Forecasting Methanol Market Growth: USD 45.56 Billion in 2025 to USD 55.80 Billion by 2030

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is the simplest aliphatic alcohol with the chemical formula CH₃OH. It’s a light, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive alcohol-like odor. Once derived from wood, methanol is now primarily produced by hydrogenating carbon monoxide. Widely used as a chemical feedstock, methanol plays a key role in the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, MTBE, and other industrial chemicals. With over 20 million tons produced annually, it is a vital raw material in industries like chemicals, automotive (as a fuel/blend), and energy. This research report will delve into the key aspects driving the growth of the industry, including methanol market size, trends, growth projections, and competitive landscape. The global methanol market is projected to grow from USD 45.56 billion in 2025 to USD 55.80 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. The global methanol industry is expanding rapidly, driven by two key factors. Firstly, methanol consumption is driven by an increasing desire for cleaner alternative fuels, particularly as a gasoline mix and shipping fuel, because it is less polluting than traditional fuels.
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Global Methanol Market Dynamics
Driver:
Methanol demand is rising in the automotive and construction industries due to its use in vehicle fuels, MTBE production, and formaldehyde-based building materials. China leads in methanol fuel adoption for vehicles.
Restraint:
Fuel-grade ethanol poses strong competition. It’s safer, has a higher octane rating, produces cleaner emissions, and is easier to store and transport—making it a preferred alternative in many countries.
Opportunity:
Methanol is gaining traction as a marine and industrial fuel due to its low emissions, ease of handling, and non-cryogenic nature, aligning with global clean energy goals.
Challenge:
Methanol production remains capital-intensive, especially when derived from carbon-based sources. High setup, maintenance, and environmental compliance costs limit broader adoption.
Coal is expected to grow at the highest rate in the methanol market, by feedstock, from 2025 to 2030
The coal segment is experiencing the most rapid development in the feedstock market. The high prices and limited natural gas reserves in certain regions are prompting numerous countries to transition to coal feedstock. To produce methanol from coal, it is combined with air separator O2 and subsequently subjected to coal gasification to produce crude syngas. The production of methanol from coal as a feedstock is a process that can result in a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on using environmentally favorable and cleaner feedstocks in methanol production to reduce the environmental impact.
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By derivative, the MTO/MTP segment accounted for the fastest-growing share of the methanol market from 2025 to 2030
The derivative market's MTO/MTP segment is experiencing rapid growth. Due to the increasing demand for olefins in the petrochemical industry, the increase in MTO/CTO facilities in China to produce olefins through methanol is the cause of the growth. The MTO and MTP processes have garnered significant attention from the chemical industry due to their potential to produce olefins from non-petroleum feedstocks, such as methanol. The increasing demand for methanol is primarily due to its use in the automotive and construction end-use industries.
By end-use industry, the solvents segment will register the highest CAGR in the methanol market from 2025 to 2030
The fastest-growing end-use industry sector is the solvent market. This growth is due to the demand from various end-use industries. Methanol is used as a lab solvent and is beneficial for HPLC, UV/VIS spectroscopy, and LC-MS because it has a low UV cutoff wavelength. Methanol is often used as a solvent in various industrial processes involving the manufacture of electronics, drugs, and chemicals. It is beneficial for cleansing, degreasing, and extracting products due to its ability to dissolve diverse organic compounds, such as oils, resins, polymers, dyes, and dye molecules. The solvent nature of methanol is advantageous in developing paints and coatings, printing inks, and cleansing agents.
Asia Pacific is the largest region in the methanol market
The Asia Pacific accounts for the largest share of the methanol market. The rising demand for methanol is due to the rapidly growing consumption of methanol in several end-use sectors across China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia. Methanol's use as a substitute fuel has attracted interest in the Asia Pacific, especially the transportation and power generation sectors. The rising demand for methanol, emission control, and other favorable policies have led to innovation and development, making it a strong global chemical hub. China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India are prominent markets in this region.
Methanex Corporation (Canada), Valenz (Switzerland), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited (China), and Zagros Petrochemical Company (ZPC) (Iran) are the leading methanol manufacturers globally.
