Last Updated
2026-06-17
Key takeaways for search and sourcing teams
- Propylene glycol market coverage spans 40 countries.
- 136 exporter companies and 114 importer companies are indexed in the global supply chain intelligence network for this product.
- 418 supplier-linked transactions are summarized across the top 20 countries.
- 0 premium suppliers and 0 catalog items are currently listed.
- Wholesale sample entries: 0; farmgate sample entries: 0.
- Page data last updated on 2026-06-17.
Global Supplier Transactions, Export Activity, and Price Benchmarks for Propylene glycol
Analyze 418 supplier-linked transactions across the top 20 countries, with monthly unit-price benchmarks to track export competitiveness and sourcing risk for Propylene glycol.
Propylene glycol Country YoY Change in Supplier Transactions and Export Momentum
Compare positive and negative YoY shifts in Propylene glycol to identify accelerating supplier markets and weakening export corridors.
Top YoY shifts for Propylene glycol: Turkiye (+238.0%), Mexico (+99.3%), Belgium (+91.8%).
Propylene glycol Country-Level Supplier Transaction and Unit Price Summary
As of 2025-07, benchmark Propylene glycol country transaction counts with monthly unit price and volume to prioritize supplier and export markets.
In 2025-12, countries with visible Propylene glycol transaction unit prices: Germany (95.08 USD / kg), South Korea (10.30 USD / kg), Vietnam (8.59 USD / kg), Singapore (7.14 USD / kg), Brazil (5.34 USD / kg), 6 more countries.
| Country | YoY Change | Transaction Count | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 | 2026-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | +91.8% | 6 | - (-) | 1.81 USD / kg (9,618 kg) | 1.57 USD / kg (33,207.601 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Netherlands | - | 5 | 1.42 USD / kg (19,880 kg) | - (-) | 5.54 USD / kg (20,750 kg) | - (-) | 7.08 USD / kg (25,005 kg) | - (-) | ||||||
| Spain | -73.3% | 4 | 4.09 USD / kg (7 kg) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | - (-) | ||||||
| Malaysia | -2.8% | 99 | 1.50 USD / kg (182,700 kg) | 1.46 USD / kg (159,600 kg) | 1.48 USD / kg (402,360 kg) | 1.55 USD / kg (83,690 kg) | 1.47 USD / kg (243,600 kg) | 1.47 USD / kg (531,720 kg) | ||||||
| Vietnam | +23.9% | 71 | 2.43 USD / kg (4,802.35 kg) | 2.93 USD / kg (9,325 kg) | 5.79 USD / kg (7,528 kg) | 8.25 USD / kg (2,258 kg) | 4.70 USD / kg (3,900 kg) | 8.59 USD / kg (31,281.6 kg) | ||||||
| China | +37.4% | 45 | - (-) | 34.49 USD / kg (195.26 kg) | 2.54 USD / kg (57,700 kg) | 1.18 USD / kg (87,600 kg) | 1.35 USD / kg (52,718 kg) | 1.36 USD / kg (278,200 kg) | ||||||
| Thailand | -3.8% | 41 | 1.76 USD / kg (67,200 kg) | 1.73 USD / kg (134,400 kg) | 1.72 USD / kg (168,430 kg) | 1.71 USD / kg (67,200 kg) | 1.71 USD / kg (67,200 kg) | 1.75 USD / kg (201,600 kg) | ||||||
| Singapore | +19.1% | 29 | 48.30 USD / kg (1,700 kg) | - (-) | 7.14 USD / kg (846 kg) | 7.14 USD / kg (288 kg) | - (-) | 7.14 USD / kg (1,521.2 kg) | ||||||
| Germany | - | 20 | 16.41 USD / kg (7,270.66 kg) | 2.98 USD / kg (17,045.68 kg) | 16.49 USD / kg (104 kg) | 17.75 USD / kg (894.88 kg) | 44.00 USD / kg (515 kg) | 95.08 USD / kg (5 kg) | ||||||
| Mexico | +99.3% | 7 | - (-) | 3.23 USD / kg (1,226.79 kg) | - (-) | 3.00 USD / kg (1,000 kg) | - (-) | - (-) |
Propylene glycol Global Supply Chain Coverage
250 companies
136 exporters and 114 importers are mapped for Propylene glycol.
Exporters and importers can use Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to identify counterparties for Propylene glycol, benchmark reach, and prioritize outreach by market.
Propylene glycol Export Supplier Intelligence, Trade Flows, and Price Signals
136 exporter companies are mapped in Tridge Supply Chain Intelligence for Propylene glycol. Exporters and importers can use company profiles and analytics to evaluate supplier coverage, trading activity, and route opportunities.
Propylene glycol Top Exporters and Supplier Profiles
Review leading exporter profiles while benchmarking against 136 total exporter companies in the Propylene glycol supply chain intelligence network. Exporters and importers can unlock company profiles and analytics to qualify partners faster.
