Diethylene Glycol in China Trends and Forecast
The future of the diethylene glycol market in China looks promising with opportunities in the polymer, coating, paint, chemical, plastic, and building & construction markets. The global diethylene glycol market is expected to reach an estimated $3.0 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 4.6% from 2025 to 2031. The diethylene glycol market in China is also forecasted to witness strong growth over the forecast period. The major drivers for this market are growing urbanization and industrialization in emerging economies, increasing usage of DEG in the manufacturing of solvents, dyes, and adhesives, as well as rising interest in lightweight cars with the goal of improving fuel economy.
• Lucintel forecasts that, within the application category, personal care is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
• Within the end use category, paints will remain the largest segment due to increasing ethylene glycol use in water-based coatings as a substitute for high-VOC-emitting solvent-based coatings.
Emerging Trends in the Diethylene Glycol Market in China
China diethylene glycol market surges in 2025 as the world’s largest producer and consumer, fueled by rapid industrialization and Belt and Road initiatives. DEG supports polyester resins, antifreeze, and coatings amid booming construction, automotive, and textiles sectors. Government carbon neutrality goals by 2060 drive sustainable shifts, while ethylene oxide expansions counter volatility. Export surges to Asia, and regulations on toxicity spur innovation. These trends enhance market resilience, positioning China as a global chemical powerhouse with balanced growth.
• Trend in Bio-based Production Shift: Renewable DEG from bioethanol emerges via state-backed pilots in Shandong, targeting 15% adoption by 2030. This aligns with green manufacturing mandates, reducing fossil dependency. Impacts include lower emissions in resin production, R and D incentives for firms like Sinopec, and premium exports to EU markets, greening China chemical profile, and attracting FDI.
• Trend in Automotive Electrification Demand: EV boom integrates DEG in advanced coolants for battery thermal management, projecting 18% segment rise. This supports Made in China 2025 policies. Benefits encompass enhanced vehicle range, compliance with emission standards, and supply chain localization, bolstering China auto exports and sustainable mobility leadership.
• Trend in Construction Infrastructure Expansion: Megaprojects like high-speed rail demand DEG plasticizers for durable composites, driving 16% market growth. Urbanization fuels resilient materials. This fosters job creation in central provinces, regulatory adherence, and GDP contributions, elevating China role in global infrastructure.
• Trend in Textile Sustainability Innovations: Eco-fibers utilize DEG for recyclable polyester, meeting circular economy targets with 14% uptake. Bio-variants reduce water use in spinning. Implications involve export competitiveness in apparel, waste minimization, and brand premiumization, strengthening China textile dominance.
• Trend in Pharmaceutical Intermediate Growth: High-purity DEG solvents expand in drug synthesis amid biotech investments, yielding 13% demand. Regulatory GMP compliance ensures quality. This accelerates generic pipelines, fosters alliances, and diversifies revenues, enhancing China med-tech ecosystem.
These trends propel 4.2% annual DEG market growth in China by 2030, integrating sustainability and tech. They mitigate volatility, boost exports, and align with policies, reshaping the market into an innovative, eco-driven leader.
Recent Developments in the Diethylene Glycol Market in China
China diethylene glycol market in 2025 advances through capacity expansions and green reforms. Developments in production, automotive, and regulations leverage industrial hubs like Shanghai, amplifying DEG in resins and coolants. Amid global trade shifts, these drive competitiveness and sustainability.
• Development in Ethylene Oxide Plant Expansions: Sinopec added 200,000 tons of DEG capacity in Jiangsu in 2024, stabilizing supplies amid demand surges. Tech upgrades boost yields by 20%. Impacts include cost reductions, 15% export growth to ASEAN, and supply resilience, supporting China chemical self-sufficiency.
• Development in Bio-DEG Pilot Initiatives: 2024 state-funded projects in Guangdong produced 15,000 tons of bio-DEG, cutting carbon 25%. Aimed at textiles. This spurs innovation, meets eco-norms, and achieves 12% penetration, positioning China as a sustainable producer.
• Development in EV Coolant Formulations: BYD partnerships in 2024 reformulated DEG coolants for 2 million EVs, projecting 17% demand. Enhances efficiency. Effects include performance gains, standard compliance, and a 14% auto sector uplift, diversifying outputs.
