The growing demand for methanol is driven by its use as a versatile feedstock in the production of chemicals, plastics, and renewable fuels

Methanol Category - Procurement Intelligence

The methanol category is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2024 to 2030. Methanol is used as a fuel source due to its blending capacity and high-octane rating. Methanol, alternatively referred to as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a transparent, lightweight, volatile, and combustible liquid possessing an aroma akin to ethanol or alcoholic beverages. It stands as one of the widely employed industrial chemicals, serving as a precursor in the manufacturing processes of formaldehyde, acetic acid, Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Dimethyl Ether (DME), biodiesels, olefins, and various other compounds.

Methanol finds extensive application in the production of biodiesel, a biodegradable and environmentally safe alternative that generates fewer air pollutants compared to other fuels. Anticipated growth in the market is expected through government initiatives aimed at reducing the global carbon footprint. The category also plays a crucial role in olefins generation through the Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process, including key components like ethylene and propylene. These olefins have diverse applications, contributing to the production of synthetic rubber, synthetic plastic, pharmaceuticals, and textile dyes. Additionally, certain ethylene derivatives are employed in the manufacturing of ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride monomer, and vinyl acetate monomer, which are essential for various end-use industries such as paints, coatings, and adhesives. Rising demand for these products is expected to drive the consumption of methanol in manufacturing them, which is indirectly anticipated to boost the category growth.

Growing environmental concerns and the push for sustainable practices have led to an increased interest in green methanol production. Green methanol is produced from renewable sources, such as biomass, municipal solid waste, or captured carbon dioxide. This aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote a circular economy.

The methanol category is fragmented, with the presence of various players such as SABIC, Methanex, Proman, and OCI Global. These companies continuously focus on increasing their production capacity to meet the demand from the end-use industry, entering mergers and acquisitions, and entering into agreements for production in new locations to sustain in the market. For instance, in February 2023, Celanese and Mitsui & Co. reached a consensus to extend their ongoing Fairway Methanol LLC joint venture, operating at Celanese’s Clear Lake U.S. facility, and extend the ownership till 2045. In the upcoming months in 2023, the Fairway Methanol LLC joint venture anticipates finalizing a cost-effective capacity expansion to 1.62 million metric tons. Additionally, later in 2023, the venture will commence recycled carbon dioxide (CO2) as an alternative feedstock for methanol production.

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Methanol Sourcing Intelligence Highlights

• Buyers in the category include chemical manufacturing, energy, and automotive companies, which may have moderate to high bargaining power. This depends on the availability of alternative sources and the uniqueness of the methanol applications. Large buyers with significant purchasing volumes may have more bargaining power.

• Companies compete among themselves by increasing production capacity, entering into mergers and acquisitions to increase their global presence, and focusing on moving towards the production of green methanol.

• Raw material (natural gas, coal), labor, energy, equipment costs, transportation, and others are some of the cost components in the category. Other cost considerations include repair and maintenance, legal, and packaging costs.

• China, Saudi Arabia, and Trinidad and Tobago are the preferred countries for sourcing methanol due to their production capacity, availability of abundant feedstock (natural gas, coal), and availability of cheap labor.

Methanol Procurement Intelligence Report Coverage

Grand View Research will cover the following aspects in the report:

• Category intelligence along with emerging technology and regulatory landscape

• Market estimates and forecasts from 2022 to 2030

• Growth opportunities, trends, and driver analysis

• Supply chain analysis, supplier analysis with supplier ranking and positioning matrix, supplier’s recent developments

• Porter’s 5 forces

• Pricing and cost analysis, price trends, commodity price forecasting, cost structures, pricing model analysis, supply and demand analysis

• Engagement and operating models, KPI, and SLA elements

• LCC/BCC analysis and negotiation strategies

• Peer benchmarking and product analysis

• Market report in PDF, Excel, and PPT and online dashboard versions

Cost Intelligence Highlights:

Grand View Research has identified the following key cost components for the methanol category:

• Raw Material (natural gas, coal)

• Labor

• Energy

• Equipment Costs

• Transportation

• Others

  • Repair and Maintenance

  • Legal

  • Packaging Costs

Raw materials, labor, energy, and equipment costsform the largest cost components of the methanol category.

List of Key Suppliers in the Methanol Category

• SABIC

• Methanex

• Proman

• OCI Global

• Mitsui & Co.

• Celanese

• Simalin

• BASF

• Mitsubishi Gas Chemical

• Petronas