The traditional petrochemical process for producing epichlorohydrin consumes propylene and chlorine

Epichlorohydrin (ECH) is an intermediate chemical used in the production of epoxy resins (accounting for approximately 90% of the global market), synthetic glycerol, epichlorohydrin elastomers, special water treatment chemicals, humidifying resins for paper making, and surfactants. Synthetic glycerol is rarely produced because there is sufficient supply of by-products from biodiesel production.

In the past decade, Chinese Mainland has continued to significantly expand the capacity of epichlorohydrin, which currently accounts for about 55% of the global nameplate capacity. Dow Chemical spun off its global epichlorohydrin and epoxy resin businesses, as well as certain other related businesses, to Olin in 2015. However, Dow Chemical still retains its attractive value-added downstream business. Other Western established large manufacturers are Hexion and Huntsman; In recent years, both companies have reduced their commodity based businesses and shifted to focusing on value-added downstream professional businesses.

The traditional petrochemical process for producing epichlorohydrin consumes propylene and chlorine, but the commercialization of bio renewable glycerol based epichlorohydrin is becoming increasingly high, especially as glycerol is used as a byproduct in the production of biodiesel. In recent years, the operating rate of glycerol based factories has increased due to the increased supply of glycerol with competitive prices and the promotion of more eco-friendly processes. From 2019 to 21, the epichlorohydrin industry in Chinese Mainland grew by more than 500000 tons annually, of which the glycerol process accounted for 90%.

In its curing form, epoxy resin has excellent properties, including toughness, moisture and chemical resistance, high tensile strength, and good dielectric properties. They are used for various applications. Protective coatings are the largest market, accounting for 45-50% of consumption; Other large markets are electrical/electronic, adhesives, construction, and composite materials.

Driven by the production of epoxy resin, it is expected that global consumption of epichlorohydrin will increase at an average annual rate of 3.5% from 2021 to 26. The fastest growing markets will still be in Asia, especially Chinese Mainland and India

For more detailed information, please refer to the table of contents, as shown below.

The Standard&Poor's Global Handbook of Chemical Economics - epichlorohydrin is a comprehensive and trustworthy guide for anyone seeking information in the industry.

Epichlorohydrin was developed through key interviews with major suppliers and organizations, as well as industry representatives, combined with S&P's unparalleled global upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights on industry dynamics, trade, and economics.

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