Domestic methanol market

I have here a list of large methanol manufacturers in China, including information such as the manufacturer name, raw materials used, production capacity (in ten thousand tons per year), and any additional notes. Inner Mongolia Boyuan United Chemical Co., Ltd.: Natural gas; production capacity: 100 tons per year. Pingmei Lan Tian Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal and natural gas; production capacities of 73 tons per year respectively; located in Suiping, Guangshan, and Zhumadian. CNOOC Jiantao Chemical Co., Ltd.: Natural gas; production capacity: 60 tons per year. Shaanxi Yulin Natural Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.: Natural gas; production capacity: 61 tons per year. Shaanxi Yulin Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 60 tons per year. SNOW Energy Group: Coal; production capacity: 60 tons per year. Shaanxi Shenmu Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 60 tons per year. Shanxi Fengxi Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 60 tons per year. Shandong Yankuang Guohong Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 50 tons per year. Shandong Lianmeng Chemical Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 50 tons per year. Zhongyuan Dahuahua Co., Ltd.: Coal and natural gas; production capacity: 50 tons per year. Yongmei Group: Coal; production capacity: 50 tons per year. Hubei Yihua Group Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 45.5 tons per year. Jiantao Natural Gas (Chongqing) Chemical Co., Ltd.: Natural gas; production capacity: 45 tons per year. Sichuan Lutianhua Group Co., Ltd.: Natural gas; production capacity: 44.5 tons per year. CNPC Golmud Refinery in Qinghai Province: Natural gas; production capacity: 42 tons per year. Shandong Deqilong Chemical Group Co., Ltd.: Coal; production capacity: 38 tons per year  

According to statistics, by the end of 2009, China’s total methanol production capacity would reach approximately 30,000 kt/a. In 2008, the national methanol production capacity was over 20 million tons, with a methanol output of 11,262,767 tons, representing a 13.5% increase on a year-on-year basis. In Shaanxi Province, the methanol output was 1,043,298 tons, showing a 6.4% increase compared to the previous year ； In the first half of 2009, the operating rate of domestic methanol plants was only 40%. The new methanol production capacity derived from coal is primarily concentrated in the northwest region, where the local market capacity is limited; therefore, selling the product to the southeast region becomes an inevitable option. However, the sales of domestically produced coal-based methanol to the southeast region face fierce competition from imported methanol. In mid-to-late September, the domestic methanol market remained stable, with prices in different regions as shown in the table below: Region, Price (yuan/ton), Remarks; Region, Price (yuan/ton), Remarks. Southeastern Shandong: 1950–2000; Anhui in mid-September: 2040–2060; Northwest region in late September: 1960–1980; Hubei: 2080–2100; Central China: 2000–2030; Liaoning: 2150–2200; Hebei: 1900–1930; Shaanxi: 1750–1800; Henan: 1900–1950; Guangxi: 2250; Northern Henan: 1980–2020; Price at Ningbo Port: 2170–2180. In early October, prices in the Northeast were 1730–1800; Tangshan: 1900; Yunnan: 2050–2080; Heilongjiang: 1800–1900; Fujian: 2280–2310; Shaanxi: 1750–1800; Southwest China: 1850–2100. According to incomplete statistics, the domestic stock of methanol is around 900,000 tons, with the utilization rate of downstream formaldehyde production at 40% and that of dimethyl ether production at 20%. On the import side: In late June, the Ministry of Commerce decided to launch an anti-dumping investigation into imported methanol. Future outlook: The domestic methanol market lacks sufficient positive factors to drive it, and it will continue to fluctuate within a narrow range. As the price of imported methanol is lower than that of domestic supplies, this limits the upward potential for domestic methanol prices. Although the operating rate of methanol production facilities is low, high inventory levels at major ports, along with continued weak demand for downstream products such as formaldehyde, dimethyl ether, and acetic acid, have contributed to a persistent weak market trend. However, the market is expected to recover in the future. The development of methanol gasoline provides further support for market sentiment. A reform plan for natural gas prices has been submitted to the State Council, and it is expected to be introduced by the end of this year or early next year. Natural gas and methanol account for 40% of China’s methanol production capacity. As imports of methanol decrease and demand rises after the off-season, market inventory levels will ease somewhat, which could enable the market to gradually recover, showing an overall upward trend though with limited fluctuations.