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Glycerin Price Trend Analysis 2026: Historical Prices, Latest News, Market Insights, Price Drivers & Supply Demand Analysis
Written ByShriya Singh
Glycerin Price Trend Q2 2026
| Product | Region | Incoterm Basis | Price | Last Updated Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glycerin | China | FOB | USD 1,437.40/MT | May 2026 |
| Glycerin | India | FOB | USD 1,504.74/MT | May 2026 |
| Glycerin | USA | FOB | USD 1,185.84/MT | May 2026 |
| Glycerin | Germany | FCA | USD 1,201.44/MT | May 2026 |
| Glycerin | Canada | FOB | USD 1,185.84/MT | May 2026 |
| Glycerin | China | FOB | USD 1,543.48/MT | April 2026 |
| Glycerin | India | FOB | USD 1,092.11/MT | April 2026 |
| Glycerin | USA | FOB | USD 924.38/MT | April 2026 |
| Glycerin | Germany | FCA | USD 1,118.72/MT | April 2026 |
| Glycerin | Canada | FOB | USD 924.38/MT | April 2026 |
Stay updated with the latest glycerin prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
- Glycerin prices softened in Q2 2026 as weak industrial buying outweighed biofuel-linked supply support, with China showing the clearest correction during May.
- Feedstock supply stayed linked to biodiesel output, but Malaysia’s high crude palm oil costs limited extra crude glycerin availability.
- Downstream demand remained selective, with refined-grade use steady in personal care and pharma, while industrial buyers avoided heavy restocking.
Asia
In China, Glycerin prices were ~RMB 10.54/kg and ~RMB 9.73/kg, respectively, in the first two months of the second quarter of 2026, showing a ~7.7% decrease. The decline was mainly driven by slower industrial buying and weaker demand from glycerin-based chemical users. Buyers avoided large-volume restocking because downstream resin and epichlorohydrin demand did not provide strong support. At the same time, Southeast Asian biodiesel trends shaped regional supply expectations. Malaysia’s biodiesel production remained constrained by high crude palm oil costs and slow progress on nationwide B20 rollout, which limited extra crude glycerin availability from Malaysian biodiesel plants. Meanwhile, Indonesia added a forward supply signal as it considered raising biodiesel blending to 50% from 40%, which could increase palm-based biodiesel output and crude glycerin generation if implemented.
Europe
European glycerin stayed broadly balanced in Q2’26. Biodiesel and bioSAF production supported crude glycerin supply, but availability did not loosen sharply because FAME-linked output remained the main route for glycerin generation. Refined glycerin demand from personal care, pharma, food, and technical applications stayed stable, but industrial buyers remained cautious. Softer pull from chemical and resin-linked applications reduced restocking interest, keeping the market steady to slightly weak rather than strongly firm.
North America
North American glycerin remained tied to biodiesel operating rates and policy-backed biofuel demand. Biodiesel capacity supported crude glycerin generation, while renewable diesel growth did not add the same co-product supply. Policy support for biomass-based diesel helped prevent sharp supply tightness, and emerging fermentation and bio-based chemical uses added demand interest. However, traditional industrial demand was still measured, keeping price movement limited.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, glycerin prices may remain soft if industrial buying stays weak. Malaysian biodiesel constraints may limit crude glycerin supply, while Indonesia’s higher blending plan could add future supply pressure.
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USDA data shows that semi-processed goods like vegetable oils made up 13% of U.S. agricultural imports in 2025, with vegetable oil imports rising to supply domestic biofuel demand. This growing demand from the biofuels sector could tighten vegetable oil supplies and support prices. Tariff policies and trade flows continue to influence import volumes.
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- The global glycerin market reflected a mixed-to-firm trend during Q1’26, as Chinese oversupply and ample biodiesel-linked availability pressured sentiment early in the quarter, while war-led freight disruption and rising replacement costs tightened the market toward March.
- Supply remained structurally ample, but Indonesian weather-linked output risks, Brazil’s strong export pull, and disruption across Middle East-linked trade routes limited spot flexibility and prevented deeper downside.
- Demand from pharmaceuticals, personal care, food, and industrial applications remained steady, though buyers largely followed need-based procurement as freight escalation, delayed arrivals, and cost inflation increased procurement caution.
Asia
Glycerin price trend in the Asian markets reflected a mixed but increasingly supported pattern during Q1’26, shaped by the tug-of-war between structural oversupply and tightening trade conditions. Early in the quarter, Chinese refining overcapacity and aggressive export spillover weighed on regional sentiment, particularly in India, where traditional Southeast Asian sourcing came under pressure from cheaper inflows. At the same time, Indonesian supply remained influenced by weather-linked disruption and tighter crude glycerin availability, even as expanding refining capacity improved long-term domestic absorption. Market sentiment shifted more firmly upward toward the end of the quarter as the Israel-Iran conflict disrupted regional shipping, increased freight and insurance costs, and tightened chemical and pharma-linked supply chains in India, making replacement cargoes costlier and deliveries less predictable.
Europe
Glycerin prices in Europe remained stable to firm during Q1’26, with the market supported less by outright scarcity and more by replacement-cost pressure and supply chain uncertainty. Although broader availability remained manageable, Europe remained exposed to shifting Asian export flows, particularly as Chinese oversupply capped import competitiveness while logistics disruptions and war-led freight escalation lifted delivered cost sentiment. Refined glycerin continued to find support from pharmaceutical, food, and personal care applications, while buyers remained selective and quality-focused amid elevated transport costs and tighter procurement discipline.
