According to LookWhole Insight, the global 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) marketis projected to reach USD 4.40 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow to USD 7.32 billion by 2033,registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.68% during the forecast period(2025–2033). - LookWhole Insight
Source: LookWhole Insight, 2025
BDO MarketAnalysis
BDO(1,4-Butanediol) is an important organic chemical raw material with themolecular formula C₄H₁₀O₂. At room temperature, it is a colorless or paleyellow oily liquid, characterized by flammability, low toxicity, and highstability. Its chemical properties allow it to be soluble in organic solventssuch as methanol and ethanol. BDO is widely used in the production ofpolyurethanes, engineering plastics (such as PBT), biodegradable plastics (suchas PBAT), solvents (such as γ-butyrolactone), and as an additive inelectrolytes for new energy batteries. The main synthesis processes of BDOinclude the Reppe process (which accounts for over 70% of global productioncapacity), the maleic anhydride process, and the propylene oxide process. Amongthese, the Reppe process dominates due to the cost advantages of raw materialssuch as calcium carbide and methanol.
In2024, global BDO sales exceeded 3.4 million tons. China is currently thelargest and fastest-growing BDO producer globally. As of 2024, China's totalBDO production capacity has approached 5 million tons per year, accounting formore than 60% of the global total. It is expected to surpass 5 milliontons/year in 2025 and may reach 9 million tons/year by 2030. Capacity expansionis mainly concentrated in the northwest regions (such as Xinjiang and InnerMongolia) and the eastern coastal region. Xinjiang, in particular, hasattracted major players like Xinjiang Zhongtai and Lanshan Tunhe due to its lowenergy costs and resource advantages. However, capacity utilization has longremained low (dropping to 40% at one point in 2024), highlighting the issue of structuralovercapacity. Some small and medium-sized enterprises with outdatedtechnologies face the risk of being phased out.
Intraditional application sectors, demand for BDO in PTMEG and PBT engineeringplastics is expected to maintain relatively steady growth. As living standardsrise, the demand for comfort and quality in textiles and apparel continues toincrease. Spandex, a key elastic fiber, is expected to see sustained marketdemand growth, thereby driving PTMEG consumption of BDO. However, due tointense industry competition and persistent overcapacity issues, the growthrate may remain limited in the short term. Regarding PBT, although BDO’sdownstream applications in the home appliance and automotive industries arebroad, covering PTMEG, PBT, THF, polyurethane, and GBL, each sector showedvarying market trends in 2024. PTMEG, primarily used in spandex production,represents BDO's most significant application field. As demand for downstreamproducts continues to rise, and with new product development becoming a focalpoint, the ongoing development of downstream industries is further boostingmarket demand for BDO.
Key DevelopmentTrends
Global BDOMarket: Competitive Landscape
Accordingto the LookWhole Insight report, the global BDO market supply concentration isrelatively high, and production capacity is mainly distributed in China, NorthAmerica, Europe and South Korea, among which China is the world's largest BDOproducer and consumer. China currently has the world's largest BDO productioncapacity, and has continued to expand production in the BDO field in recentyears, especially focusing on coal-to-BDO technology, and has gradually madebreakthroughs in green processes (such as biological methods and acetylenemethods). The top five suppliers in the global BDO market include BASF, DairenChemical Corporation (DCC), MarkorChem, LyondellBasell, and MitsubishiChemical, accounting for about 40% of the global market share.
Market Report Coverage & Segmentation
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Time Coverage |
Historical Year: 2020– 2024 Base Year: 2024 Estimated Year: 2025 Forecast Year: 2025 - 2033 |
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Market Segmentation |
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By Type |
l Electronics Grade l Pharmaceutical Grade l Industrial Grade |
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By Application |
l Electronics l Pharmaceuticals l Paints and Coatings l Battery Production l Others |
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By Company |
l BASF l Dairen Chemical Corporation (DCC) l MarkorChem l LyondellBasell l Mitsubishi Chemical l Xinjiang Lanshan Tunhe l Xinjiang Guotai Xinhua Mining l Inner Mongolia Sanwei New Materials Co., Ltd. l Ashland l Sinopec Great Wall Energy & Chemical l INVISTA l Wuheng Chemical (Ningxia) Co., Ltd. l Xinjiang Xinye Energy and Chemical Co.Ltd. l Inner Mongolia Dongyuan Technology l Inner Mongolia Junzheng Energy and Chemical Group Co., Ltd. l Xinjiang Tianye l Shaanxi Coal Industry Company Limited l Nanya Plastics Corporation l Sichuan Tianhua l Hebi Group |
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By Region |
North America |
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