(Vietnam)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-12-30
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Food PackagingOthers
Value Chain Roles: Food ManufacturingOthers
(Poland)
Latest Export Transaction: 2025-07-16
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Brokers And Trade AgenciesFood ManufacturingFood Packaging
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / WholesaleFood ManufacturingTrade
(China)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-17
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
(India)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-17
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
(France)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-17
Recently Export Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Distribution / Wholesale
(China)
Latest Export Transaction: 2026-05-17
Employee Size: 1 - 10 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: Trade
Propylene glycol Global Exporter Coverage
136 companies
Exporter company count is a key signal for Propylene glycol supply depth and sourcing optionality.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics to narrow Propylene glycol opportunities by country, product, and value-chain role, then open company profiles to validate fit.
Propylene glycol Import Buyer Intelligence, Demand Signals, and Price Benchmarks
114 importer companies are mapped for Propylene glycol demand intelligence. Use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to prioritize buyers, distributors, and downstream demand partners by market.
Propylene glycol Top Buyers, Importers, and Demand Partners
Review leading buyer profiles and compare them against 114 total importer companies tracked for Propylene glycol. Exporters and importers can use Supply Chain Intelligence company profiles and analytics to evaluate buyer quality and demand concentration.
(United States)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-09-09
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: Over 1000 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD Over 1B
Industries: Beverage ManufacturingFreight Forwarding And IntermodalLand Transport
Value Chain Roles: -
(Vietnam)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-11-05
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Pakistan)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-17
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 11 - 50 Employees
Sales Revenue: USD 5M - 10M
Industries: Air TransportBrokers And Trade AgenciesFood ManufacturingFood WholesalersShipping And Water Transport
Value Chain Roles: -
(Mexico)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-12-02
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Mexico)
Latest Import Transaction: 2025-08-08
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Employee Size: 101 - 500 Employees
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
(Pakistan)
Latest Import Transaction: 2026-05-17
Recently Import Partner Companies: 1
Industries: Others
Value Chain Roles: -
Global Importer Coverage
114 companies
Importer company count highlights the current depth of demand-side visibility for Propylene glycol.
Use Supply Chain Intelligence analytics and company profiles to identify active Propylene glycol buyers, compare partner density by country, and refine GTM priorities.
Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormLiquid
Industry PositionFood Additive / Food Ingredient (Carrier / Humectant)
Market
Propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol; INS/E-number 1520) is a globally traded multifunctional food additive used mainly as a carrier/solvent and humectant, with demand linked to processed foods, flavor systems, and additive preparations. In trade statistics it is commonly tracked under HS 2905.32 (HS6: 290532), with significant export capacity evident in Germany, China, the United States, South Korea, and Thailand, and major import demand in India and several large European markets. Market dynamics are shaped by petrochemical feedstock and intermediate availability, plus strict grade and purity expectations for food and especially pharma-linked supply chains. A critical global risk is quality fraud/contamination events (notably ethylene glycol/diethylene glycol contamination and falsified certificates), which has driven tighter incoming-lot testing and supplier qualification requirements.
Market GrowthMixed (recent years (annual trade-statistics view))trade values and unit values can shift materially year-to-year, reflecting petrochemical cycles and regulatory-driven quality requirements
Major Producing Countries
- GermanyMajor exporter of HS 290532 in recent UN Comtrade/WITS reporting, indicating significant production and/or re-export capacity.
- ChinaMajor exporter of HS 290532 in recent UN Comtrade/WITS reporting.
- United StatesMajor exporter of HS 290532 in recent UN Comtrade/WITS reporting.
- South KoreaMajor exporter of HS 290532 in recent UN Comtrade/WITS reporting.
- ThailandMajor exporter of HS 290532 in recent UN Comtrade/WITS reporting.
Major Exporting Countries
- GermanyTop-tier exporter by reported trade value for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- ChinaTop-tier exporter by reported trade value/quantity for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- United StatesTop-tier exporter by reported trade value for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- South KoreaTop-tier exporter by reported trade value/quantity for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- ThailandTop-tier exporter by reported trade value/quantity for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
Major Importing Countries
- IndiaTop-tier importer by reported trade value for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- FranceTop-tier importer by reported trade value for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- ChinaSignificant importer by reported trade value/quantity for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- ItalyTop-tier importer by reported trade value for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
- TurkiyeTop-tier importer by reported trade value/quantity for HS 290532 (recent UN Comtrade/WITS year views).
Specification
Physical Attributes
- Clear, colorless, hygroscopic liquid used as a carrier/solvent and humectant in food additive and flavor preparations
- Identified as propane-1,2-diol / 1,2-propanediol (CAS 57-55-6)
Compositional Metrics
- USP-NF monograph: assay/purity expectation of not less than 99.5% propylene glycol (C3H8O2)
- Pharmacopeial risk focus includes limits/testing for ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) as critical contaminants
Grades
- Food grade (commonly aligned to Food Chemicals Codex expectations in regulatory references)
- Pharmaceutical/excipient grade (USP/EP labeling is used in market trade; buyers typically require pharmacopeial compliance where pharma-linked supply chains are involved)
- Industrial grade (generally not acceptable for food additive applications without food-grade specification and controls)
Packaging
- Bulk liquid shipments (tank truck/ISO tank) for large industrial users and blenders
- Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and drums for distributors and mid-scale manufacturers
- Smaller pack sizes for laboratory and specialty use
ProcessingCodex GSFA lists propylene glycol (INS 1520) functional classes including carrier, humectant, emulsifier, and glazing agent, with category-specific maximum levels depending on the food category and use context (direct use vs carry-over).
