Polyether Polyol Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Germany paid the most for polyether polyol in Q2 2026: USD 2,060/MT, up 3.3% from USD 1,995 in Q1. Polyether polyol is produced by ring-opening propylene oxide and ethylene oxide onto a glycerol or sorbitol starter molecule, yielding the polyol half of polyurethane's two-component chemistry, the other being an isocyanate such as MDI or TDI. Flexible-foam grade, rigid-foam grade, and CASE grade, for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers, each require a different molecular structure and command a different price.

Flexible foam for furniture cushioning and bedding remains the largest single end use by volume, while rigid foam for building insulation has grown into a substantial secondary market as energy-efficiency building codes have tightened across multiple regions. Because propylene oxide and ethylene oxide are themselves actively traded petrochemical commodities, polyether polyol pricing tracks that upstream feedstock chain closely, with construction and furniture industry demand setting the pace on the consumption side.

Germany hosts a concentrated cluster of polyurethane chemical manufacturing tied to its automotive and construction industries, giving it a persistently higher price than the more broadly distributed US and Chinese production base. Propylene oxide capacity additions, particularly newer HPPO (hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide) process plants in China, have gradually reshaped the competitive cost landscape for polyol production over the past several years.

A buyer choosing between China and Germany in Q2 2026 faced a price gap of roughly 27%, the widest split among the regions in this report. Local production economics and import exposure explain most of that difference.

Polyether Polyol Price Forecast for 2026

Expect steady gains across all four markets through H2 2026 as construction and furniture manufacturing demand continues its gradual recovery. China should retain its cost advantage given its scale of production capacity, including newer HPPO-route propylene oxide plants. Germany's premium should persist given its concentrated automotive and construction-linked polyurethane manufacturing base. Building insulation demand tied to energy-efficiency codes should keep providing structural support to rigid-foam grade specifically, somewhat independent of the broader furniture-driven flexible foam cycle.

H1 2026 closed with the 4 tracked markets averaging a 3.7% increase move quarter on quarter. That trajectory should hold into H2 unless one of the cost or demand drivers above shifts materially.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Polyether Polyol Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 1,625/MT
• United States: USD 1,945/MT
• Germany: USD 2,060/MT
• India: USD 1,745/MT

Polyether Polyol Prices in China

China's price gained 4.0% to USD 1,625/MT, ample production capacity met firming feedstock costs, placing it the most affordable across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q2 2026 in China?

Ample production capacity met firming feedstock costs, supporting a steady increase, leaving China running roughly 11.9% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is faster than the 1.9% average quarterly move China has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Polyether Polyol Prices in United States

In Q2 2026, United States priced at USD 1,945/MT, up 3.5% from USD 1,880/MT the previous quarter, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Firm construction sector demand kept US pricing climbing in step with the broader feedstock trend, with United States now sitting about 5.5% above the 4-region average this quarter.

United States has averaged 1.8% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in faster than that longer-run pace.

Polyether Polyol Prices in Germany

Germany reached USD 2,060/MT in Q2 2026, strong automotive and construction-linked polyurethane demand from the region's established manufacturing base kept Germany at the top of this group, making it the priciest of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Strong automotive and construction-linked polyurethane demand from the region's established manufacturing base kept Germany at the top of this group, which puts Germany roughly 11.7% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 1.7% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Germany's move this quarter landed faster than that trend.

Polyether Polyol Prices in India

India rose 4.0% to USD 1,745/MT in Q2 2026, growing domestic furniture and construction demand supported a firm quarter, ranking it the 3rd most expensive among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q2 2026 in India?

Growing domestic furniture and construction demand supported a firm quarter, working out to India trading about 5.4% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against India's own average pace of 1.9% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in faster than that pace.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Polyether Polyol Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 1,562/MT
• United States: USD 1,880/MT
• Germany: USD 1,995/MT
• India: USD 1,678/MT

Polyether Polyol Prices in China

China's price gained 1.4% to USD 1,562/MT, feedstock costs firmed modestly as the year opened, placing it the most affordable across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q1 2026 in China?

Feedstock costs firmed modestly as the year opened, carrying through to a steady early-year increase, leaving China running roughly 12.2% below the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is slower than the 1.9% average quarterly move China has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Polyether Polyol Prices in United States

In Q1 2026, United States priced at USD 1,880/MT, up 1.4% from USD 1,854/MT the previous quarter, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q1 2026 in United States?

Early-year construction sector restocking supported a firm start to 2026, with United States now sitting about 5.7% above the 4-region average this quarter.

United States has averaged 1.8% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in slower than that longer-run pace.

Polyether Polyol Prices in Germany

Germany reached USD 1,995/MT in Q1 2026, consistent demand from the region's established polyurethane industry carried prices higher, making it the priciest of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

Consistent demand from the region's established polyurethane industry carried prices higher, which puts Germany roughly 12.2% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 1.7% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Germany's move this quarter landed slower than that trend.

Polyether Polyol Prices in India

India rose 1.4% to USD 1,678/MT in Q1 2026, growing domestic demand supported a steady early-year gain, ranking it the 3rd most expensive among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Polyether Polyol change in Q1 2026 in India?

Growing domestic demand supported a steady early-year gain, working out to India trading about 5.7% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against India's own average pace of 1.9% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in slower than that pace.

Quarterly Polyether Polyol Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 1,685/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,844 by Q2 2026, a gain of 9.4% over six quarters.

What was Polyether Polyol Price in 2025?

2025 was a steadily firming year for polyether polyol. Starting near USD 1,685/MT in Q1, the global average finished the year at USD 1,755, a 4.1% increase across the four quarters.

Polyether Polyol Prices in China in 2025

China prices moved from about USD 1,480/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,541 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%, leaving China in 4 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Polyether Polyol Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices moved from about USD 1,780/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,854 by Q4, up roughly 4.2%. That left United States ranked 2 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

Polyether Polyol Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany prices moved from about USD 1,890/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,968 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%, placing Germany 1 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

Polyether Polyol Prices in India in 2025

India prices moved from about USD 1,590/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,656 by Q4, up roughly 4.1%. India closed the year ranked 3 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Polyether Polyol Price Intelligence

Rather than reporting a single number in isolation, we follow polyether polyol pricing back to its roots: propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, and glycerol/sorbitol initiator costs, regional supply and demand balance, and the policy shifts that move both. That research gets updated on an ongoing basis across every region we cover.

Forecasts draw on production capacity data, feedstock cost trends, and demand signals from the regions we track, giving procurement and sourcing teams a grounded basis for budgeting and supplier negotiations rather than a single static number.

For a deeper regional cut, historical data beyond the six quarters covered here, or a sourcing analysis tailored to your own procurement footprint, get in touch with our analyst team directly.

We track flexible-foam, rigid-foam, and CASE grade pricing separately where data allows, since each serves a genuinely different end market with its own demand cycle.