About this webinar
Methanol is a chemical building block for hundreds of familiar products. It can also act as an energy carrier and excellent means of hydrogen storage. Its uses are growing both in the traditional chemical industry as well as in newer applications, including as fuel or its blend in transportation and cooking stoves, boilers, and generators. Fuel applications now represent about 40% of overall consumption.
As a clean-burning fuel, methanol can help countries meet their climate and environmental goals while providing secure and affordable energy, which enables economic growth and is compatible with the United Nations development goals.
Methanol can be made from feedstocks, including natural gas, coal, biomass, waste, recycled carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). However, over 99% of methanol is currently produced from fossil fuels.
The industry has undergone dramatic changes in the last two decades. Demand has more than doubled, while there have been shifts in patterns of regional production and demand, with China now the largest methanol producer and consumer. These changes have resulted in new trade dynamics, complicating estimates of future market direction. However, growth in methanol use is certain.
This webinar describes current methanol production and uses in China, the EU, India, Indonesia and Japan and considers how they could develop.