Ammonia is another option for companies looking to monetize natural gas and can be co-produced with methanol. This presentation looks at the global industry landscape and the demand outlook for the main end-use applications. It also analyses the potential for green ammonia. It considers the role that ammonia could play as a marine bunker fuel and compares the pros and cons of ammonia and methanol as zero-sulfur and low or zero-carbon fuels for the shipping industry.  

Asia is the world’s largest methanol producer, consumer and importer. Current methanol feedstocks are almost exclusively fossil fuel-based in Asia. Methanol plays an important role in energy transition and sustainability development. As growth into MTO and conventional fuels applications declines, future demand will be driven more by traditional chemical derivatives. The industry is beginning its decarbonization journey, with new technologies and feedstocks and some consumers looking to purchase green, not grey methanol. This speech will discuss the anticipated evolution of the Asian methanol industry, the implications for pricing, supply-demand, trade, and the types of companies participating in the market.

At the heart of Europe’s dynamic energy sector, grey methanol production, derived from fossil resources, stands at a crossroads between traditional industrial practices and the increasingly urgent need for sustainability. This presentation aims to offer a thorough analysis of the challenges and opportunities confronting the methanol industry in Europe. We will explore how these challenges are influencing the future of methanol production across the continent.

The Americas’ methanol market will see another large increase in capacity this year, but global economic headwinds and a lack of new applications will make it challenging for demand to absorb incremental production over the next few years. This session will review how the regional industry is expected to overcome these challenges in the near term while also looking to develop its role in a world demanding options to reduce it’s carbon footprint.

The Middle East is a significant grey methanol production hub, targeting exports to Europe, India and China due to its natural gas resources and low regional demand. Despite low production costs, challenges like sanctions, logistical hurdles, and the push for green alternatives complicate the forecast. This presentation will examine grey methanol’s complex role in the Middle East, analyzing its impact on sustainability and exploring its potential evolution.

Formaldehyde is the largest global methanol derivative, consuming around 1 in 4 tons of methanol in 2023. This presentation will look at the various uses for formaldehyde, their growth rates, and what is driving this growth. It will also discuss the topic of toxicity evaluations of formaldehyde and how this could impact formaldehyde and its derivative supply chains.

The global acetyls industry is growing at a healthy pace, yet there are challenges with governments, consumers, and industries pushing for safer, more sustainable solutions. This presentation will give insights regarding the current state of the acetyls industry in light of this transition to a greener future including the technology & process, sustainability considerations, road to commercialization and cooperation and distribution with HELM.

MTO remains a relatively high-cost manufacturing route to olefins. In the medium term, the global ethylene and propylene markets are oversupplied, putting pressure on MTO operating rates and economics. This presentation will analyze what is driving growth for ethylene and propylene when operating rates are expected to return to more typical levels, and what role MTO producers are likely to play in these olefins markets.