2-Hydroxyethyl methyl terephthalate is an organic compound with the formula . It is a mixed ester of terephthalic acid. This compound is an intermediate in the industrial production of polyethylene terephthalate (>80 Mtons/y) by the transesterification from dimethylterephthalate:
The compound is also formed by the reverse of the above reaction, the methanolysis of PET.