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World - Butanol - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights
Report Update: Apr 1, 2024

World - Butanol - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights

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Article Publishing Date: Jun 8, 2021

New Alternative Energy Opportunities to Accelerate the Global Butanol Market

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'World - Butanol - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The global butanol market is forecast to see a pronounced recovery in 2021. The increased demand for butyl acetate and butyl acrylate, which together comprise over half of the butanol consumption, emerges as a key butanol market driver amid the current construction boom in Asia, the U.S., Russia and Europe. The use of butanol as an alternative fuel may also accelerate the market expansion. The possibility to derive biobutanol from food waste and the emerging technology to obtain butanol from CO2 shape promising investment prospects, following the shift to a circular economy.

Key Trends and Insights

The global butanol market, including n‑butanol and its isomers, declined by 6% y-o-y to 3.7M tons in 2020 (IndexBox estimates) due to the stagnation seen in the paint and varnish sector, the manufacture of plasticizing and stabilizing agents, perfume products and some other chemical industry segments during the pandemic.

Butanol demand from the chemical industry is starting to recover in 2021, as Covid restrictions ease and global economic performance improves. Butanol consumption is projected to regain pre-crisis figures in 2021, due to the current robust demand from the manufacture of butyl acetate and butyl acrylate, spurred by the construction boom in the U.S., Asian countries, the EU and Russia.

Increasing demand for green fuels could rapidly accelerate the expansion of the butanol market, as butanol is a highly efficient sustainable form of fuel. Compared with ethanol, butanol releases more energy during the combustion process, is less volatile and hygroscopic, and is also more convenient in terms of storage and transportation. Butanol is a non-corrosive substance and thus can be supplied via existing pipelines; it can also be used in vehicle transportation in its pure form or mixed with other forms of fuel, such as biodiesel.

Recently, the focus has shifted to the up-and-coming technology used to obtain biobutanol from food waste. According to the UN report, the world annually generates approx. 931M tons of food waste. As biobutanol production from agricultural resources, such as grain, remains unprofitable commercially, the processing of food waste to derive biobutanol may yet present a profit-promising area of alternative energy investments.

Obtaining butanol from CO2 via syngas synthesis is now emerging as even a more promising technology. Butanol production from CO2 and water is currently at the R&D stage, but several major chemical corporations and governments, e.g. Germany, are investing heavily into this process. The global shift to improved carbon capture, utilization and storage should make this technology particularly promising in case it reaches commercial viability.

Global Butanol Production

In 2020, after four years of growth, there was a significant decline in the production of butanols, when its volume decreased by -6.2% to 3.7M tons. Over the period under review, production, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 3.5% year-to-year. Over the period under review, global production attained the peak volume at 3.9M tons in 2019 and then declined in the following year.

In value terms, butanol production dropped to $3.6B in 2020 estimated in export prices. Overall, production, however, recorded a pronounced shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 16% year-to-year. Over the period under review, global production hit record highs at $4.6B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2020, production failed to regain momentum.

The countries with the highest volumes of butanol production in 2020 were the U.S. (678K tons), China (513K tons) and Russia (239K tons), with a combined 39% share of global production (IndexBox estimates).

From 2012 to 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of butanol production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by China (+59.0% per year), while butanol production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Global Butanol Imports

In 2020, global butanol imports fell sharply to 1.1M tons, with a decrease of -18.1% on 2019 figures. In value terms, butanol imports fell notably to $847M in 2020.

China was the key importer of butanols in the world, with the volume of imports reaching 351K tons, which was near 33% of total imports in 2020. It was distantly followed by Germany (148K tons), South Korea (117K tons) and India (109K tons), together committing a 35% share of total imports. Belgium (45K tons), Indonesia (31K tons), the U.S. (25K tons), the UK (24K tons) and Italy (24K tons) took a minor share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2020, average annual rates of growth with regard to butanol imports into China stood at -8.4%. At the same time, South Korea (+17.7%), India (+4.5%) and Germany (+1.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, the UK (-2.3%), Indonesia (-4.0%), the U.S. (-9.4%) and Belgium (-16.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period.

In value terms, China ($226M) constitutes the largest market for imported butanols worldwide, comprising 27% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Germany ($111M), with a 13% share of global imports. It was followed by India, with an 11% share.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global butanol market. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 20142230 - Butan-1-ol (n-butyl alcohol)
  • Prodcom 20142240 - Butanols (excluding butan-1-ol (n-butyl alcohol))

Country coverage:

Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries:

+ the largest producing countries

Data coverage:

  • Global market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Global production, split by region and country
  • Global trade (exports and imports)
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Company coverage:

BASF, Dow Chemical Company, APAC, Oxea, Sasol, SaBuCo, Petrochina, Eastman, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sinopec, KH Neochem, Oxochimie, Andhra Petrochemicals, Azoty Zak Spka Akcyjna, Cobalt Technologies, Green Biologics, Tasnee, China Nation Petroleum, LG Chem, Yankuang Group, Formosa Plastic Group, Kyowa Hakko, Elekeiroz, Wanhua, Huachang Chemical, Hualu-Hengsheng, Luxi Chemical, Lihuayi Group, Anqing Shuguang Chemical

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. GLOBAL PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY

  8. 8. GLOBAL IMPORTS

    The Largest Importers on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2023
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  9. 9. GLOBAL EXPORTS

    The Largest Exporters on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2023
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    • United States
    • China
    • Japan
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Brazil
    • Italy
    • Russian Federation
    • India
    • Canada
    • Australia
    • Republic of Korea
    • Spain
    • Mexico
    • Indonesia
    • Netherlands
    • Turkey
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Switzerland
    • Sweden
    • Nigeria
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Argentina
    • Norway
    • Austria
    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Colombia
    • Denmark
    • South Africa
    • Malaysia
    • Israel
    • Singapore
    • Egypt
    • Philippines
    • Finland
    • Chile
    • Ireland
    • Pakistan
    • Greece
    • Portugal
    • Kazakhstan
    • Algeria
    • Czech Republic
    • Qatar
    • Peru
    • Romania
    • Vietnam

  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2023
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    3. Market Value, 2012–2023
    4. Per Capita Consumption, By Country, 2018–2023
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    8. Import Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2023
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    11. Export Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2023

  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    2. Market Value, 2012–2023
    3. Consumption, By Country, 2023
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    6. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    7. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    8. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    9. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    10. Production Volume And Growth
    11. Exports And Growth
    12. Export Prices And Growth
    13. Market Size And Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports And Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    18. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    19. Production, By Country, 2023
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    22. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2023
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    26. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2023
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    28. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2023
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    32. Export Prices, 2012–2023

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