Natural gas-based methanol competitive in China

04 November 2008 12:25  [Source: ICIS news]

DUBAI (ICIS news)--Natural gas-based methanol imports from the Middle East to China will be able to compete with methanol based on coal from inland China, SABIC's vice president for basic chemicals said on Tuesday.

“Coal-based methanol produced inland will be mostly used internally for fuels and MTO [methanol-to-olefins]. Natural gas-based methanol will continue supplying the demand centres along the coast,” Yousef Al-Zamel told delegates at the 6^th Annual Methanol Forum.

In China, there were three emerging uses for methanol that would be the growth drivers in the future, he added.

By 2012, dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol blending for fuels uses along with MTO will account for 42% of methanol demand in China, said Al-Zamel.

He said China’s share of world methanol demand would grow to 40% in 2012 from 28% in 2008.

However, supply would not increase at the same rate as demand, he added.

China’s share of global methanol supply would be 25% in 2012. New plants in the country would be based on coal in western China.

The 6^th Annual Methanol Forum is organised by consultants Jim Jordan & Associates and the US-based Methanol Institute.

For more on methanol visit ICIS chemical intelligence

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Peter Taffe
+44 20 8652 3214

< previous article(VIDEO - ICIS news Europe Lunchtime Bulletin 3 November 2009)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly