What is 1,4-Butanediol
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
33.7%
Neutral
23.7%
Bearish
42.6%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-02 to 2026-06-08) — Sentiment: Mixed
Chinese 1,4-Butanediol prices declined to 7925 RMB/ton by June 2 and faced continued erosion into early June, signaling oversupply and weakening producer margins.
The IEA projected a 2.4 mb/d contraction in global oil demand for 2Q26 on June 7, reducing downstream chemical sector activity and weakening BDO demand.
Global oil inventories showed depletion and supply disruption around June 5 pushed feedstock availability risks higher, while Brent crude price fell on June 4, causing offsetting upstream cost impacts.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Mixed
BDO prices face mixed pressure as potential supply tightening from OPEC quota decisions on June 7 competes with ongoing weak demand trends and upcoming antidumping duties uncertainty.
The 41st OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held June 7 remains the primary catalyst shaping feedstock cost direction and BDO production economics this week.
An unfavorable EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook update on June 9 or harsher antidumping rulings ahead of June 13 could intensify bearish downside risks for prices and margins.
Key Market Impact
Chinese oversupply and demand weakness currently dominate price headwinds, tempered by looming feedstock supply risks from geopolitical and OPEC-driven crude disruptions.
Market participants are likely to balance tactical buying against inventory drawdowns with caution, awaiting clarity from energy supply signals and trade duty outcomes.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Initial Decline (2020): Prices steadily decreased from $1205.00 in January 2020 to $980.00 in October 2020 due to unspecified factors with no major documented influences in the events log.
Phase 2 — Recovery and Shortage Impact (Nov 2020–Dec 2021): Starting November 2020, prices rose sharply from $1050.00 to $1450.00 by December 2021 driven by persistent US BDO and PTMEG supply shortages amid government precedence orders limiting contract customers, contributing to automotive production constraints as noted under Geopolitics and Feedstock influences from January 2021 through December 2021.
Phase 3 — Stabilized Uptrend (2022–Mid 2026): From January 2022 onwards, prices increased steadily from $1480.00 in January 2022 to $2810.00 in June 2026 (+$1330), with the absence of major influences recorded in the events log indicating recovery and ongoing market strength possibly supported by gradually easing supply issues.
Supply-side factors
- US BDO and PTMEG supply critically short throughout 2021 (Jan–Dec), influenced by government precedence orders limiting contract customers (ICIS).
- Supply constraints led to automotive production constraints in the US auto supply chain in 2021.
- Feedstock limitations consistently referenced as a supply factor during 2021 (Feb–Dec).
Demand-side factors
- Automotive production constraints in the US due to supply shortages in BDO and PTMEG during 2021 impacted demand patterns (ICIS).
- Government precedence orders prioritized certain contract customers over others, affecting contract fulfillment demand dynamics in 2021.
- No explicit demand shocks recorded in the influence log outside of the automotive sector impacts noted above.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Ethylene Glycol (EG) | Can partially replace BDO as a diol monomer in polyester synthesis. In PBT production, EG is not a direct drop-in (it yields PET, not PBT), but formulators may switch to PET-based systems when BDO is costly or unavailable. In polyurethane chain extenders, EG-based systems offer lower cost but result in harder, less flexible materials requiring reformulation. |
| 1,3-Propanediol (PDO) | Used as an alternative diol in polyurethane and polyester applications. PDO-based polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) can substitute for PBT in fiber and engineering plastic applications with similar mechanical properties. Requires reformulation of polymerization conditions and catalyst systems; not a drop-in replacement. |
| 1,6-Hexanediol (HDO) | Substitutes for BDO in polyurethane and polycarbonate diol synthesis where greater chain flexibility and lower glass transition temperature are acceptable or desired. Used in coatings, adhesives, and elastomers. Typically more expensive than BDO; substitution is driven by performance requirements rather than cost. |
| Tetrahydrofuran (THF) | THF is both a co-product and a downstream derivative of BDO (via acid-catalyzed cyclodehydration). In polyurethane applications, polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) made from THF can substitute for BDO-based polyols in spandex and elastomers, offering superior low-temperature flexibility. This is a formulation-level substitution, not a monomer-for-monomer swap. |
| Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) | Substitutes for BDO in polyester polyols for coatings and adhesives where improved hydrolytic stability and UV resistance are needed. NPG-based polyesters are more resistant to yellowing. Requires reformulation; not interchangeable in PBT or THF production. |
