In 2023–2024, China and the United States were the leading exporters of acetaldehyde (CAS 75-07-0), while Germany, South Korea, and India ranked among the top importers by value. Acetaldehyde prices remained relatively stable during this period, supporting consistent trade flows across key chemical supply chains. Export volumes from China increased modestly year-on-year, while U.S. exports held steady, reflecting ongoing demand from Asian and European downstream users in resin and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Acetaldehyde is a colorless, volatile liquid with a pungent, fruity odor. It has a boiling point of 20.2 °C and a melting point of −123.5 °C, and it is miscible with water and most common organic solvents. It is classified as an aliphatic aldehyde and serves primarily as a key chemical intermediate in industrial organic synthesis. Its principal uses include the production of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, ethyl acetate, and pyridine derivatives; it is also employed in the manufacture of pentaerythritol, aldol chemicals, and certain pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Typical application areas encompass polymers (e.g., polyvinyl acetate), coatings, and flavoring agents.
Acetaldehyde can also be used as an odorant, and it found in nature in many foods such as ripe fruits, cheese and heated milk. acetaldehyde occurs naturally during fermentation, and low levels of acetaldehyde are to be found in certain foods. It is mainly used for preparation of citrus, apple, cream type essence, etc.Acetaldehyde is mostly used in acetic acid industry. Butanol and octanol are also the important derivatives of the acetaldehyde in the past. Nowadays, butanol and octanol are prepared by Propylene carbonyl synthesis method.Acetaldehyde is a very important raw material in the production of a large number of chemical products, for example paint binders in alkyd paints and plasticizers for plastics. Acetaldehyde is also used in the manufacture of construction materials, fire retardant paints and explosives, while its uses within the pharmaceutical industry include the manufacture of sedatives and tranquilisers, among other things. Acetaldehyde can also be used as a raw material in the manufacture of acetic acid, another platform chemical with many applications.Acetaldehyde is also used to produce pentaerythritol, peracetic acid, pyridine and its derivatives. Domestically produced acetaldehyde is mainly used as intermediate for the production of acetic acid. Only a small amount is used for the production of pentaerythritol, butanol, trichloroacetaldehyde, trimethylolpropane, etc.Acetaldehyde is primarily used to produce other chemicals, including acetal, Crotonaldehyde, acetic acid peroxide, hydroxyl acrylic nitrile, trichloroacetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, pentaerythritol, acetic anhydride, acetic acid, Glyoxal, phenyl acrolein, acetal, methyl ethylamine , diethylamine, α-Alanine, pyridine, α-methylpyridine, β-methylpyridine, γ-methylpyridine, etc.
Acetaldehyde is a highly fl ammable, volatile, colorless liquid. It has a characteristic pun-gent and suffocating odor, and is miscible in water. Acetaldehyde is ubiquitous in the ambient environment. It is an intermediate product of higher plant respiration and formed as a product of incomplete wood combustion in fi replaces and woodstoves, burning of tobacco, vehicle exhaust fumes, coal refi ning, and waste processing. Exposures to acetal-dehyde occur during the production of acetic acid and various other industrial chemical substances. For instance, the manufacture of drugs, dyes, explosives, disinfectants, pheno-lic and urea resins, rubber accelerators, and varnish.
This chemical is included in Basic Chemicals. See more about what is Acetaldehyde and Acetaldehyde SDS information.
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