Acetone (Propanone) – Uses, Prices, and Production

This blog is the twenty-fifth in a series of blogs I plan to write providing use, price, and production data on high-use inorganic and organic chemicals.  Click here to see the first blog in this series and a list of chemicals to be featured.  This blog provides data on acetone.  The primary purpose of these blogs is to present estimates of recent price, production, and sales revenues for the chemicals.  The last blog in this series will compare price, production, and sales data for all the chemicals.  

Uses.  Uses of acetone include: 

• As a solvent;
• As a raw material in the production of methyl methacrylate, bisphenol A, and other compounds used in making polymers; and
• As an additive. 

Prices.  The 2019 average global acetone price is believed to be in the range of $550 to $650 per metric ton (mt). 

Production.  Acetone is produced as a product in the production of phenol. 

From the internet, estimated 2019 global production of acetone is in the 7 to 8 million mt.  Using 7 and 8 million mt produced and the prices of $550 and $650 per mt (see Prices above) gives 2019 global revenues generated by acetone in the $3.9 to $5.2 billion range (7 million mt times $550 per mt and 8 million mt times $650 per mt).