MOSCOW (MRC) -- Global methanol capacity is poised to see considerable growth by 2030, potentially increasing from 148.44 MMtpy in 2019 to 310.94 MMtpy in 2030, registering a total growth of 109%. Russia, Iran and the US are expected to drive capacity additions during the forecast period. Together, these three countries will contribute around 59% of the total global methanol capacity additions, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s report, “Global Methanol Capacity and Capital Expenditure Outlook to 2030” reveals that Russia accounts for the highest capacity additions with 40.35 MMtpy by 2030. Major capacity additions will be from the Sherwood Energy Maysky Methanol Plant with a capacity of 7.20 MMtpy by 2030.
GlobalData identifies Iran as the second highest country in terms of capacity additions, with capacity of 29.39 MMtpy by 2030. Major capacity additions will be from the Mahan Chemical Zagros Petrochemical Eslamabad-e-Gharb Methanol Plant, with a capacity of 1.85 MMtpy by 2030.
The US will be the third highest country in terms of capacity additions, with capacity of 23.74 MMtpy by 2030. Major capacity additions will be from the NW Innovation Works Kalama Methanol Plant and NW Innovation Works St. Helens Methanol Plant, each with the capacity of 3.60 MMtpy by 2030.
Sherwood Energy Ltd, IGP Methanol LLC and NW Innovation Works Inc will be the top three companies globally in terms of planned and announced capacity additions during the outlook period.
Dayanand Kharade, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, says: “The abundant availability of low-cost feedstock in Russia and Iran and the shale gas advantage in the US are the primary reason for the rush in methanol capacity additions in these countries.”
As MRC reported earlier, in late April, 2020, the first phase of Connell Chemical Industry Ltd.'s 600 KTA MTO complex, a 300 KTA MTO plant, successfully started up and produced on-spec ethylene and propylene. This project is the first large-size chemical project brought online during period when China was in the process of restarting the economy while fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The MTO plant started feed-in at 8:18 AM on April 15, produced on-spec propylene at 7:00 AM on April 18, and produced on-spec ethylene at 4:00 AM on April 20.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia decreased in January-November 2020 by 17% year on year and reached 569,900 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the greatest reduction in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia increased by 21% year on year to about 202,000 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2020. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.
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