World Analysis – Methanol

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

Methanol is one of the primary commodity materials used in chemical synthesis, with derivatives having applications in virtually all walks of life. Methanol is a raw material for many important chemicals, such as formaldehyde, MTBE, acetic acid, methylamines, methyl methacrylate, dimethyl ether, and dimethyl terephthalate. Recently, demand for methanol has increased significantly due to its use as a gateway to olefins and polyolefins via the Methanol-to-Olefins or MTO process. It can also be used as a fuel in biodiesel, a gasoline blendstock, and as a fuel for boilers. In mainland China, methanol is used as a vehicle fuel in blends ranging from five percent to 100 percent (‘M5′ to ‘M100′).

Methanol is mainly produced from natural gas and coal via a three-step process of synthesis gas production, methanol synthesis and distillation. Natural gas or coal is converted through reforming or oxidation and gasification to synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into methanol in the methanol synthesis stage. At last, the methanol is purified in distillation steps to commercial quality. All technologies have these three basic steps and only differ in the method in which these stages are performed. Natural gas prices directly impact the methanol production costs and margins, whereas, in mainland China, coal prices have the most influence on methanol production costs. In recent years, due to its various uses, there has been growing interest in e-methanol , which can be produced from carbon dioxide and is a renewable source of hydrogen.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

The World Analysis – ABS Resins provides a comprehensive analysis and key insights into critical market developments as they shape the future outlook for the global ABS Resins market.

The following reports, data files, analytical tools and visualization modules are available online and can be downloaded from our website:

• Direct Access to the Subject Matter Experts
• In-depth exploration of present market strategic insights, recognition of critical challenges, and presentation of our experts’ forecasts and analysis
• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodologies, unit and conversion factors, and World Analysis deliverables.
• Energy and Economy assumptions
• Price, cost, and margin base assumptions forecast and sensitivities analysis, including price assessment methodology and price definitions across all regions.
• Excel data files with standard supply/demand graphics and price forecasts extended to 2050, trade grids with country and regional trade flows Data appendix (Excel) with supply/demand, capacity and trade tables.
• An online dashboard visualization of capacity, supply/demand, trade grids, and price, cost and margin forecasts
• Supply/demand and capacity database access via data browser
• Data Appendix (Excel) with supply/demand and capacity tables
• Capacity by company/shareholder, capacity integration, top producer/consumer and surplus/deficit capacity ranking, and ownership/subsidiary information

In addition to the main product, Methanol, capacity and textual analysis are provided for the following products:

• Acetic Acid
• Biodiesel
• Chloromethanes
• Dimethyl ether
• Formaldehyde
• Gasoline Blending
• Methanol-to-olefins / Methanol-to-Propylene
• Methyl methacrylate
• Methyl tert-butyl ether
• Methylamine
• Methanol as a marine bunker fuel

This World Analysis contains detailed information on capacities, production, demand, and trade for all significant producing and consuming countries and regions. Although data gathering is essential for understanding history and potential future trends, we believe that the interpretation and analysis of the data is the most valuable information to our clients.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050