China, the United States, and Germany are the leading exporters of propylene oxide, collectively accounting for over 45% of global exports in 2023–2024, while China, South Korea, and Mexico represent the largest importers, driven by regional polyurethane and propylene glycol production. Exports from the U.S. and EU have remained relatively stable, whereas Chinese imports have grown steadily amid expanding downstream chemical manufacturing, coinciding with moderate volatility in propylene oxide prices.
Propylene oxide is a colorless, volatile liquid with a chloroform-like odor, boiling at 34 °C and freezing at –107 °C. It is a cyclic ether and highly reactive epoxide, classified as a key organic chemical intermediate. Its primary industrial use is in the production of polyether polyols for flexible and rigid polyurethane foams, as well as propylene glycol for unsaturated polyester resins, antifreeze, and food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. It also serves as a precursor to glycol ethers used in coatings, cleaners, and electronics manufacturing.
Propylene oxide is an excellent low-boiling solvent and raw material of organic synthesis, being able to be used for the preparation of propylene glycol, glycerol, propylene glycol, polyester resin, foam and surfactants. It can also be used as the solvent of cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose and resin solvents. Propylene oxide can react with ammonia to produce isopropanolamine (monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine and triisopropanolamine). Isopropanolamine is alkaline, being able to absorb acidic gas, widely used in gas purification such as the desulfurization of synthetic ammonia industry and decarbonation.Propylene oxide is mainly used in the production of propylene glycol, polyether polyols, polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol ether and synthetic glycerin, also used in the manufacture of isopropanolamine, propylene carbonate;It can be used for the manufacturing of organic synthesis and plastics, also used as solvents, chromatography standards;Epoxypropane is an intermediate of metolachlor and is also an important chemical industrial raw material for the organic synthesis. It can be used for the production of propylene glycol, propylene alcohol, propionaldehyde, isopropylamine, synthetic glycerol, organic acid, etc., and can also used for preparing nonionic surfactant, wetting agents, emulsifiers, detergents and the like.Propylene oxide is an important organic chemical raw material. It is the third largest product of propylene system. The largest use is to produce poly (polyether), which is used in the distribution of US and Western Europe. The application in the aspect accounts respectively for 60% and 70% or more. Propylene oxide can be used for the manufacturing of propylene Glycol, organic Acids, Synthetic Resins, Foam Plasticizers, Plasticizers, Emulsifiers, Wetting Agents, Detergents, Bactericides, fumigants and the like. Propylene oxide-derived fine chemicals are used in virtually all industrial sectors and in everyday life.It can be used as disinfectant.It is important petrochemical raw materials for the production of polyether, propylene glycol, surfactants, foaming agent, demulsifier and mineral processing agent.The usage amount of propylene oxide for various kinds of applications: polyether polyol (raw materials of polyurethane plastic): Propylene glycol: (raw material of unsaturated polyester resin) 60%; 8% to 10%; reinforced plastics and non-toxic solvents: 20%~25%; surfactant: 5% to 10%.
This chemical is included in Basic Chemicals - Propylene Industry. See more about what is Propylene oxide and Propylene oxide SDS information.
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