Global diethanolamine (DEA) prices trended downward in July 2026 amid eased ethylene oxide feedstock costs and sufficient Asian supply, with Northeast Asia spot prices sliding to USD 0.78/kg, a 3.7% month-on-month drop. European DEA saw a steeper 12% price correction to USD 1.32/kg, while only South America posted mild price gains on steady agrochemical buying.

China remains the world’s top DEA exporter. Its 2025 DEA exports hit 183,000 tonnes, rising 8.9% year-on-year. Southeast Asia absorbs 41.2% of China’s outbound shipments, followed by South Asia (28.5%) and the Middle East (17.6%). Vietnamese and Indonesian buyers rely heavily on Chinese DEA for gas desulfurization, detergent and personal care raw materials.

Mid-2026 export momentum holds steady. New ethylene capacity expansions in China lift factory output and export availability, offsetting weak European import appetite. Downstream demand stays stable: rising natural gas processing projects in Southeast Asia and Middle East sustain bulk DEA orders, though consumer chemical demand lacks sharp growth.

Industry watchers expect limited price rebounds through August. Abundant regional inventories and soft crude oil caps cost support. Chinese suppliers prioritize long-term contract shipments to ASEAN clients to avoid spot price competition. Global DEA market size is projected to reach USD 2.44 billion in 2026, with moderate 3.81% annual growth driven by green surfactant and energy treatment demand.