1,3-Propanediol Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The 1, 3-Propanediol Market Report Segments the Industry by Source (Bio-Based PDO and Petrochemical-Based PDO), Purity Grade (Industrial Grade and Cosmetic/Pharma Grade), Application (Polyurethane, Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT), and More), End-User Industry (Synthetic Drugs, Engineering Plastics, and More), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market Size and Share

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1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The global 1,3-propanediol market generated USD 434.28 million in 2025 and is projected to advance to USD 618.84 million by 2030, delivering a steady 7.34% CAGR across the forecast window. Demand escalates as downstream sectors replace petro-derived diols with bio-based alternatives to meet corporate carbon-reduction targets. Renewable pathways already account for nearly three-fifths of all volume thanks to falling fermentation costs, rising glycerol availability from biodiesel, and regulatory incentives that reward low-carbon feedstocks. Personal-care formulators, technical textile processors, and polyurethane foam makers are scaling up purchases, while process licensors offer single-train units above 50 kta that improve economies of scale. The 1,3-propanediol market now sits at the crossroads of cost optimisation and decarbonisation, giving integrated biorefineries a durable competitive edge.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By source, bio-based production captured 59.67% of the 1,3-propanediol market share in 2024 and is poised for the fastest 8.87% CAGR through 2030. 
  • By purity grade, industrial grade retained 71.22% share of the 1,3-propanediol market size in 2024; cosmetic and pharmaceutical grade variants are growing at a 9.76% CAGR. 
  • By application, polytrimethylene terephthalate led with 67.45% revenue share in 2024; personal care products are forecast to expand at a 10.24% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By end-user industry, engineering plastics commanded 49.45% of the 1,3-propanediol market size in 2024, while textile dyeing and finishing is advancing at an 8.66% CAGR through 2030. 
  • By geography, North America held 34.66% of 2024 revenue, while Asia-Pacific is projected to surge at a 10.59% CAGR during the outlook period.

Segment Analysis

By Source: Bio-Based Dominance Continues

Bio-based pathways delivered 59.67% of total volume in 2024 and are on track for an 8.87% CAGR, ensuring the 1,3-propanediol market keeps shifting toward renewable inputs. Production economics improve as fermentation titres exceed 120 g L⁻¹ and downstream chromatography is replaced by membrane polishing. Companies that vertically integrate biodiesel, glycerol purification, and PDO synthesis lock in feedstock at discounts of 10-15%, widening EBITDA margins. Petro-based routes, while still relevant for niche solvent grades, face rising carbon-tax exposures that could inflate costs by USD 80-120 t⁻¹ in Europe over the forecast period.

The interplay between policy incentives and metabolic-engineering breakthroughs shapes the competitive matrix. Deploying synthetic-biology toolkits accelerates strain screening, while continuous-fermentation technology lifts plant utilisation to 8,000-8,200 h yr⁻¹. Such process intensification underpins the 1,3-propanediol market’s capacity additions announced in China, the United States, and Brazil, reinforcing bio-based leadership.

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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Purity Grade: Volume Versus Value Play

Industrial grade maintained a 71.22% share in 2024, propelled by application breadth and relaxed impurity ceilings that simplify purification. Its price point sits USD 200-250 t⁻¹ below cosmetic grade, cementing its role in resins and composites. Still, cosmetic and pharmaceutical specifications accelerate at 9.76% CAGR on the back of stringent microbiological and heavy-metal limits. Column-free ultrafiltration brings total organic carbon down to <10 ppm, allowing bio-PDO to qualify for United States Pharmacopeia listings.

Rising demand for dermal-friendly solvents and paraben-reduction initiatives encourage formulators to switch. Producers that already run food-contact compliant lines find it commercially viable to add a polishing loop and sell into these higher-margin outlets, creating a tiered portfolio that balances throughput with profitability.

By Application: PTT Holds Scale, Personal Care Fuels Incremental Growth

Polytrimethylene terephthalate stayed ahead with 67.45% revenue in 2024, reflecting entrenched demand from carpet yarns, stretch sportswear, and automotive textiles. Conversion economics hinge on the 1,3-propanediol market size for PTT itself, which exceeds 350 kt yr⁻¹ globally. ATP-driven polymerisation yields a uniform molecular-weight distribution, lifting fibre dyeability and reducing fabric processing water by up to 40%. These attributes embed PTT in OEM sustainability roadmaps.

Personal-care lines represent the fastest-moving frontier, expanding at 10.24% CAGR. Zemea-branded PDO functions simultaneously as a humectant, preservative-potentiator, and solvent, enabling formulators to simplify ingredient decks and secure “clean-beauty” labels. This channel's brand narratives around traceable corn-sugar feedstocks resonate strongly with shoppers. The two-tier dynamic means high-volume polymer outlets provide the baseload, while premium skin-care SKUs drive margin uplift.

