12/16/2019 Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH) | IHS Markit

Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)

Chemical Economics Handbook
Published July 2018
There are several grades of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), including
industrial/technical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical (USP), reagent, and
electronic. Industrial,grade IPA includes use as an
industrial/technical solvent and cleaner and as a raw material for
derivatives. Direct solvent applications include surface coatings,
inks, pesticide formulations, processing solvent in the production
of resins, and household cleaners. Cosmetic grade includes
cosmetic and personal care products (toiletries) and rubbing
alcohol. Pharmaceutical grade includes use as a processing solvent
during drug manufacture, use in medical wipes, and use in some
medicinal formulations. Electronic grade includes use in the
electronics industry, primarily as a cleaner for printed circuit
boards (PCBs), flat panel displays, and other electronic devices.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of isopropyl
alcohol:

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The United States is the largest consumer of IPA. Regions such as

Asia, particularly India, but also Africa and the Middle East are
expected to show higher than average global growth rates, albeit
from a smaller consumption base, over the next five years.
Consumption of industrial-grade IPA (as a direct solvent and for
chemical derivatives) constituted a majority of total IPA demand in
the major consuming regions in 2018, with direct solvent
applications accounting for a majority of industrial, grade IPA
demand.
Cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and electronic grades of IPA account for
the remainder of IPA consumption. Consumption in these
specialized applications is expected to be slightly higher than
industrial,grade IPA during the next five years.
Global IPA-based acetone production has decreased with
increasing phenol capacity (acetone is a coproduct of phenol by
the cumene peroxidation process). With IPA,based acetone no
longer being produced in North America, Western Europe, or Asia,
the market share for this application has decreased to a very low
amount. Worldwide IPA consumption is forecast to continue to
increase gradually during 2018-23.

The IPA market will continue to be oversupplied during 2018-23,

especially with global demand increasing only gradually through
2023.

Table of Contents
Section Page Number
Executive summary 4
Summary 5
Introduction 9
Manufacturing processes 10
Supply and demand by region 11
United States 11
– Producing companies 11
– Salient statistics 11 
– Consumption 12
– Industrial/technical grade 13
– Cosmetic grade 14
– Pharmaceutical grade 14
– Price 14
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– Trade 15
Canada 16
– Producing companies 16
– Salient statistics 17
– Consumption 17
– Trade 17
Mexico 18
– Producing companies 18
– Salient statistics 18
– Trade 19
Central and South America 19
– Producing companies 19
– Salient statistics 20
– Consumption 20
Western Europe 21
– Producing companies 21
– Salient statistics 22
– Consumption 23
– Price 25
– Trade 25
– Imports 25
– Exports 26
Central and Eastern Europe 26
– Producing companies 27
– Salient statistics 27
– Trade 28
– Imports 28
– Exports 29
Middle East 29
– Producing companies 30
– Salient statistics 30
– Trade 30
Africa 31
– Producing companies 31
– Salient statistics 31
– Trade 32
China 33
– Salient statistics 34
– Consumption 35
– Industrial grade 36

– Direct solvent 36
– Chemical derivatives 36
– Cosmetic and pharma/reagent grade 37
– Electronic grade 37
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– Price 37
– Trade 38
Japan 39
– Producing companies 39
– Salient statistics 40
– Consumption 40
– Price 42
– Trade 42
Other Asia 44
– Producing companies 44
– Salient statistics 44
– Production 45
– Consumption 46
– Price 47
– Trade 47
– India 47
– Singapore 47
– South Korea 48
– Taiwan 49
– Other Asian countries and Oceania 49
Additional resources 51
Revisions 52

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