Global Methanol Market Demand Is Anticipated to Cross 155 Million Tonnes by 2030
According to ChemAnalyst report,
“Global Methanol Market: Plant Capacity, Production, Operating Efficiency,
Process, Technology, Demand & Supply, End Use, Competition, Trade, Customer
& Price Intelligence Market Analysis, 2015-2030”, the global Methanol market is
expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 5.5%
during the forecast period on account of increasing demand for Methanol-based
fuels such as Neat Fuels, High Blends, Low Blends, etc. during the forecast
period. In addition, Methanol is an essential ingredient being used in
countless industrial and consumer products such as construction material,
resins, plastics, paints, polyester and a variety of health and pharmaceutical
products.
Browse the Complete Report: Methanol Pricing
One of the key applications of Methanol
is its increased consumption for manufacturing biodiesel, which is
biodegradable and safer fuel than other fuels. For producing biodiesel, Methanol
acts as a crucial reagent for transesterification of vegetable oils, greases,
or animal fats, creating Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs). Government
initiatives to reduce global carbon footprint by adoption of Methanol blended
fuels and investments in biodiesel production are anticipated to propel the Methanol
market growth during the forecast period.
However, the Global Methanol
demand witnessed a sharp decline, almost by 7 per cent compared to the fourth
quarter of 2019 due to the impacts from COVID-19 pandemic hammered by sudden
crash in crude oil. Decline in demand from fuel-related applications also escalated
due to government restrictions, which limited ground transportation and sudden
halt in industrial operations. Unplanned plant outages in different parts of
the world further lowered Methanol to olefin (MTO) demand. Methanol production
remained disrupted throughout the first quarter due to various plant turnarounds
in North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and particularly in China. One
of the leading global players, Methanex Corporation indefinitely idled its
Titan plant located in Trinidad and Chile IV plant in mid-March, in response to
lower Methanol demand causing a significant reduction in the production volumes
in Q1 FY20.
International prices of Methanol
recorded several years low in Q1 2020. A major player has recorded a price
decline of 13% to $310 per tonne, with its Asia Pacific price decreasing by 13%
to $225 per tonne in the month of May. The companies are striving to partially
offset the decline in Methanol prices by cutting their operating rates by 30%. However,
April Methanol prices have firmed up in some of the economies which have
managed to limit the rate of COVID-19 infection such as China and India. East
China’s ex-tank Methanol prices were higher by USD 7 per MT by the second week
of April.
Although market outlook for 2020
doesn’t seem promising for Methanol manufacturers, players anticipate that the
global Methanol industry is forecasted to follow the path of the global
economy. Recovery in Methanol demand is expected as soon as the international
market stabilizes and demand picks-up following the growth in end user
industries. Key manufacturers are eyeing on improvement in their cost structures
and sense downward movement in their operating costs matching a sharp decline
in the natural gas prices. Also, lower logistics costs, primarily due to
falling crude oil prices would benefit the major players shipping the commodity
to other countries.
Methanex Corporation, Methanol
Holdings Trinidad Limited, SABIC, Zagros Petrochemical Co., Yankaung Group
Private Limited, OCI Beaumont, Petronas Chemical Group, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
Company, Mitsubishi (MSK) etc., are some of the leading players operating in
the Global Methanol market.
Regionally, the Methanol market has been segmented into
various regions including Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Europe,
and Middle East & Africa. According
to ChemAnalyst report, “Global Methanol Market: Plant Capacity,
Production, Operating Efficiency, Process, Technology, Demand & Supply, End
Use, Competition, Trade, Customer & Price Intelligence Market Analysis,
2015-2030”, Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth in
the overall Methanol market owing to its magnanimously expanding petrochemical
industry backed by increased usage of Methanol-blended fuel in countries like China,
India, and Japan. Asian Methanol players are optimistic as China, which is the
world’s largest consumer of Methanol is heavily investing in expanding its Methanol
capacities. Moreover, increased Chinese investments in the MTO sector has
further propelled the Asia Pacific’s Methanol market growth.
“Due to uncertainties in the Methanol
market amid pandemic, Methanol market players are planning to incorporate
production cuts and maintain a demand and supply balance in the market. Majority
of companies have gone for planned shutdowns and lower capex to recover from losses
due to demand slowdown. More than 80% of Methanol produced in North America and
Europe is from natural gas. It appears that thorough raw material and supply
chain analysis would help the manufacturers to extract benefits from the gloomy
industrial outlook. Methanol demand is continuously growing as a clean burning
and alternative economic fuel. Today, Biodiesel industry is increasing by leaps
and bounds and creating a strong foothold in the current marketplace and emerging
as a leading player in the global fuels industry. Long-term strategies to
strengthen both upstream and downstream sectors would hugely impact the Methanol
demand pushing it to unprecedented levels during the forecast period” said Mr.
Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global
management consulting firm promoting ChemAnalyst.
Source: ChemAnalyst
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