January 2026 PET MDF Trade Situation

As the top global PET MDF supplier, China’s January exports focused on conventional 1220×2440×18mm, covering over 120 countries. India, Vietnam and the US, the top three importers, accounted for over 60% of total exports.

Southeast Asian (Malaysia, Indonesia) and Central-Eastern European (Ukraine, Poland) demand rose 15%-20% YoY. EU-US purchases fell 8%-12% MoM due to high interest rates and inventories.

Domestic capacity is concentrated in East (Zhejiang, Jiangsu) and South China (Guangdong), with 85%-90% operating rate. Pre-Spring Festival stockpiling boosted short-term shipments.

1. Rising PET Raw Material Prices: January PET bottle-grade chips were 6,350-6,450 RMB/ton (East China) and 6,400-6,500 RMB/ton (South China), up 3%-5% MoM, pushing PET MDF ex-factory prices up 5%-8%.

2. Stable MDF Substrate Costs: Sufficient MDF raw materials kept prices steady (processing fees: over 300 RMB/ton). Large-scale production helped offset PET cost increases.

3. Trade Policies & Compliance: The US plans a 10% tariff on some wood-based panels. Stricter EU CE and US CARB P2 standards eliminated small factories, expanding leading enterprises’ shares.

4. Seasonal Demand: January’s peak season drove strong restocking in Central-Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, while EU-US entered off-season with slower purchases.

Conventional 1220×2440×18mm PET MDF: $2.00-$18.00/piece (MOQ: 480, to Southeast Asia/Middle East). Custom colored: $25.00-$40.00/piece (MOQ: 1,000, EU-US high-end furniture). High-gloss: $26.00-$51.00/piece (MOQ: 600, hotels/high-end residences). (Source: Made-in-China.com Jan 2026 Quotes)

Short-term: Tight supply and high prices will persist around Spring Festival. February operating rate drops to 70%-75%, shipments down 10%-15% MoM.

Medium-long term: PET MDF upgrades to formaldehyde-free, moisture-proof and high-wear features, with high-value-added products enjoying a 30% premium. RCEP and Latin American FTAs drive growth.

Recommendations: Focus on Asia-Pacific/Latin America, optimize specs (70% conventional, 30% customized), and lock long-term PET orders to hedge price volatility.