By End-User Industry: Engineering Plastics Anchor Demand

Engineering plastics absorbed 49.45% of 2024 shipments, mirroring robust uptake in high-performance resins that serve electronics housings, appliance parts, and under-hood automotive components. Integrating PDO-derived polyols with isophthalic modifiers produces copolymers balancing toughness and heat distortion. OEM specification cycles average 7-10 years, giving this tranche of the 1,3-propanediol market predictable offtake.

Textile dyeing and finishing posts the sharpest 8.66% CAGR as mills substitute conventional glycols in aqueous dye baths to meet zero-discharge requirements promulgated by fashion brands. Trials show 20-30% lower chemical oxygen demand when PDO replaces diethylene glycol, supporting regulatory compliance in regions tightening effluent norms. Diversifying into processing chemicals shields producers from polymer-price swings.

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market: Market Share by End-User Industry
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Geography Analysis

North America retained the largest regional slice at 34.66% in 2024, underpinned by deep bio-economy infrastructure, access to competitively priced corn-based dextrose and well-established glycerol purification clusters in the Midwest. Federal and state tax credits worth up to USD 1.01 gal⁻¹ and low-carbon fuel-standard multipliers foster resilient biodiesel output, feeding PDO fermenters with a stable stream of technical glycerol[3]USDA, “Building a Resilient Bio-economy,” usda.gov. Leading multinationals co-locate upstream and downstream units to reduce logistics and utilities intensity, reinforcing the region’s cost leadership.

Asia-Pacific, registering a brisk 10.59% CAGR, benefits from explosive textile manufacturing growth, rising per-capita cosmetics spend and policy drives to localise bio-chemical supply chains. China’s “Bio-manufacturing Development Plan (2022-2035)” targets a tripling of renewable chemical output, while India’s government approved a 20% biodiesel blending roadmap, expanding glycerol availability. Joint-venture announcements between Chinese bioscience firms and Western technology licensors underscore the acceleration. As capacity incrementalism meets surging internal demand, the 1,3-propanediol market widens its footprint across the broader ASEAN manufacturing corridor.

Europe maintains a solid installed base, though its growth lags at mid-single-digit percentages given regulatory maturity. Under the European Green Deal, industries face escalating CO₂ pricing, nudging converters toward bio-based feedstocks. Automotive interiors and carpet-tile suppliers in Germany and the Netherlands routinely specify PTT blends to unlock material recyclability credits, sustaining consumption.

South America and the Middle East & Africa stay emergent. Brazil’s RenovaBio regime promotes sugar-and-glycerol-based chemical build-outs, while Gulf Cooperation Council states evaluate PDO as part of crude-to-chemicals diversification. Regional uptake remains tethered to infrastructure upgrades and access to competitive biomass, but forward integration by soy-biodiesel players may catalyse localised supply.

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

The 1,3-propanediol market exhibits a highly concentrated profile. Competitive intensity revolves around securing low-cost glycerol, deploying second-generation microbes and scaling continuous fermentation. Marketing narratives pivot on cradle-to-gate carbon intensity. Producers publishing third party-verified life-cycle assessments gain preferential access to brand-owner procurement rosters, particularly in beauty and apparel. Integrated players able to furnish low-scope-3 footprints and scope-2 renewable-energy certificates enjoy listing advantages in corporate-sustainability indices.

1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Industry Leaders

  1. DSM

  2. DuPont

  3. Shell plc

  4. Zhangjiagang Glory Biomaterial

  5. Shenghong Group Holdings

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • February 2025: MojiaBio entered into an agreement with A*STAR to develop a Sustainable Biomanufacturing Technology Platform. This platform will incorporate commercial-scale fermentation lines dedicated to the production of 1,3-propanediol, aiming to enhance sustainable manufacturing capabilities.
  • April 2023: Technip Energies was awarded an EPC contract by Ningbo Juhua Chemical for the construction of a 72 kta PDO production facility in Zhejiang Province. The facility will utilize the Zimmer proprietary process, reflecting a commitment to advanced and efficient production technologies.

