China’s domestic substitution of tetrahydrothiophene is accelerating and the market prospects are broad

Tetrahydro thiophene (THT) is an important sulfur-containing saturated heterocyclic compound with a molecular formula of C4H8S, a relative molecular mass of 88.4, a melting point of -96.2°C, a boiling point of 119°C, and a flash point of 12.8° C, is a flammable substance. Tetrahydrothiophene is a colorless, transparent, volatile liquid, insoluble in water, and miscible in ethanol, ether, benzene, and acetone.

Tetrahydrothiophene has stable chemical properties and is not easily oxidized by air. It is not corrosive to materials such as gas equipment and transportation pipeline gaskets, and does not inactivate the human sense of smell. Therefore, it is used as a leak warning agent for gaseous fuels such as city gas and natural gas. , was added to gas fuel in small amounts, replacing the originally used odorants such as ethyl mercaptan. In addition, tetrahydrothiophene can also be used as an intermediate for the synthesis of a variety of new medicines, pesticides, and polymer synthetic material additives, and is used as a solvent, chain transfer inhibitor, modifier, catalyst, petroleum model compound, and dielectric for lithium batteries. According to the “2023-2027 Tetrahydrothiophene Industry In-depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Suggestions Report released by the Industrial Research Center, in 2021 China’s tetrahydrothiophene market size exceeds 4,000 tons per year.

In recent years, with the expansion of my country’s gas application scale, the demand for tetrahydrothiophene has been increasing. In addition, my country’s tetrahydrothiophene is dependent on imports, and the import price continues to be high. There is a demand for import substitution, which has attracted some companies to construct tetrahydrothiophene devices. , but restricted by barriers in technology, capital, customer resources, etc., the only domestic tetrahydrothiophene companies that have been built and put into production in my country are Xinji Shunlong Chemical Co., Ltd. and Anqing Changhong Technology Co., Ltd.

Compared with Arkema and Chevron Phillips, the tetrahydrothiophene products of Xinji Shunlong Chemical Co., Ltd. and Anqing Changhong Technology Co., Ltd. have price advantages, but their product supply is relatively limited and their market share is low. Arkema and Chevron Phillips have been developing in the domestic market for a long time, have relatively complete sales channels, strong market competitiveness, and high domestic market shares.

In recent years, with the adjustment of my country’s energy structure and the increase in demand for clean energy, natural gas, as the cleanest energy, has continued to account for an increasing share of my country’s primary energy consumption. In March 2022, the “14th Five-Year Plan” Modern Energy System Plan jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration proposed that the annual natural gas output will reach more than 230 billion cubic meters by 2025; accelerating the construction of long-distance natural gas pipelines and regional natural gas pipeline networks construction, promote pipeline network interconnection, and improve the LNG storage and transportation system. By 2025, the national oil and gas pipeline network will reach approximately 210,000 kilometers. The Chinese government also plans to increase the proportion of natural gas in primary energy consumption to 15% in 2030. Industry analysts said that my country’s natural gas consumption will continue to increase in the future, which will bring broad market opportunities to tetrahydrothiophene. market space.