2025 Chile Methanol (HS 290511) Export: Market Collapse
Key Takeaways
Methanol, classified under HS Code 290511 (Alcohols; saturated monohydric, methanol (methyl alcohol)), exhibited extreme volatility from January to September 2025.
- Market Pulse: Chile Methanol Export values collapsed 94% from their May peak ($99.88M) to just $5.33M by September, with wild unit price swings between $0.22/kg and $0.51/kg.
- Structural Shift: Brazil dominated as the top destination (48.66% of value), but heavy reliance on China (97.5% of volume) exposed trade flows to abrupt demand shifts.
- Product Logic: HS Code 290511 trade data confirms a pure commodity market, with methanol (methyl alcohol) as the sole product and no premium differentiation—price sensitivity dictates margins.
This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.
Chile Methanol (HS Code 290511) Key Metrics Trend
Market Trend Summary
The Chile Methanol Export trend from January to September 2025 opened strong but collapsed by Q3, with total value dropping 94% from its May peak to just $5.33M in September. Volatility defined the period: exports surged 143% in May to $99.88M, then crashed 83% month-on-month by September amid wild unit price swings between $0.22/kg and $0.51/kg.
Drivers & Industry Context
This volatility stems from extreme dependence on Chinese demand, where 97.5% of volume was directed [yTrade], exposing shipments to China’s industrial cycles and pricing shifts. The hs code 290511 value evaporated in Q3 as global methanol prices softened and Chinese inventory drawdowns accelerated, reversing the Q2 rally fueled by pre-summer stockpiling. No export policy changes occurred, leaving market forces dominant.
Table: Chile Methanol Export Trend (Source: yTrade)
| Date | Value | Weight | Unit Price | Value MoM | Weight MoM | Unit Price MoM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | 91.35M USD | 255.12M kg | $0.36/kg | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2025-02-01 | 21.75M USD | 76.25M kg | $0.29/kg | -76.19% | -70.11% | -20.32% |
| 2025-03-01 | 44.65M USD | 91.79M kg | $0.49/kg | +105.27% | +20.37% | +70.53% |
| 2025-04-01 | 41.22M USD | 131.80M kg | $0.31/kg | -7.69% | +43.60% | -35.72% |
| 2025-05-01 | 99.88M USD | 204.97M kg | $0.49/kg | +142.30% | +55.51% | +55.81% |
| 2025-06-01 | 11.02M USD | 41.84M kg | $0.26/kg | -88.97% | -79.59% | -45.95% |
| 2025-07-01 | 44.24M USD | 86.30M kg | $0.51/kg | +301.51% | +106.25% | +94.67% |
| 2025-08-01 | 30.65M USD | 88.17M kg | $0.35/kg | -30.72% | +2.17% | -32.19% |
| 2025-09-01 | 5.33M USD | 24.39M kg | $0.22/kg | -82.61% | -72.34% | -37.14% |
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Chile HS Code 290511 Export Breakdown
Market Composition & Top Categories
Chile's HS Code 290511 export market is entirely dominated by a single product category: methanol (methyl alcohol). According to yTrade data, this single sub-code accounted for 100% of all export volume and value from Chile in the first three quarters of 2025. The absence of any other traded sub-codes under this classification underscores a highly concentrated export profile for Chile HS Code 290511.
Value Chain & Strategic Insights
The unit price of $0.39 per kilogram confirms this is a bulk chemical trade, characteristic of a pure commodity market driven by global price benchmarks and cost efficiency. This HS Code 290511 breakdown reveals a market structure with no apparent product differentiation or premium grades, making it highly sensitive to shifts in feedstock costs and international demand. For traders, success hinges on logistics optimization and securing competitive supply contracts rather than product specialization.
Check Detailed HS Code 290511 Breakdown
Chile Methanol Destination Countries
Geographic Concentration & Market Risk
Chile's methanol export strategy from January to October 2025 shows extreme reliance on a single partner. Brazil accounts for 48.66% of all export value, making it the dominant destination and creating significant market risk from any demand shift. The next largest partners, South Korea and China Mainland, hold 27.81% and 21.50% value shares respectively, but this does not offset the concentration. This heavy focus on a few primary Chile methanol export destinations exposes the trade flow to regional economic or policy changes.
Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation
Brazil’s value share (48.66%) dramatically exceeds its weight share (24.23%), signaling a premium market paying higher prices for quality-conscious demand or specialized methanol specifications. In contrast, South Korea shows a commodity profile with its weight share (38.08%) surpassing its value share (27.81%), indicating price-sensitive bulk purchases for industrial use. The market offers clear margin potential in Brazil against volume scale in South Korea, defining the strategic split for trade partners in methanol.
Table: Chile Methanol (HS Code 290511) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)
| Country | Value | Quantity | Frequency | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRAZIL | 189.84M | 242.48M | 14.00 | 242.48M |
| SOUTH KOREA | 108.48M | 381.06M | 13.00 | 381.06M |
| CHINA MAINLAND | 83.87M | 302.53M | 11.00 | 302.53M |
| CHINA TAIWAN | 7.90M | 27.25M | 2.00 | 27.25M |
| ARGENTINA | 10.75K | 1.93K | 1.00 | 2.20K |
| PERU | ****** | ****** | ****** | ****** |
Get Chile Methanol (HS Code 290511) Complete Destination Countries Profile
Action Plan for Methanol Market Operation and Expansion
- Diversify Buyers: Target secondary markets like South Korea (27.81% value share) to reduce overexposure to Brazil and China’s volatile demand cycles.
- Lock In Contracts: Secure fixed-price agreements during price dips ($0.22/kg) to hedge against Q3-style crashes.
- Optimize Logistics: Focus on bulk shipping efficiencies—unit prices ($0.39/kg average) leave no room for transport cost overruns.
- Monitor China Closely: Track Chinese inventory drawdowns and industrial cycles to anticipate demand shocks.
- Leverage Brazil’s Premium: Push higher-margin sales to Brazil, where value share (48.66%) outpaces weight share (24.23%), signaling quality-driven demand.
Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Methanol HS Code 290511 Export Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Methanol Export in 2025?
The extreme volatility in Chile's methanol exports stems from heavy reliance on Chinese demand, which caused a 94% value drop by Q3 2025 after a May peak. Global price swings and inventory drawdowns in China amplified the market's sensitivity.
Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Chile Methanol (HS Code 290511) in 2025?
Brazil dominates with 48.66% of export value, followed by South Korea (27.81%) and China Mainland (21.50%). This trio accounts for over 97% of Chile’s methanol trade.
Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Chile Methanol Export in 2025?
Brazil pays premium prices (value share exceeds weight share), suggesting quality-conscious demand, while South Korea’s bulk commodity purchases prioritize volume over price.
Q4. What should exporters in Chile focus on in the current Methanol export market?
Exporters must mitigate Brazil’s market concentration risk while leveraging its premium pricing, and optimize logistics for cost-sensitive bulk buyers like South Korea.
Q5. What does this Chile Methanol export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?
Brazilian buyers face supply vulnerability due to Chile’s dependence on their market, while South Korean buyers benefit from stable bulk supply at competitive rates.
Q6. How is Methanol typically used in this trade flow?
Chile’s methanol exports are bulk chemical trades, primarily for industrial applications, with no product differentiation or premium grades detected.
Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JAN
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 MAR
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 MAY
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JUN
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JUL
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 AUG
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 SEP
Chile HS Code 290511 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q1
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