1-Propanol

Market Intelligence, Analysis, and Forecast for n-Propanol: Recent Commodity Market Dynamics

I. Market Intelligence

Price Information
- On July 24, 2026, the Base Price of n-Propanol published by Shengyishe stood at RMB 7,700.00 per metric ton, with a mean deviation of RMB 105.00 per metric ton—shifting from prior expansion to contraction.
- On July 23, 2026, the Shengyishe Base Price for n-Propanol remained unchanged at RMB 7,700.00 per metric ton.
- On July 24, 2026, Jintouwang reported the price of n-Propanol (purity ≥99.5%, Grade: Premium) at RMB 7,400.00 per metric ton.
- On July 23, 2026, Jintouwang reported the price of n-Propanol (purity ≥99.5%, Grade: Premium) at RMB 7,700.00 per metric ton.

Supply–Demand Situation
- Supply Side:
- China’s n-propanol industry continues expanding its production capacity, forming industrial clusters centered in Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. Total domestic capacity remains approximately 270,000 metric tons annually. Major producers include Sanwei Chemical, Luxi Chemical, and Nanjing Rongxin Chemical. Among them, Sanwei Chemical holds the largest domestic capacity—around 100,000 metric tons per year; Luxi Chemical’s capacity stands at 80,000 metric tons per year.
- Domestic enterprises have progressively reduced reliance on imports through technological breakthroughs and capacity expansion. However, insufficient supply of high-end products remains an industry-wide bottleneck. Electronic-grade n-propanol imposes stringent requirements on purity and impurity control; only a limited number of domestic manufacturers possess the capability to produce it, resulting in relatively high import dependency.
- Demand Side:
- Traditional application sectors are undergoing demand upgrades. n-Propanol has been widely used for decades in coatings, inks, and adhesives. With increasingly stringent global environmental regulations, water-based coatings and low-VOC inks have become mainstream. As an eco-friendly solvent, n-propanol—characterized by low toxicity and biodegradability—is gradually replacing conventional solvents such as n-butanol and isopropanol.
- The rise of new energy industries has opened new growth avenues for n-propanol. In lithium-ion battery electrolytes, n-propanol serves as a solvent whose demand correlates strongly with the penetration rate of new-energy vehicles. As solid-state battery R&D advances into pilot-production stages, demand for high-purity n-propanol is expected to grow exponentially.
- The semiconductor industry represents another key driver of demand growth. In chip manufacturing cleaning processes, electronic-grade n-propanol functions as a critical consumable, requiring ultra-high purity at the parts-per-trillion (ppt) or even parts-per-quadrillion (ppq) level. With progress in domestic lithography equipment development and accelerated localization of the semiconductor supply chain, the electronic-grade n-propanol market is poised for explosive growth.
- In the pharmaceutical sector, n-propanol serves as a key reaction solvent in synthesizing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including erythromycin and sodium valproate. Demand aligns closely with global pharmaceutical production expansion—especially in macrolide antibiotic manufacturing, where exceptionally high purity of n-propanol is required.

Cost Factors
- Upstream raw materials for the n-propanol industry primarily include propylene, propane, and other hydrocarbons. Their prices are significantly influenced by crude oil and natural gas markets. Raw material supply security faces challenges: China maintains relatively high import dependency for propylene and other feedstocks, with concentrated sourcing regions posing potential supply risks. Propylene price volatility constitutes the principal driver of n-propanol cost fluctuations; rising energy costs further compress enterprise profit margins.

II. Analysis and Judgment

Causes of Recent Price Volatility
- Recent n-propanol price fluctuations stem partly from evolving supply–demand dynamics: surging demand from emerging sectors—including new energy and semiconductors—has outpaced supply capacity, especially for high-end grades, altering the overall market equilibrium. Simultaneously, volatility in propylene pricing and rising energy costs provide upward support to n-propanol prices.
- Price discrepancies across platforms likely arise from differences in data sources, statistical methodologies, and regional market variations.

Industry Development Trends
- Green and low-carbon development has become the dominant theme. Stricter environmental policies will accelerate the industry’s transition toward greener, more sustainable practices. As an environmentally benign solvent, n-propanol’s application in coatings and inks will expand further, displacing traditional high-toxicity solvents.
- Technology-driven innovation fuels industrial upgrading. Process innovations—particularly catalyst technology—are focal points for R&D. Next-generation high-performance catalysts will enhance reaction efficiency and product selectivity. Development of premium-grade products—including electronic-grade and pharmaceutical-grade n-propanol—represents a high-margin growth engine, characterized by significant technical barriers and strong profitability.

III. Forecast

Price Outlook
- In the short term, n-propanol prices will likely remain volatile, influenced by both supply–demand imbalances and cost pressures. Sustained demand growth from emerging downstream industries—coupled with lagging high-end supply capacity—may sustain elevated pricing or drive further upward movement.
- Over the longer term, as domestic enterprises achieve technological breakthroughs and scale up production of high-end grades, supply constraints will ease, intensifying competition and gradually stabilizing prices. Nevertheless, overall price levels will remain underpinned by raw material costs and environmental regulatory frameworks.

Industry Prospects
- China’s n-propanol industry is currently at a pivotal juncture of transformation and upgrading, with green development, high-end specialization, and intensive resource utilization emerging as primary strategic directions. While tightening environmental regulations and downstream industrial upgrading present formidable challenges, they also offer substantial opportunities.
- Looking ahead, China’s n-propanol industry will navigate these challenges with resilience and determination. Through technological innovation, structural optimization, and green development, it aims to accomplish a historic leap—from large-scale production to high-quality, high-value leadership—and make greater contributions to the high-quality development of China’s national economy.