Methanol consumption in India has grown about 6.6% a year from 2017-18 to 2025-26, and demand is strong. Formaldehyde makers take about 45% and should keep growing steadily from 2026-27 to 2030-31; acetic acid, chloromethane and MTBE, the other main consumers, should grow modestly. The western region takes more than half of domestic consumption. The other regions have broadly similar needs, and those should rise.

GNFC, Assam Petro-Chemicals and RCF are the main domestic producers, but their output has grown only modestly and does not meet demand. So methanol is one of the major organic chemicals India imports, and there is very little scope for exports. Oman supplied about two-fifths of India's methanol imports in 2023-24, followed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and Bahrain.

Methanol is traded worldwide as a commodity, like refined petroleum fuels, and more of it now goes into energy: direct blending, dimethyl ether (DME) and biodiesel. Global demand has risen steadily, from about 97 million tonnes in 2024 to just below 100 million tonnes in 2025, and capacity grew too, with about 1 million tonnes added in China and 1.8 million tonnes in Malaysia. Little new supply is under development, though, and existing plants are held back by trade sanctions, technical problems and gas shortages. Most of the new capacity is coming up in Asia.

Highlights of the Report

List of Tables

• Table 1 Physical & Chemical properties of Methanol
• Table 2 Methanol Scenario in India (2016-17 to 2025-26, in MT)
• Table 3 Methanol Production and Capacity Utilization (2016-17 to 2025-26, MT)
• Table 4 Methanol Producers in India (with Capacity)
• Table 5 Methanol Imports by India (2016-17 to 2025-26, in MT)
• Table 6 Country wise Imports Share to India (2023-24, in %)
• Table 7 Country wise Imports Share to India (2024-25, in %)
• Table 8 Country wise Imports Share to India (2025-26, in %)
• Table 9 Methanol Exports by India (2016-17 to 2025-26, in MT)
• Table 10 Methanol Export Sources for India (2023-24)
• Table 11 Methanol Export Sources for India (2024-25)
• Table 12 Methanol Export Sources for India (2025-26)
• Table 13 Month wise Import Data (2024)
• Table 14 Month wise Import Data (2025)
• Table 15 Month wise Import Data (2026 (Till July))
• Table 16 Month wise Export Data (2024)
• Table 17 Month wise Export Data (2025)
• Table 18 Month wise Export Data (2026 (Till August))
• Table 19 Major Users in India
• Table 20 Major Importers in India

List of Figures

• Figure 1 Methanol Production and Demand (2016-17 to 2025-26, MT)
• Figure 2 Year-wise Domestic Methanol Demand (MT, 2016-17 to 2025-26)
• Figure 3 Capacity Utilization (2016-17 to 2025-26)
• Figure 4 DFPC Revenue Mix from Various Products (2025-26)
• Figure 5 Methanol Value per Ton (2016-17 to 2025-26, MT)
• Figure 6 Methanol Imports by India (2016-17 to 2025-26, in MT)
• Figure 7 Country wise Imports Share to India (2023-24, in %)
• Figure 8 Country wise Imports Share to India (2024-25, in %)
• Figure 9 Country wise Imports Share to India (2025-26, in %)
• Figure 10 Methanol Exports by India (2016-17 to 2025-26, in MT)
• Figure 11 Country wise Exports Share of India (2023-24, in %)
• Figure 12 Country wise Exports Share of India (2024-25, in %)
• Figure 13 Country wise Exports Share of India (2025-26, in %)
• Figure 14 Month wise Import Data (2024)
• Figure 15 Month wise Import Data (2025)
• Figure 16 Month wise Import Data (2026 (Till July))
• Figure 17 Month wise Export Data (2024)
• Figure 18 Month wise Export Data (2025)
• Figure 19 Month wise Export Data (2026 (Till August))
• Figure 20 Port wise Import Data (2024)
• Figure 21 Portwise Import Data (2025)
• Figure 22 Portwise Import Data (2026)
• Figure 23 CIF Prices (2023-24)
• Figure 24 CIF Prices (2024-25)
• Figure 25 CIF Prices (2025-26)
• Figure 26 Sector-wise Consumption
• Figure 27 Region wise Consumption pattern
• Figure 28 Projected Global Methanol Capacity Addition (2026-27 to 2030-31, MT)

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