Methanol exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, the United States exported methanol worth $1.14 billion (3.58 million tonnes). It ranks 4th of 98 countries for exports of this product. Value rose 14% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 17% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.14B | 3.58M t |
| 2023 | $1.00B | 3.10M t |
| 2022 | $1.39B | 3.70M t |
| 2021 | $892.2M | 2.31M t |
| 2020 | $635.3M | 2.01M t |
| 2019 | $856.9M | 2.17M t |
| 2018 | $704.3M | 1.74M t |
| 2017 | $387.6M | 1.24M t |
Where the United States exports methanol to
The largest buyer markets were Netherlands (29%), South Korea (18%), Belgium (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Spain grew fastest (+314% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $326.1M | 29% |
| South Korea | $203.5M | 18% |
| Belgium | $150.2M | 13% |
| Brazil | $129.5M | 11% |
| Mexico | $48.6M | 4.3% |
| Canada | $42.5M | 3.7% |
| Japan | $38.5M | 3.4% |
| Spain | $23.4M | 2.1% |
| Germany | $22.9M | 2% |
| France | $21.6M | 1.9% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.32 per kg, close to the world average of $0.32.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Methanol imports to the United States
The United States imported $403.0 million of methanol in 2024 (1.29 million tonnes). That makes it the 9th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 193 countries. One supplier dominates: Trinidad and Tobago accounted for 50% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | $202.9M | 50% |
| Canada | $140.4M | 35% |
| Venezuela | $53.9M | 13% |
| Japan | $3.5M | 0.9% |
| Singapore | $686K | 0.2% |
| Germany | $550K | 0.1% |
| Saudi Arabia | $272K | 0.1% |
| Indonesia | $146K | 0% |
| Poland | $118K | 0% |
| South Korea | $113K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States methanol exports (HS 2905.11): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2905.11: Alcohols: saturated monohydric, methanol (methyl alcohol).
Common questions
What is the value of methanol exported by the United States?
The United States exported methanol worth $1.14 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.58 million tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 98 countries worldwide, with 9% of world exports. The value was up 14% on 2023.
Which countries buy methanol from the United States?
The Netherlands was the largest buyer with 29% of the value ($326.1 million), followed by South Korea (18%) and Belgium (13%). The top three together account for 59%, out of 103 buyer countries in total. Spain grew fastest among the top ten, up 314% on the year.
What is the average export price of methanol per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.32 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.32 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of methanol from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $387.6 million in 2017 to $1.14 billion in 2024, an increase of 195%. The peak was 2022 at $1.39 billion. Over 8 years the average was $876.4 million a year.
Does the United States also import methanol?
Yes. The United States imported $403.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and Venezuela. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $739.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for methanol?
The HS code for methanol is subheading 2905.11. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2905 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
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