The 2010 Methanol Industry Development Conference was held in Tianjin

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Methanol is an important basic chemical raw material. In 2009, the methanol industry faced severe challenges due to the impact of large volumes of low-cost imported methanol from abroad, as well as the rapid increase in production capacity of domestic methanol manufacturers. In 2009, China’s methanol production capacity was 27.35 million tons, while the actual output was 11.334 million tons; the operating rate of the production facilities was only 41.4%. To assist methanol companies in overcoming difficulties and to explore the future of the methanol industry, the 2010 China Methanol Industry Development Conference themed “Adjusting the Structure, Boosting Vitality, Seeking Development” was held in Tianjin from March 30 to 31, organized by the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association. 137 representatives from 91 enterprises and organizations attended the conference. Relevant officials from the Raw Materials Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology attended the meeting. 　　 　　 At the meeting, Peng Zhigui, former vice governor of Shanxi Province, introduced the industrialization and demonstration operations of methanol fuel and methanol-based new energy vehicles in Shanxi Province. He believes that with the introduction of the two standards for \"methanol as a vehicle fuel\" and \"methanol-blended gasoline (M85)\", along with the increasing reliance on oil imports, alcohol-ether fuels should be promoted vigorously due to their advantages such as low cost and energy-saving effects; meanwhile, the operating conditions of the methanol industry will also improve soon. 　　Gu Zongqin, director of the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Planning Institute, outlined the current production situation in the methanol industry. He believes that the rapid increase in methanol production capacity is related to the **mandatory requirement from major coal-producing areas for investment firms to carry out local conversion processes. He also pointed out that methanol companies should enhance their resilience to risks by extending their industrial chains and developing downstream products such as acetic acid, dimethyl ether, DMF, and polyols. In addition, Professor Jin Yong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as officials from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Professional Committee on Alcohol-Ether Fuels and Alcohol-Ether Clean Vehicles, provided analyses and comments on the application and development of methanol fuel. 　　At the meeting, in light of the situation in the methanol market, relevant organizations also presented reports such as “The Status of China’s Methanol Market in 2009 and Projections for 2010”, “An Overview of the International Methanol Market in 2010”, and “A Review of the Glacial Acetic Acid Market in 2009 and Market Outlook for 2010”. The delegates attending the conference said that it played a positive role in boosting the confidence of methanol companies and expanding ideas for the development of the industry.