Propanol Market Size and Share
Propanol Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Propanol Market size is estimated at USD 3.23 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 4.05 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.67% during the forecast period (2025-2030). Moderate expansion stems from rising adoption in semiconductor cleaning, sustainable aviation fuel pathways, and pharmaceutical synthesis, even as regulatory pressures reshape solvent formulations. High-purity isopropanol demand for 5 nm and below chip fabrication, new API production hubs in Asia, and alcohol-to-jet projects in North America collectively underpin steady volume gains. Feedstock volatility and evolving VOC limits temper momentum, but continuous oxo-alcohol integration and investment in purification technologies help producers defend margins. Integrated petrochemical players therefore retain cost advantages, while bio-based entrants carve out growth niches within the wider propanol market.
Key Report Takeaways
- By product type, isopropanol led with 54.77% revenue share in 2024; bio-based propanol is projected to expand at a 6.89% CAGR through 2030.
- By end-use industry, the chemicals segment held 29.67% of propanol market share in 2024, while electronics cleaning is advancing at a 6.10% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, Asia Pacific commanded 40.24% of the propanol market in 2024; the Middle East and Africa region is forecast to post the fastest regional CAGR of 7.04% over the outlook period.
Global Propanol Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
High-purity (isopropyl alcohol) IPA demand in electronics cleaning | +1.20% | Global, with concentration in Asia Pacific and North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Construction-led solvent demand in paints & coatings | +0.80% | Global, strongest in Asia Pacific and Middle East | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Rising pharma API output in Asia Pacific | +0.90% | Asia Pacific core, spill-over to other regions | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Emerging bio-propanol for low-carbon aviation fuel | +0.70% | North America and Europe leading, global expansion | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Cost cuts via continuous oxo-alcohol integration | +0.50% | Global, particularly in integrated petrochemical complexes | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
High-purity IPA Demand in Electronics Cleaning
Ultra-high-purity isopropanol exceeding 99.999% purity has become indispensable for advanced node semiconductor fabrication. ExxonMobil is upgrading its Baton Rouge unit to supply this grade by 2027, ensuring secure domestic supply for United States chipmakers. Contamination at parts-per-trillion levels can impair wafer yields, pushing device makers to specify ever-cleaner solvents[1]NCBI, “Effects of Ultrapure IPA on Semiconductor Yields,” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . Electronics cleaning consequently grows faster than the overall propanol market, and suppliers are installing additional distillation columns, filtration trains, and real-time analytics to certify product purity. The resulting price premiums partly offset feedstock volatility, allowing integrated producers to protect spreads while meeting stringent customer audits.
Construction-led Solvent Demand in Paints & Coatings
Strong residential and commercial construction in Asia Pacific and the Middle East is driving demand for architectural coatings that rely on propanol-based co-solvents to balance viscosity, open time, and film formation. Regulators in the United States and Europe continue tightening VOC thresholds, spurring formulation shifts toward waterborne systems that still require controlled levels of propanol for flash-off control. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended aerosol coating compliance deadlines to January 2027, giving manufacturers critical runway to redesign products while maintaining performance[2]Federal Register, “Extension of Aerosol Coating Compliance,” federalregister.gov . Continuous solvent innovation helps coatings producers satisfy durability criteria without breaching emission limits, supporting incremental consumption across the propanol market.
Rising Pharma API Output in Asia Pacific
India’s Production Linked Incentive scheme and the creation of three Bulk Drug Parks backed by INR 30,000 crore (USD 360 million) in government funding encourage local synthesis of key active ingredients, decreasing dependence on Chinese imports. Large-scale reactors at facilities such as WuXi STA’s Taixing site, which reached 3,773 m³ of capacity in 2024, require high-purity propanol for crystallization and extraction steps. These expansions lift demand for pharmaceutical-grade volumes and promote long-term contracts that stabilize throughput for producers active in the propanol market.
Emerging Bio-propanol for Low-carbon Aviation Fuel
Alcohol-to-jet pathways use bio-propanol as an intermediate, creating attractive offtake opportunities that deliver higher margins than commodity solvent sales. USA BioEnergy is investing USD 2.8 billion in Texas to manufacture 65 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually. In the United Kingdom, Project Speedbird secured GBP 11.2 million to commercialize similar routes by 2028. Airlines facing carbon-reduction mandates contract long-term supply, encouraging bio-based entrants to scale fermentation technology and integrate backward into renewable feedstock.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Volatile propylene feedstock prices | -1.10% | Global, particularly impacting integrated producers | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Stricter VOC rules for solvent formulations | -0.60% | North America and Europe leading, global adoption | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Scale-up hurdles for bio-propanol fermentation | -0.40% | Global, concentrated in regions with bio-propanol investments | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Stricter VOC Rules for Solvent Formulations
The U.S. National VOC Emission Standards impose lower allowable limits on consumer and commercial coatings, forcing reformulation to meet January 2027 deadlines[3]EPA, “National VOC Emission Standards,” epa.gov . Similar policies are unfolding in the European Union, compelling users to substitute or reduce traditional solvent volumes. Compliance costs, additional testing, and certification requirements slow demand growth in legacy coatings, inks, and adhesives application areas, dampening part of the propanol market’s potential.
