U.S. exports of Ethylene Glycol (Ethanediol) (SITC 51221) totaled $167.9M in August 2026.
Importers of Ethylene Glycol (Ethanediol) paid $17K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.13% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataEthylene glycol is a high-volume petrochemical intermediate whose two dominant end uses — polyester fiber and PET resin production, and automotive antifreeze/coolant formulation — make its trade flows a reliable indicator of downstream manufacturing activity in textiles and plastics. Produced almost exclusively from ethylene oxide, it is traded in monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), and triethylene glycol (TEG) fractions, each with distinct applications and pricing. MEG is by far the most actively imported fraction, and its price is closely benchmarked against Asian petrochemical spot markets.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
232 import shipments a month
Monoethylene glycol (MEG) is the primary fraction used in PET and polyester production and antifreeze; diethylene glycol (DEG) serves as a plasticizer and humectant; triethylene glycol (TEG) is used in natural gas dehydration and as a solvent. All three fall under SITC 51221, but they are priced and contracted separately in commercial markets, and the specific fraction should be declared on import documentation.
MEG is typically shipped in bulk liquid chemical tankers or ISO tank containers and requires stainless steel or lined carbon steel equipment to prevent contamination. Moisture ingress during transfer is a quality risk, as water content affects downstream polymerization performance. Importers should specify maximum water content and color (APHA scale) in purchase contracts and verify these on the certificate of analysis at arrival.
Basic heading 24 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 51221 · $167.9M of $26.2B
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Exports · August 2026
destination
Turkey and Egypt together take 47% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$12.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$167.9MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $147.8M of Ethylene Glycol (Ethanediol) and exported $1.9B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.