| Succinic Acid / Bio-based Diols | Bio-based succinic acid combined with bio-BDO or other bio-diols can substitute in biodegradable polyester (PBS) applications. Emerging bio-based BDO (e.g., from Genomatica fermentation) is a functionally identical drop-in substitute for petrochemical BDO in all applications, differing only in feedstock origin and carbon footprint. |
| Diethylene Glycol (DEG) | Used as a lower-cost substitute for BDO in flexible polyurethane foam formulations and some polyester resins where the slightly different chain length and ether linkage are acceptable. DEG introduces ether oxygen into the backbone, altering hydrophilicity and thermal properties; partial replacement is common in cost-sensitive applications. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH | ECHA | 2006 | Registration for manufacture/import >1 tonne/year; substance factsheet available; toxicity dossier includes oral acute toxicity Category 4 (H302) and STOT SE 3 (H336) | ECHA Substance Information |
| EU | CLP Regulation | ECHA | 2008 (amended) | GHS classification: Acute Tox. 4 (oral), STOT SE 3 (narcotic effects); Signal word "Warning"; Hazard statements H302, H336 | ECHA Substance Information; REACH dossier |
| EU | Anti-Dumping Regulation (provisional measures) | European Commission | 2026 (provisional) | Duties on imports from China: 106–114%; Saudi Arabia: 52%; USA: 136–143% | Official EU trade gazette (OJ:C 202503135) |
| US | TSCA | EPA | 1976 (substance on Inventory) | Active status; no specific emission or effluent thresholds for the substance; bio-based or coal-derived status does not trigger additional controls | EPA Substance Registry Services |
| International | UN Model Regulations (IMDG) | UN (IMDG) | Current edition | Not regulated for transport; UN number and hazard class not applicable (no class or packing group) | REACH-compliant SDS; CAMEO Chemicals |
Key Influence Events
1,4-Butanediol (BDO) is a colorless, viscous, water-miscible diol with the molecular formula C4H10O2 and CAS number 110-63-4. It is a bifunctional alcohol bearing hydroxyl groups at the 1- and 4-positions of a four-carbon chain, giving it a boiling point of approximately 230°C and a melting point near 20°C. BDO is a high-volume industrial chemical used primarily as a monomer in the production of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) engineering plastics, polyurethanes, and elastic fibers such as spandex (via tetrahydrofuran, THF, and gamma-butyrolactone, GBL, as intermediates). It is also a solvent and a key building block for biodegradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate (PBS). Global production exceeds 2.5 million tonnes per year, with the Reppe acetylene-based process and the Davy/Kvaerner maleic anhydride hydrogenation route being the two dominant commercial technologies.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of 1,4-Butanediol
1,4-Butanediol (BDO) is a colorless, viscous, water-miscible diol with the molecular formula C4H10O2 and CAS number 110-63-4. It is a bifunctional alcohol bearing hydroxyl groups at the 1- and 4-positions of a four-carbon chain, giving it a boiling point of approximately 230°C and a melting point near 20°C. BDO is a high-volume industrial chemical used primarily as a monomer in the production of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) engineering plastics, polyurethanes, and elastic fibers such as spandex (via tetrahydrofuran, THF, and gamma-butyrolactone, GBL, as intermediates). It is also a solvent and a key building block for biodegradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate (PBS). Global production exceeds 2.5 million tonnes per year, with the Reppe acetylene-based process and the Davy/Kvaerner maleic anhydride hydrogenation route being the two dominant commercial technologies.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.5 | wt% | Standard Commercial |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.8 | wt% | High Purity / Polymer Grade |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.10 | wt% | Standard Commercial |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | Polymer Grade |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 10 | APHA | Standard Commercial |
| Color (APHA / Hazen) | ≤ 5 | APHA | Polymer Grade |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | ≤ 0.005 | wt% | Standard Commercial |
| Aldehyde content (as butyraldehyde) | ≤ 0.005 | wt% | Polymer Grade |
| Density at 20°C | 1.015 – 1.017 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Boiling point (760 mmHg) | 228 – 232 | °C | All grades |
| Melting point | 19 – 21 | °C | All grades |
| Viscosity at 25°C | 71 – 77 | mPa·s | All grades |
| Refractive index (nD20) | 1.445 – 1.447 | — | All grades |
| THF content | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | Polymer Grade |
| GBL content | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | Polymer Grade |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| BASF SE | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Geismar LA, Ludwigshafen, Kuantan Malaysia, Caojing China, Chiba Japan, Korla Xinjiang |
| Dairen Chemical Corporation | Taipei, Taiwan | Ta-Fa Factory, Mai-Liao Factory, Panjin Factory |
| LyondellBasell Industries N.V. | Houston, Texas, USA | Channelview TX, Botlek Netherlands |
| Ashland Global Holdings Inc. | Wilmington, Delaware, USA | Lima OH, Marl Germany |
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