Scale-up Hurdles for Bio-propanol Fermentation
Laboratory yields often fail to translate linearly at industrial scale because shear stress, oxygen mass transfer, and substrate inhibition diminish productivity. Research found notable titer drop-off when reactors expanded beyond 100 L, underscoring the challenge of maintaining metabolic efficiency at commercial capacity. Continuous fermentation improves throughput—1,3-propanediol rates reached 3.67 g/L·h using optimized feeding—but capital intensity remains a barrier. Until technology de-risks, petrochemical routes will continue supplying the majority of the propanol market.
Segment Analysis
By Product Type: Isopropanol Dominance Amid Bio-based Growth
Isopropanol accounted for 54.77% of the propanol market in 2024, leveraging its quick evaporation rate, antimicrobial efficacy, and versatile solvency for pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial cleaning. Semiconductor manufacturers are sharpening this dominance by contracting supply of 99.999% grades, and ExxonMobil’s upcoming Baton Rouge line illustrates capital commitment toward ultra-high-purity batches. N-propanol maintains a niche but reliable presence in specialty inks and chemical intermediates, benefiting formulators requiring slower evaporation and distinct reactivity. Bio-based propanol delivers the steepest growth curve at 6.89% CAGR, aided by policy incentives targeting sustainable aviation fuel. USA BioEnergy’s investment has increased confidence that offtake agreements can underwrite scale-up, positioning renewable producers for entry into the broader propanol market.
Isopropanol’s extensive global distribution network and mature manufacturing footprint underpin reliable supply, yet escalating semiconductor demand is pressuring logistics and quality-control capacity. Producers are updating purification trains with ion-exchange, ultrafiltration, and advanced gas chromatography to verify part-per-trillion impurity thresholds. Conversely, bio-based output must overcome fermentation productivity limits and variable feedstock availability. Over the forecast horizon, the faster growth of renewable grades narrows the gap, but the absolute propanol market size for isopropanol remains well ahead, illustrating the inertia of entrenched production assets and customer familiarity.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By End-use Industry: Electronics Cleaning Drives Growth
The chemicals segment retained 29.67% of propanol market share in 2024 through its wide interface with paints, resins, and extractive processes that rely on balanced solvency and miscibility. Nonetheless, electronics cleaning is growing at 6.10% CAGR as fabs add capacity for AI accelerators, 5G radios, and power-efficient memory. Fabricators pursue zero-defect targets under shrinking line widths, prompting tighter solvent purity specifications and frequent bath replacements, which lift volumetric demand.
Pharmaceuticals offer a steady consumption base thanks to rising generic production in India and formulation exports from China. Here, propanol underpins purification, crystallization, and wash stages, securing long-term offtake stability. Personal care applications continue to diversify into sanitizers, antimicrobial gels, and fragrance carriers, adding consistent albeit modest volume. Paints and coatings, once the cornerstone of solvents, see slower uptake as VOC ceilings tighten. Yet reformulation still requires propanol to manage viscosity profiles in low-VOC systems, retaining relevance even if total volumes level out. The emerging sustainable aviation fuel niche provides a differentiated, high-value outlet for bio-based molecules, reshaping perceptions of the propanol market beyond traditional chemistry.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
Asia Pacific leads the propanol market with 40.24% share in 2024. Government programmes like India’s PLI scheme and Bulk Drug Parks funnel investment into API synthesis lines that consume pharmaceutical-grade propanol. China remains the largest chemical producer globally, commanding 50% share of world output and driving solvent needs across paints, inks, and electronics assembly. High-purity demand is amplified by advanced node semiconductor activity in Japan and South Korea, where fabs stipulate stringent contamination thresholds. Growing integration between refineries and chemical complexes in Southeast Asia further stabilizes regional feedstock supply.
North America exhibits mature but resilient consumption. The United States exported USD 345 million of propanol in 2023 while importing USD 128 million, a sign of domestic self-sufficiency coupled with specialized grade requirements. ExxonMobil’s plan to produce 99.999% purity isopropanol in Louisiana aligns with the domestic semiconductor incentive framework, reducing dependence on imported high-spec material. Concurrently, USA BioEnergy’s Texas SAF project elevates the region’s renewable propanol profile, signaling diversification of demand.
