my country’s methanol-to-olefins industry is developing rapidly and market competition is fierce

Methanol to olefins refers to a chemical technology that uses methanol as raw material and uses a fluidized bed reaction similar to a catalytic cracking unit to produce low-carbon olefins. Methanol to olefins has the advantages of low operating costs, high quality of produced olefins, and high work efficiency. The finished products are widely used in petrochemicals, medical materials, building materials, textiles and other fields. According to different types of finished products, methanol-to-olefins can be divided into two categories: methanol-to-ethylene and methanol-to-propylene.

The main raw material for methanol to olefins is methanol, which is usually synthesized from natural gas, coal and other materials. my country is the world’s largest methanol producer, and its production capacity has maintained a steady growth trend for a long time. In 2022, my country’s new methanol production capacity will reach 5.601 million tons, ranking first in the world. Currently, my country’s methanol market is experiencing an oversupply situation, and its price continues to fall. The sufficient supply of raw materials and reduced operating costs provide favorable conditions for the development of my country’s methanol-to-olefins technology.

Compared with overseas developed countries, my country’s methanol-to-olefins industry started late, and the first methanol-to-olefins unit was successfully launched in 2010. After years of experience accumulation, my country’s methanol-to-olefins technology has matured and its production capacity has expanded rapidly. According to the “2023-2028 China Methanol to Olefins Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report released by the Industrial Research Center, In 2022, my country’s methanol-to-olefins production capacity will reach nearly 20 million tons. It is expected that in the future, with in-depth research and continuous technological advancement, the development speed of my country’s methanol to olefins industry will accelerate.

Major players in the global methanol-to-olefins market include Mobil, NORSK HYDRO, BASF, and UOP. The above companies have long focused on the research, production and sales of methanol to olefins catalysts, and occupy a dominant position in the global methanol to olefins market.

Attracted by market prospects, the number of companies in my country’s methanol-to-olefins research and development track continues to grow, and the market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Baofeng Energy, Shenhua Group, Levima Xinco, Dongfang Shenghong, Satellite Chemical, Sailbon Petrochemical, etc. are the leading companies in methanol to olefins in my country. In March 2023, the “Million-ton Methanol to Olefins Reaction-Regeneration System Digital Simulation Optimization and Industrial Application” project led by Tsinghua University and Jiangsu Sierbon Petrochemical Co., Ltd. successfully passed the scientific and technological achievements appraisal. Benefiting from the rising research enthusiasm of local enterprises and scientific research institutions, the application scope of my country’s methanol to olefins technology will continue to expand.

Industry analysts said that in recent years, my country’s methanol-to-olefins industry has accelerated its development, benefiting from sufficient supply of raw materials and growing downstream demand. Its production capacity is further expanded. At present, my country’s methanol-to-olefins technology has entered a mature development stage. With the continuous deepening of innovative research by local enterprises, the development prospects of my country’s methanol-to-olefins industry will be broader.