North America
Glycerin prices in North America followed a stable-to-firm trend during Q1’26, supported by consistent downstream demand and a stronger replacement-cost environment. While no major regional production disruption was reflected in the references provided, the market remained indirectly affected by global freight volatility, tighter international trade flows, and biofuel-linked feedstock sentiment. Demand from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and personal care sectors remained steady, but procurement stayed measured as buyers navigated uncertain logistics, firm refined-grade sentiment, and broader chemical market cost inflation through the quarter.
About Glycerin
Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is the simplest triol and is present in all-natural oils and fats as fatty esters. Glycerol is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, personal care goods, tobacco, urethane foams, and food and cosmetic items. Glycerol derivatives include acetals, amines, esters, and ethers.
Glycerin Product Detail
Chemical Formula
C3H8O3
Molecular Weight
92.09 g/mol
Industrial Uses
Coatings and/or defoamers, Dyes, Finishing agents, Fuels and Fuel Additives, Agricultural Chemicals
Synonyms
Propanetriol, Osmoglyn, 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane, Polyglycerine, Grocolene, Glysanin, Glyrol
Supplier Database
Wilmar International, Emery Oleochemicals, IOI Group, KLK Oleo, Croda International, Kao Corporation, Cargill Inc., Godrej Industries
Regional Coverage
Asia Pacific
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand
Europe
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece
North America
United States and Canada
Latin America
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru
Africa
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Glycerin Production Processes
- Production of Glycerin from Epichlorohydrin Method
Propylene is chlorinated in this process, and it is oxidised with hypochlorite to dichlorohydrines, which react powerfully to produce epichlorohydrin. This epichlorohydrin is then hydrolyzed to yield glycerol or glycerin.
Frequently Asked Questions
During Q1 2026, glycerine prices showed a mixed-to-firm trend across major markets. China faced early pressure from oversupply and ample biodiesel-linked crude glycerine availability, while market sentiment tightened toward March due to freight disruption and higher replacement costs. India, the USA, Germany, and Canada saw steadier procurement from food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial buyers.
The glycerine outlook for 2026 remains steady, supported by demand from personal care, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, cosmetics, tobacco humectants, alkyd resins, and industrial chemicals. Prices may remain sensitive to biodiesel production because crude glycerine is a major byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing. Refined glycerine demand is expected to stay stronger where high-purity USP and pharma-grade material is required.
The main factors affecting glycerine prices in Q1 2026 were biodiesel-linked supply and freight disruption. High crude glycerine availability from biodiesel plants pressured prices early in the quarter, especially in China. Toward March, shipping disruptions and higher replacement costs tightened availability, supporting firmer refined glycerine prices in several markets.
Major glycerine markets include China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Japan. Asia-Pacific remains important because of biodiesel, oleochemical, and palm-based feedstock supply. Key companies include Wilmar International, IOI Oleochemical, KLK OLEO, Emery Oleochemicals, P&G Chemicals, ADM, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus Company, Musim Mas, Godrej Industries, and Vance Bioenergy.
In May 2026, Cemvita successfully completed a 75,000-liter industrial-scale demonstration of its FermOil™ platform at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant using crude glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production. The process converts crude glycerin into renewable natural oils that can serve as feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other bio-based products. This development is significant for the glycerine market because it creates a potential high-value outlet for surplus crude glycerine, supporting diversification of end-use demand beyond traditional pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial applications.
Glycerine is mainly produced as a byproduct of biodiesel, fatty acid, fatty alcohol, and soap manufacturing. It can also be produced synthetically through petrochemical routes. The value chain includes vegetable oil or animal fat processing, transesterification or fat splitting, crude glycerine recovery, purification, distillation, bleaching, deodorization, packaging, and distribution to food, pharma, cosmetics, personal care, tobacco, resins, and industrial applications.
Glycerine is mainly sold as crude glycerine, technical-grade glycerine, refined glycerine, USP-grade glycerine, food-grade glycerine, and pharmaceutical-grade glycerine. Crude glycerine usually requires purification before use in higher-value applications. USP and pharmaceutical grades require stricter purity, odor, color, moisture, ash, and contaminant limits, making them suitable for medicines, cosmetics, oral care, food, and personal care formulations.
Glycerine demand is mainly driven by personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, oral care, tobacco, alkyd resins, polyether polyols, animal feed, antifreeze, textiles, paper, explosives, and industrial chemicals. It is valued as a humectant, solvent, sweetener, plasticizer, thickener, and intermediate. High-purity refined glycerine demand is strongest in pharma, food, skincare, and hygiene products.
A key policy development affecting the glycerine market in 2026 was the U.S. EPA's final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule for 2026 and 2027, announced in March 2026. The rule increased renewable fuel and biomass-based diesel obligations, supporting higher biodiesel production incentives. Since crude glycerine is generated as a byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing, changes in biodiesel output can directly affect glycerine availability, refining margins, and long-term supply conditions. As a result, the RFS framework remains an important indirect driver of glycerine market fundamentals.
Procurement Resource employs a structured methodology combining primary research, secondary market data, analytical models, and validation processes to assess glycerine prices and trends. Price evaluations incorporate supply-demand dynamics, feedstock movements, trade flows, and value chain analysis, supported by continuous market monitoring to ensure accurate and reliable insights.
About the Author
Shriya Singh
Business Insights Analyst
Helping procurement and sourcing teams navigate complex markets through data-driven research, category intelligence, and actionable insights - with a focus on identifying market trends, analyzing supply-side developments, and delivering clear intelligence that supports informed business decisions.
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