inventory behavior, and logistics conditions.

What Is Propylene Glycol?

Propylene glycol is a synthetic organic compound and a versatile diol used across numerous industrial and consumer-oriented manufacturing applications. It is produced primarily through the hydration of propylene oxide and is valued for its solvent properties, low volatility, hygroscopic characteristics, and compatibility with water and various organic compounds.

The material is widely used because it combines functional performance with broad formulation compatibility. Its commercial importance extends across several industries where controlled moisture retention, heat transfer, solvency, or formulation stability is required.

Pharmaceuticals: Used as a solvent and carrier in pharmaceutical formulations.

Food Processing: Applied as a humectant, solvent, and formulation ingredient.

Cosmetics and Personal Care: Used in creams, lotions, fragrances, and other formulations.

Automotive and Industrial Applications: Utilized in coolants, antifreeze formulations, and heat-transfer applications.

Chemicals and Coatings: Serves as a solvent and intermediate across selected chemical and coating formulations.

Its diverse application base makes propylene glycol an important industrial chemical with demand conditions linked to multiple downstream manufacturing sectors. This broad consumption structure can provide market resilience while also creating regional differences in procurement intensity.

Propylene Glycol Price Forecast – Next 12 Months

The propylene glycol price outlook for the next 12 months is expected to remain firm-to-stable, with regional volatility possible depending on feedstock availability, downstream demand, production conditions, and logistics. Markets with tighter availability or higher import and transportation exposure may experience greater price sensitivity than regions with balanced local supply.

Key growth drivers include :

Stable pharmaceutical and healthcare-related consumption supporting recurring procurement requirements.

Continued use in food processing and formulation applications.

Demand from cosmetics and personal care manufacturing.

Consumption across automotive coolant and antifreeze applications.

Potential changes in upstream feedstock costs that could strengthen producer pricing.

Potential risks include :

Weaker industrial and manufacturing activity reducing downstream procurement.

Improved material availability creating greater competition among suppliers.

Higher inventories limiting urgency among buyers.

Changes in logistics conditions affecting regional delivered costs.

Lower feedstock costs reducing production-cost pressure and limiting price increases.

Overall, the market outlook points toward a firm-to-stable pricing environment, although regional performance is likely to remain uneven. Procurement teams should closely monitor upstream feedstock economics, supplier availability, inventory levels, downstream production schedules, and trade conditions when planning purchases over the coming year.

FAQs About Propylene Glycol Prices Insights & Market Analysis

What does the Propylene Glycol Price Index indicate in September 2026?

The September 2026 Propylene Glycol Price Index indicates a predominantly firm regional market. Prices increased across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America, while Northeast Asia remained unchanged.

How does the Propylene Glycol Price Chart help procurement managers?

The price chart helps procurement managers compare regional pricing direction, identify markets experiencing stronger cost pressure, assess purchasing timing, and support supplier negotiations and inventory planning.

What is the propylene glycol price forecast for the next 12 months?

The outlook is expected to remain firm-to-stable, with future price direction dependent on feedstock availability, downstream demand, production conditions, inventories, trade flows, and logistics.

How IMARC Pricing Database Can Help

The latest IMARC Group study, "Propylene Glycol Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data 2026 Edition," provides a detailed analysis of propylene glycol price trends and global market dynamics. The report covers price movements, regional developments, demand patterns, supply conditions, and the factors influencing current and future prices.

The analysis examines the relationship between raw material costs, production conditions, downstream demand, logistics, trade flows, and regional market developments. By exploring the interaction between supply and demand, the pricing analysis provides businesses with useful insights into current market conditions and future pricing dynamics.

Explore pricing intelligence across 500+ commodities: https://www.imarcgroup.com/pricing-intelligence

About Us:

IMARC Group is a global management consulting firm that provides a comprehensive suite of services to support market entry and expansion efforts. The company offers detailed market assessments, feasibility studies, regulatory approvals and licensing support, and pricing analysis, including spot pricing and regional price trends. Its expertise spans demand-supply analysis alongside regional insights covering Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. IMARC also specializes in competitive landscape evaluations, profiling key market players, and conducting research into market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. IMARC's data-driven approach helps businesses navigate complex markets with precision and confidence.

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