Europe faces cost-side pressure from energy prices and stricter environmental norms. BASF saw a 21% sales decline in 2023, emblematic of subdued industrial output, yet specialty grades for pharmaceuticals and personal care protect pockets of profitability. The Middle East and Africa region holds the highest forward CAGR potential. Advanced Petrochemical and SK Gas are constructing an isopropanol plant at Jubail, harnessing local propylene surpluses and integrated infrastructure. South America registers moderate growth, with Brazil’s push toward SAF via sugarcane waste and biomethane unlocking future bio-propanol demand.

Competitive Landscape
The propanol market is moderately consolidated. BASF, Dow, and ExxonMobil leverage integrated steam crackers, acetone derivatives, and downstream specialty lines to control costs and assure quality. Feedstock volatility therefore disproportionately pressures smaller producers lacking captive propylene streams. ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge upgrade signals competition moving toward ultra-high-purity segments targeting semiconductor yields. Larger firms are also trialing continuous oxo-alcohol reactors that raise throughput and lower energy intensity, reinforcing scale advantages.
Sustainability is a boundary for differentiation. LanzaJet’s alcohol-to-jet technology positions it as a first mover in renewable aviation fuel, working with airlines on offtake agreements that secure volume and provide margin visibility. Petrochemical incumbents react by announcing bio-propyl alcohol pilots or co-processing initiatives within existing cracker complexes. Strategic partnerships increasingly focus on carbon capture, renewable hydrogen, and circular feedstocks that align with Scope 3 targets demanded by end customers.
Technology licensing and geographic expansion round out competitive moves. Growth in Asia Pacific spurs partnerships with contract manufacturers near end customers, allowing quick response to purity deviations and shorter logistics chains. Intellectual property around purification, real-time analytics, and fermentation strains becomes central to negotiating leverage and long-term relevance within the evolving propanol market.
Propanol Industry Leaders
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BASF SE
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Dow
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Eastman Chemical Company
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Exxon Mobil Corporation
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LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- March 2025: ExxonMobil plans to produce 99.999% high-purity isopropyl alcohol at its Baton Rouge facility by 2027, addressing the semiconductor industry's stringent requirements for next-generation microchip manufacturing. This initiative aims to meet the rising demand for ultra-high-purity solvents used in electronics cleaning applications.
- June 2024: Moeve has initiated the construction of Spain's first isopropyl alcohol (IPA) plant. The facility will feature a production capacity of 80,000 tons and entails an investment of EUR 75 million. This development is expected to strengthen the propanol market by enhancing regional production capacity and reducing dependency on imports.
Global Propanol Market Report Scope
The scope of the propanol market report includes:
By Product Type | n-Propanol | ||
Isopropanol | |||
Bio-based Propanol | |||
By End-use Industry | Pharmaceutical | ||
Chemicals (Solvents and Intermediates) | |||
Personal Care and Cosmetics | |||
Printing Inks | |||
Paints and Coatings | |||
Electronics Cleaning | |||
Adhesives and Sealants | |||
Others | |||
By Geography | Asia-Pacific | China | |
India | |||
Japan | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacifc | |||
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 |
n-Propanol |
Isopropanol |
Bio-based Propanol |
Pharmaceutical |
Chemicals (Solvents and Intermediates) |
Personal Care and Cosmetics |
Printing Inks |
Paints and Coatings |
Electronics Cleaning |
Adhesives and Sealants |
Others |
Asia-Pacific | China |
India | |
Japan | |
South Korea | |
Rest of Asia-Pacifc | |
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 |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the propanol market?
The propanol market is valued at USD 3.23 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.05 billion by 2030.
Which product segment dominates the propanol market?
Isopropanol leads with 54.77% revenue share in 2024, driven by its versatility in pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial cleaning applications.
Why is electronics cleaning the fastest-growing end-use for propanol?
Advanced node semiconductor fabrication requires ultra-high-purity isopropanol to prevent particle contamination, pushing segment growth at a 6.10% CAGR.
How are volatile propylene prices affecting propanol producers?
Feedstock cost swings squeeze standalone producers’ margins, favoring integrated petrochemical players that secure propylene from captive crackers.
What role does bio-propanol play in sustainable aviation fuel?
Bio-propanol serves as a key intermediate in alcohol-to-jet pathways, and projects such as USA BioEnergy’s Texas facility highlight its emerging importance in low-carbon fuel strategies.
Which region offers the strongest growth prospects?
The Middle East and Africa region is poised for the fastest CAGR as new isopropanol capacity in Saudi Arabia leverages abundant propylene and rising local demand.
Page last updated on: July 10, 2025