Supply Chain
Value Chain
- Petrochemical feedstocks/intermediates → chemical synthesis and purification → grade qualification (food/pharma specs) → bulk storage and transport → regional distributors/repackers → food additive/flavor formulators and food manufacturers
- Incoming-lot verification (identity, purity, EG/DEG screening where required) → controlled storage to limit water uptake/contamination → use as carrier/solvent/humectant within permitted applications and limits
Demand Drivers
- Use as a carrier/solvent for flavors, colors, and certain additive preparations, supporting formulation uniformity and dosing
- Use as a humectant in selected processed food categories permitted by regulations/standards
- Compliance-driven purchasing behavior favoring verified food/pharmacopeial grades and robust certificates of analysis
Temperature
- Typically handled and shipped as an ambient liquid chemical; storage in tightly closed containers is important due to hygroscopicity and contamination risk management
Shelf Life
- Generally considered chemically stable under recommended ambient storage in sealed containers; commercial shelf-life is supplier- and packaging-dependent and should be confirmed via product-specific COA/SDS.
Risks
Food Safety HighQuality fraud and contamination risk (notably ethylene glycol/diethylene glycol contamination and falsified USP/EP-labeled materials) can create severe human-health hazards and immediate trade/recall disruptions; WHO has issued alerts specifically on falsified propylene glycol contaminated with ethylene glycol.Qualify suppliers, require authenticated COAs and traceability, and test incoming lots (including EG/DEG) per risk-based GMP/quality systems before use in food/pharma-adjacent applications.
Regulatory Compliance MediumPermitted uses and maximum levels vary by jurisdiction and by whether propylene glycol is used directly or as a carrier with carry-over limits (e.g., EU carrier provisions for E 1520 in Annex III with specific maximum carry-over levels for certain additive groups).Map each application to the destination-market rule set (EU/FDA/Codex-aligned standards as relevant), document intended function (carrier vs direct additive), and ensure labeling and use-level compliance.
Supply Chain Disruption MediumSupply availability and pricing can be exposed to petrochemical chain volatility, plant outages, and regional logistics constraints; this can tighten availability of qualified food/pharmacopeial grades even when industrial material remains available.Dual-source qualified grades across regions, maintain safety stocks for critical formulations, and align procurement specifications (food/FCC/USP) early to avoid emergency substitutions.
Sustainability
- Dependence on petrochemical value chains and energy inputs (scope and footprint depend on production route and regional energy mix)
- Growing interest in traceability and lower-impact alternatives in some end-user segments, but food-additive adoption remains governed by regulatory permissions and specifications
Labor & Social
- Process safety and worker health protections in upstream petrochemical/chemical manufacturing and bulk logistics operations
- Supply-chain integrity and documentation controls to prevent falsified materials and fraudulent certificates entering regulated uses
FAQ
What HS code is commonly used to track propylene glycol in global trade statistics?Propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol) is commonly tracked under HS 2905.32 (HS6: 290532) in UN Comtrade-derived trade statistics and related tools such as World Bank WITS and ITC Trade Map.
How is propylene glycol regulated as a food additive in major standards and jurisdictions?Codex GSFA lists propylene glycol (INS 1520) with defined functional classes and category-specific maximum levels, while the EU lists E 1520 in its additives framework (including Annex III carrier provisions with specified conditions). In the United States, 21 CFR § 184.1666 affirms propylene glycol as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for specified functions under current good manufacturing practice, with category maximum levels described in the regulation.
What is the most critical global safety risk for propylene glycol supply chains used in regulated applications?The most critical risk is quality fraud and contamination, including cases of falsified propylene glycol contaminated with ethylene glycol and concerns about diethylene glycol/ethylene glycol contaminants. WHO has issued medical product alerts on falsified USP/EP propylene glycol and advises strong supplier qualification and testing of incoming raw materials.
Which countries are major exporters and importers of propylene glycol in recent trade data?In recent UN Comtrade-derived WITS views for HS 290532, major exporters include Germany, China, the United States, South Korea, and Thailand, while major importers include India, France, China, Italy, and Türkiye.
Sources
Propylene glycol Country Coverage for Suppliers, Export Flows, and Prices
Explore country-level Propylene glycol market pages for supplier coverage, trade flows, and price benchmarks.
All country market pages: Germany, Vietnam, China, South Korea, India, Singapore, Italy, Philippines, Belgium, Taiwan, United States, Malaysia, Uruguay, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Turkiye, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Paraguay, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Zambia
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