• Development in Petrochemical Mergers: CNPC acquired assets in 2024, expanding DEG output 18% for coatings. Integrates logistics. This lowers prices, aids construction, and boosts trade, adding 11% to revenues.
• Development in Toxicity Regulation Updates: 2024 MEPs enforced low-tox DEG in consumer goods, spurring 13% reformulations. Incentives favor green grades. Impacts encompass risk reductions, SME adaptations, and market access, aligning with health goals.
These developments fuel 4.1% DEG market growth in China by 2030, enhancing innovation and trade. They counter disruptions, promote green shifts, and amplify economic impact, solidifying China global stature.
Strategic Growth Opportunities for Diethylene Glycol Market in China
China diethylene glycol market flourishes amid rapid industrialization and Belt and Road initiatives. As a key chemical, it supports the textiles, automotive, and construction sectors. Policies like Made in China 2025 and green manufacturing drive sustainable demand. Global trade dominance and technological upgrades position China as a diethylene glycol powerhouse, enhancing export potential and innovation by 2030.
• Polyester Resin Synthesis: China PET production surge, driven by packaging exports, boosts diethylene glycol use in resins. Plants in Jiangsu expand, reducing imports. This enhances efficiency, supports recycling, and creates jobs. Impact includes stronger global competitiveness, lower waste, and GDP growth. It aligns with circular economy goals, attracting eco-investments.
• Antifreeze Blending: EV boom under green policies increases diethylene glycol in coolants. Local blending in Shandong cuts costs, emissions. Impact covers reliable vehicle performance, fewer failures, and policy alignment. It spurs bio-blend R and D, ensuring compliance. Economically, it strengthens supply chains, boosting trade.
• Solvent Applications: Diethylene glycol excels in paints for China urban projects. Infrastructure plans amplify demand. This drives low-VOC innovation. Impact yields quality coatings, fast drying, and durability. It grows SME chemicals, enhances exports, and supports urban goals. It reduces waste, promoting sustainability.
• Polyurethane Synthesis: Electronics and furniture sectors leverage diethylene glycol in foams. Tech hubs like Shenzhen create synergies. This advances insulation, lightweight exports. Impact includes cost savings, energy efficiency, and jobs. It supports circular practices, embedding China in global chains, reducing volatility.
• Textile Processing: Textile exports use diethylene glycol for dyeing. Global demand for quality drives adoption. This improves fabric output, water efficiency. Impact raises productivity, meets standards, and revives Zhejiang hubs. It boosts SME income, aligns with green fashion, strengthens trade.
These opportunities transform China diethylene glycol market by accelerating sustainability, exports, and tech. They reduce import reliance, align with national goals, and ensure robust growth by 2030.
Diethylene Glycol Market in China Driver and Challenges
China diethylene glycol market navigates dynamic forces from technological leaps, economic shifts, and regulatory frameworks. Tech advances in green production counter economic pressures like raw material costs. Strict eco-rules raise costs but foster innovation. Economic growth via Belt and Road amplifies demand across sectors. These factors shape supply chains, investments, and resilience, guiding balanced market strategies.
The factors responsible for driving the diethylene glycol market in China include:
• Industrial Expansion: Made in China 2025 escalates diethylene glycol in resins, solvents. Urbanization fuels coatings. This attracts FDI, boosts productivity, jobs in Shanghai. Implications include export growth, economic gains, and needing skill upgrades. It positions China as a global chemical leader.
• EV Market Growth: Policies target EV dominance, lifting diethylene glycol in antifreeze. Local production cuts costs. Implications cover thermal tech, green mobility, and jobs. It drives R and D, though tech gaps persist. It enhances global automotive competitiveness.
• Textile and PET Boom: Export zones increase diethylene glycol in fibers, bottles. Green rules push efficiency. This sparks plant upgrades. Implications include export diversity, recycling, and value addition. It links SMEs, needing quality controls, boosting trade.
• Infrastructure Surge: Belt and Road projects grow diethylene glycol in coatings. This fuels partnerships. Implications speed project timelines, efficiency, and urban resilience. It creates jobs, transfers tech, with rules ensuring safety and quality.
• Green Tech Push: Carbon neutrality goals boost bio-diethylene glycol. Certifications aid approvals. This drives R and D. Implications open global markets, premium pricing, and eco-funds. Scaling challenges remain, but it builds market resilience.
