Formaldehyde (methanol) – Uses, Prices, and Production

This blog is the twenty-fourth 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 formaldehyde.  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 formaldehyde include: 

• Ø  As a starting material in making many chemical products, especially resins;
• Ø  As disinfectant;
• Ø  As a storage media for biological materials; and
• Ø  As a preservative. 

Prices.  The 2019 average global formaldehyde price is believed to be in the range of $150 to $200 per metric ton (mt). 

Production.  Formaldehyde is produced by oxidizing methanol, using a catalyst. 

From the internet, estimated 2019 global production of formaldehyde is 12 million mt.  Using 12 million mt produced and the prices of $150 and $200 per mt (see Prices above) gives 2019 global revenues generated by formaldehyde in the $1.8 to $2.4 billion range (12 million mt times $150 per mt and $200 per mt).