Methanex Corporation (Canada)
Methanex Corporation, headquartered in Vancouver, is a global leader in methanol production and supply, with an annual capacity of over 7 million tonnes. It runs vertically integrated plants in North America, South America, New Zealand, Egypt, and Trinidad and Tobago. Methanex owns an integrated shipping and supply chain firm, Waterfront Shipping, with a flexible global supply. Owning around 12–14% of the global methanol capacity, Methanex plays a vital role in shaping the direction of the market. Methanex is supplementing production capacity through its Geismar 3 project and working on low-carbon methanol projects. Methanex faces threats from disruptions to the natural gas supply, commodity price fluctuations, and rising competition.
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Valenz (Switzerland)
Valenz is a Swiss-headquartered joint venture founded in 2018 by SCC, Proman, and HELM AG, with additional offices in Singapore and Houston. The company is a global marketer and distributor of methanol, employing Proman's volume production capacity of well over 10 million metric tons per year. Proman generates methanol and other gas-derived compounds used in industrial and consumer applications. HELM AG enhances Valenz's global distribution and marketing capabilities, enabling the company to negotiate complex supply chains and enter new markets. Valenz does not produce methanol directly. The organization targets major markets such as the Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America, serving as a liaison between producers and customers.
SABIC (Saudi Arabia)
The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) holds a dominant role in the global methanol market, mainly through its IBN SINA joint venture at Jubail, with a production of more than 2.5 million metric tons yearly. Methanol is a vital feedstock in SABIC's petrochemical value chain, mainly used to produce formaldehyde and MTBE. The company relies on competitively priced Saudi Arabian natural gas to maintain its global cost leadership, which is bolstered by huge methanol exports to Europe and Asia. SABIC's methanol business is highly integrated with the group's manufacturing system, serving domestic and international markets. SABIC's investment strategies have been profitable consistently, and methanol has been a stable business during petrochemical volatility periods. Additionally, SABIC is always on the lookout for low-emission production technology, and methanol production has become part of its green agenda. SABIC's venture into the methanol business is evidence of the significance of this business in Saudi Arabia's overall industrial development and export diversification program.
Market Ranking
Companies are ranked in the global methanol market based on revenue, production capacity, technological innovation, and market presence. Leading players such as Methanex Corporation (Canada), Valenz (Switzerland), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited (China), and Zagros Petrochemical Company (Iran) are playing a crucial role in global supply, accounting for a significant share of total methanol production and exports. Many have positive upstream integration, which ensures consistent feedstock supply, while others are moving downstream into value-added derivatives like olefins and fuels. Key players continually invest in capacity expansions, technology upgrades, and strategic alliances to strengthen their market position. Strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and R&D investments are key competitive forces shaping the market, as companies aim to enhance scalability, manufacturing efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in response to increasing demand in the chemical sector and global sustainability regulations.
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Recent Developments of Methanol Market
- In September 2024, Methanex Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire OCI Global’s (“OCI”) international methanol business for USD 2.05 billion. The transaction includes OCI’s interest in two methanol facilities in Beaumont, Texas, one of which also produces ammonia. This will help the company to maintain its leading position in the methanol industry.
- In December 2023, SABIC, Scientific Design (SD), and Linde Engineering entered a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration opportunities to decarbonize the SD Ethylene Glycol Process. This collaboration seeks to develop innovative solutions to reduce carbon footprint and achieve low-carbon-emission technology by offering SABIC’s innovative CO2 recovery and purification technology to SD-licensed manufacturing glycol plants worldwide.
- In June 2023, HELM Proman Methanol (HPM), a market leader in global methanol supply solutions and part of the HELM group of companies, relaunched its worldwide marketing activities under the new brand, Valenz.
- In April 2023, Methanex Corporation signed an agreement with Suez Methanol Derivatives (SMD) for the construction of a new methanol pipeline. With this agreement, Methanex Corporation will supply methanol from its Egypt plant to a nearby SMD company’s project in Damietta.
- In March 2023, Zagros Petrochemical Company (ZPC) and Dalian Petrochemical Company signed an agreement to construct a methanol-to-synthetic ethanol conversion plant.
❓ What are the key drivers and opportunities for the methanol market?
❓ Which region is expected to hold the highest market share in the methanol market?
❓ What are the major derivatives of methanol?
❓ Who are the major manufacturers of methanol?
❓ What is the CAGR for the methanol market during 2025–2030?
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