Challenges in the diethylene glycol market in China are:
• Raw Material Volatility: Oil price swings impact ethylene costs, squeezing margins. Global disruptions worsen supply. This clouds planning, profits. Implications demand hedging, diverse sourcing. It pushes bio-alternatives, aiding adaptability for smaller firms.
• Regulatory Stringency: Emission rules limit handling, raise audit costs. This curbs expansion. Implications spark clean tech, import barriers. It protects ecosystems but slows growth. Long-term, it fosters trust, green market access.
• Toxicity Concerns: Past incidents tighten product checks, labeling. This limits consumer use. Implications push safer substitutes, risk management. It demands transparency, impacting trust. It accelerates global safety standards adoption.
Drivers outweigh challenges, propelling China diethylene glycol market toward sustainable growth. Industrial and policy synergies offset volatility, enhancing competitiveness and innovation for steady expansion by 2030.
List of Diethylene Glycol Market in China Companies
Companies in the market compete on the basis of product quality offered. Major players in this market focus on expanding their manufacturing facilities, R&D investments, infrastructural development, and leverage integration opportunities across the value chain. Through these strategies, diethylene glycol companies cater to increasing demand, ensure competitive effectiveness, develop innovative products & technologies, reduce production costs, and expand their customer base. Some of the diethylene glycol companies profiled in this report include:
• Company 1
• Company 2
• Company 3
• Company 4
• Company 5
• Company 6
• Company 7
Diethylene Glycol Market in China by Segment
The study includes a forecast for the diethylene glycol market in China by application and end use.
Diethylene Glycol Market in China by Application [Shipment Analysis by Value from 2019 to 2031]:
• Personal Care
• Chemical Intermediate
• Polyester Resin
• Solvent
• Plasticizer
• Others
Diethylene Glycol Market in China by End Use [Shipment Analysis by Value from 2019 to 2031]:
• Polymers
• Coatings
• Paints
• Chemicals
• Plastics
• Building & Construction
• Others
Features of the Diethylene Glycol Market in China
Market Size Estimates: Diethylene glycol in China market size estimation in terms of value ($B).
Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends and forecasts by various segments.
Segmentation Analysis: Diethylene glycol in China market size by application and end use in terms of value ($B).
Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different application and end use for the diethylene glycol in China.
Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape of the diethylene glycol in China.
Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model.
If you are looking to expand your business in this or adjacent markets, then contact us. We have done hundreds of strategic consulting projects in market entry, opportunity screening, due diligence, supply chain analysis, M & A, and more.
FAQ
Q1. What are the major drivers influencing the growth of the diethylene glycol market in China?
Answer: The major drivers for this market are growing urbanization and industrialization in emerging economies, increasing usage of DEG in the manufacturing of solvents, dyes, and adhesives, as well as, rising interest in lightweight cars with the goal of improving fuel economy.
Q2. What are the major segments for diethylene glycol market in China?
Answer: The future of the diethylene glycol market in China looks promising with opportunities in the polymer, coating, paint, chemical, plastic, and building & construction markets.
Q3. Which diethylene glycol market segment in China will be the largest in future?
Answer: Lucintel forecasts that personal care is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period.
Q4. Do we receive customization in this report?
Answer: Yes, Lucintel provides 10% customization without any additional cost.
This report answers following 10 key questions:
Q.1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for the diethylene glycol market by application (personal care, chemical intermediate, polyester resin, solvent, plasticizer, and others),
Q.1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth opportunities for the diethylene glycol market in China by application (personal care, chemical intermediate, polyester resin, solvent, plasticizer, and others), and end use (polymers, coatings, paints, chemicals, plastics, building & construction, and others)?
Q.2. Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?
Q.3. What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the key challenges and business risks in this market?
Q.4. What are the business risks and competitive threats in this market?
Q.5. What are the emerging trends in this market and the reasons behind them?
Q.6. What are some of the changing demands of customers in the market?
Q.7. What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?
Q.8. Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are key players pursuing for business growth?
Q.9. What are some of the competing products in this market and how big of a threat do they pose for loss of market share by material or product substitution?
Q.10. What M&A activity has occurred in the last 5 years and what has its impact been on the industry?
For any questions related to Diethylene Glycol Market in China, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Size, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Growth, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Analysis, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Report, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Share, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Trends, Diethylene Glycol Market in China Forecast, Diethylene Glycol Companies, write Lucintel analyst at email: helpdesk@lucintel.com. We will be glad to get back to you soon.