What is n-Butanol
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
18.3%
Neutral
24.9%
Bearish
56.8%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Bearish
Upstream feedstock costs rose with naphtha prices increasing 0.41% to USD 716.36/t on June 5, squeezing n-Butanol producer margins.
Demand weakened sharply as Chinese n-Butanol prices fell nearly 10% in May due to lack of support, exerting significant downward pressure on prices.
Supply chain signals remained neutral with stable petrochemical feedstock supply levels reported in the US through May 29.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Bearish
Price pressure will persist driven by high crude and naphtha costs limiting producer margins and preventing recovery in n-Butanol prices.
The key catalyst is the EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook on June 9 forecasting an 8.5 mb/d global oil inventory draw in Q2 2026, signaling sustained tight crude and feedstock availability.
A sudden easing of crude/naphtha supply or rapid demand pickup in China could reverse the bearish trend.
Key Market Impact
Rising feedstock costs and weak end-user demand are dominating price dynamics, pushing n-Butanol prices sharply lower since early June.
Refiners and buyers are likely cutting back purchases and operating closer to margin-neutral levels amid cost inflation and subdued consumption.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Stable Start (2020): The market showed price stability with n-Butanol at $1205.0 per ton in January 2020 amid no reported influencing events.
Phase 2 — Mild Increase (2026): By May 2026, the price rose moderately to $1250.0 per ton, reflecting a 3.73% increase, though no influencing factors were documented in the monthly logs.
Supply-side factors
- No recorded supply-side events or capacity changes from 2020 to 2026 in the provided influence log.
Demand-side factors
- No recorded demand-side events or shifts impacting n-Butanol prices from 2020 to 2026 in the influence log.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Isobutanol (2-methyl-1-propanol) | Direct partial substitute in solvent applications (coatings, inks, adhesives) where the slightly lower boiling point (108 °C) and similar polarity are acceptable. Used as a drop-in or blend-in replacement in many industrial solvent formulations; also a feedstock alternative for butyl ester plasticizers and glycol ethers, though ester properties differ slightly. Requires reformulation review for regulated applications. |
| 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) | Substitutes n-butanol as the alcohol component in plasticizer manufacture (e.g., DEHP/DOP vs. DBP) when higher molecular weight and lower volatility are desired. In coatings, 2-EH-based glycol ethers can replace n-butyl glycol ethers where slower evaporation is beneficial. Not a drop-in for direct solvent use due to much higher boiling point (184 °C) and lower water miscibility. |
| n-Propanol (1-propanol) | Can substitute n-butanol in solvent blends for coatings, cleaning agents, and pharmaceutical excipients where a lower-boiling, more water-miscible alcohol is acceptable. Requires reformulation to adjust evaporation rate and solvency. Not suitable as a plasticizer alcohol due to shorter chain length. |
| Ethanol | Partial substitute in solvent and cleaning applications, particularly where regulatory or bio-based preferences exist. Much higher water miscibility and lower boiling point (78 °C) mean it is not a direct drop-in; formulations must be redesigned. Used as a bio-based alternative in some surface coatings and personal care products where n-butanol's stronger solvency is not strictly required. |
| Butyl Cellosolve (2-butoxyethanol) | Substitutes n-butanol as a coalescing solvent in waterborne coatings and cleaning products, offering better water compatibility and slower evaporation. It is a downstream derivative of n-butanol itself, but can be used where the ether-alcohol functionality provides superior performance. Requires formulation adjustment; not interchangeable in esterification reactions. |
| Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) | Substitutes n-butanol as an industrial solvent in nitrocellulose lacquers, extraction processes, and resin manufacture where a ketone solvent with similar boiling range (~116 °C) and moderate water miscibility is acceptable. Not suitable for esterification or as a plasticizer alcohol; requires reformulation and regulatory review for food-contact or pharmaceutical uses. |
| Bio-based n-Butanol (ABE fermentation) | Chemically identical to petrochemical n-butanol and therefore a true drop-in substitute in all applications. Produced via Clostridium fermentation of sugars or starch. Substitution is driven by sustainability mandates, bio-content certification requirements, or supply diversification rather than technical performance differences. Currently at a cost premium vs. oxo-route n-butanol. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | ECHA | 2006 | Registration required above 1 tonne/year; registration number 01-2119484630-38 for n-butanol (CAS 71-36-3, EC 200-751-6) | ECHA REACH Registration Dossier 01-2119484630-38 |