Table of Contents for 1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Industry Report

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Landscape

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Rising demand for bio-based polymers
    • 4.2.2 Growing adoption of Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT) fibres in automotive & apparel
    • 4.2.3 Expansion of polyurethane in insulation & foams
    • 4.2.4 Government incentives for biomass-based chemicals
    • 4.2.5 Growth in Polyurethane & Engineering Plastics
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Feedstock price volatility
    • 4.3.2 Cheaper substitutes available
    • 4.3.3 Biodiesel‐glycerol supply disruptions
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces
    • 4.7.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitute Products & Services
    • 4.7.5 Degree of Competition

5. Market Size & Growth Forecasts (Value)

  • 5.1 By Source
    • 5.1.1 Bio-based PDO
    • 5.1.2 Petrochemical-based PDO
  • 5.2 By Purity Grade
    • 5.2.1 Industrial Grade
    • 5.2.2 Cosmetic / Pharma Grade
  • 5.3 By Application
    • 5.3.1 Polyurethane
    • 5.3.2 Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT)
    • 5.3.3 Personal Care Products
    • 5.3.4 Other Applications
  • 5.4 By End-User Industry
    • 5.4.1 Synthetic Drugs
    • 5.4.2 Engineering Plastics
    • 5.4.3 Textile Dyeing and Finishing
    • 5.4.4 Other End-User Industries (cosmetics and pharmaceutical)
  • 5.5 By Geography
    • 5.5.1 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.1.1 China
    • 5.5.1.2 India
    • 5.5.1.3 Japan
    • 5.5.1.4 South Korea
    • 5.5.1.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.2 North America
    • 5.5.2.1 United States
    • 5.5.2.2 Canada
    • 5.5.2.3 Mexico
    • 5.5.3 Europe
    • 5.5.3.1 Germany
    • 5.5.3.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.5.3.3 France
    • 5.5.3.4 Italy
    • 5.5.3.5 Rest of Europe
    • 5.5.4 South America
    • 5.5.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.5.4.2 Argentina
    • 5.5.4.3 Rest of South America
    • 5.5.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.5.5.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.5.5.2 South Africa
    • 5.5.5.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products & Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 BASF SE
    • 6.4.2 Cargill Inc.
    • 6.4.3 Connect Chemicals
    • 6.4.4 Dow Inc.
    • 6.4.5 DSM
    • 6.4.6 DuPont
    • 6.4.7 Eastman Chemical Company
    • 6.4.8 Genomatica
    • 6.4.9 LG Chem
    • 6.4.10 Merck KGaA
    • 6.4.11 MOJIABIO
    • 6.4.12 Novamont S.p.A.
    • 6.4.13 Shell plc
    • 6.4.14 Shenghong Group Holdings
    • 6.4.15 Sinopec
    • 6.4.16 Zhangjiagang Glory Biomaterial

7. Market Opportunities & Future Outlook

  • 7.1 White-space & Unmet-Need Assessment
  • 7.2 Growing Demand for Bio-based Products
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Global 1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market Report Scope

1,3-propanediol (PDO) is a colorless viscous liquid soluble in water and is mainly used as a building block in the production of the polymers such as polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). The 1,3-propanediol market is segmented by source, application, end-user industry, and geography. By source, the market is segmented into bio-based PDO and petrochemical-based PDO. By application, the market is segmented into polyurethane, personal care products, polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), and other applications (household and engine coolants). By end-user industry, the market is segmented into synthetic drugs, engineering plastics, textile dyeing, finishing, and other end-user industries(cosmetics and pharmaceutical). The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the 1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market in 15 countries across major regions. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts are based on revenue (USD million).

By Source Bio-based PDO
Petrochemical-based PDO
By Purity Grade Industrial Grade
Cosmetic / Pharma Grade
By Application Polyurethane
Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT)
Personal Care Products
Other Applications
By End-User Industry Synthetic Drugs
Engineering Plastics
Textile Dyeing and Finishing
Other End-User Industries (cosmetics and pharmaceutical)
By Geography Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
By Source
Bio-based PDO
Petrochemical-based PDO
By Purity Grade
Industrial Grade
Cosmetic / Pharma Grade
By Application
Polyurethane
Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT)
Personal Care Products
Other Applications
By End-User Industry
Synthetic Drugs
Engineering Plastics
Textile Dyeing and Finishing
Other End-User Industries (cosmetics and pharmaceutical)
By Geography
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current 1,3-Propanediol (PDO) Market size?

The 1,3-propanediol market generated USD 434.28 million in 2025 and is forecast to climb to USD 618.84 million by 2030, supported by a 7.34% CAGR.

Which source segment leads demand?

Bio-based production captures 59.67% of the 2024 volume and is growing at an 8.87% CAGR, reflecting the market’s pivot toward renewable feedstocks.

Which region shows the fastest growth?

Asia-Pacific is expanding at a 10.59% CAGR through 2030 due to surging textile manufacturing and proactive bio-economy policies.

What purity grades of PDO exist and why do they matter?

Industrial grade meets polymer needs at lower cost, while cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades, growing at 9.76% CAGR, command premiums due to tighter impurity limits required in personal-care and drug formulations.

Page last updated on: June 27, 2025

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