| US | TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory | EPA | 2024 | Existing chemical substance included in the TSCA Inventory (active status confirmed for CAS 71-36-3) | US EPA TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (accessed June 2026) |
| US | OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) | OSHA | 2012 | PEL TWA 100 ppm (300 mg/m³) [skin]; NIOSH REL ceiling 50 ppm (150 mg/m³) [skin] | NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (CDC) |
| China | Anti-Dumping Duties on n-Butanol Imports | Ministry of Commerce | 2018 (extended 2024) | Anti-dumping duties imposed on imports from Taiwan region, Malaysia, and United States; duties maintained at original rates during 5-year extension | Ministry of Commerce China (Xinhua announcement, 27 Dec 2024) |
| India | Anti-Dumping Duty on Normal Butanol (N-Butanol) | Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) | 2016 (extended/sunset review 2026) | Anti-dumping duties in force until 12 July 2026 on imports from EU, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and US; sunset review initiated September 2025 | India DGTR notifications (Customs Tariff Act, Ministry of Finance) |
| International | UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 | UN / ECHA (EU implementation) | 2008 (amended) | GHS Category Flam. Liq. 3 (H226); Acute Tox. 4 (H302); Skin Irrit. 2 (H315); Eye Dam. 1 (H318); STOT SE 3 (H335, H336); UN 1120 | UN GHS / EU CLP Regulation Annex VI |
Key Influence Events
n-Butanol (n-butyl alcohol, 1-butanol; CAS 71-36-3) is a straight-chain primary aliphatic alcohol with the molecular formula C4H9OH and a molecular weight of 74.12 g/mol. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic banana-like odor, a boiling point of 117.7 °C, and limited but significant miscibility with water (~7.7 g/100 mL at 20 °C). Industrially it is one of the most important C4 oxygenated solvents and chemical intermediates, used in the manufacture of butyl acrylate and methacrylate esters, glycol ethers, plasticizers (e.g., dibutyl phthalate), amino resins, and as a solvent in coatings, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. The dominant commercial production route is the oxo process (hydroformylation) of propylene followed by hydrogenation, though the Reppe process and bio-based fermentation routes also exist.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of n-Butanol
n-Butanol (n-butyl alcohol, 1-butanol; CAS 71-36-3) is a straight-chain primary aliphatic alcohol with the molecular formula C4H9OH and a molecular weight of 74.12 g/mol. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic banana-like odor, a boiling point of 117.7 °C, and limited but significant miscibility with water (~7.7 g/100 mL at 20 °C). Industrially it is one of the most important C4 oxygenated solvents and chemical intermediates, used in the manufacture of butyl acrylate and methacrylate esters, glycol ethers, plasticizers (e.g., dibutyl phthalate), amino resins, and as a solvent in coatings, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. The dominant commercial production route is the oxo process (hydroformylation) of propylene followed by hydrogenation, though the Reppe process and bio-based fermentation routes also exist.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (n-Butanol content) | ≥ 99.5 | wt % | Industrial / Technical Grade |
| Purity (n-Butanol content) | ≥ 99.8 | wt % | Reagent / High-Purity Grade |
| Water content | ≤ 0.10 | wt % | Industrial Grade |
| Water content | ≤ 0.05 | wt % | Reagent Grade |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | ≤ 0.003 | wt % | Industrial Grade |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 10 | APHA | Industrial Grade |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 5 | APHA | Reagent Grade |
| Specific gravity (20/20 °C) | 0.809 – 0.811 | — | All grades |
| Boiling point (760 mmHg) | 117.5 – 118.0 | °C | All grades |
| Distillation range (95 vol%) | ≤ 1.0 °C spread around 117.7 °C | °C | Industrial Grade |
| Isobutanol content | ≤ 0.20 | wt % | Industrial Grade |
| Isobutanol content | ≤ 0.10 | wt % | Reagent Grade |
| Aldehydes (as butyraldehyde) | ≤ 0.005 | wt % | Industrial Grade |
| Non-volatile residue | ≤ 0.002 | wt % | Industrial Grade |
| Flash point (closed cup) | 35 – 37 | °C | All grades |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| BASF | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Ludwigshafen, Freeport TX, Geismar LA, Nanjing China, Zhanjiang China |
| Dow | Midland, Michigan, USA | Freeport TX, Plaquemine LA |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Kingsport, Tennessee, USA | Longview TX |
| OQ Chemicals | Monheim, Germany | Bay City TX, Oberhausen, Marl, Bishop |
| Sasol | Johannesburg, South Africa | Sasolburg, South Africa |
| Saudi Butanol Company | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Jubail, Saudi Arabia |
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