What is Isopropanol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Solvent and Acetone Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 290512 is 2026-07 at USD 1,433.23/ton, -0.7% against the previous month and +48.7% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 12-economy panel was 466,859 tonnes over the window, 38,905 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +32.0%.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 290512. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Key Market Impact
Customs unit values for this heading are the single most checkable price signal available without a subscription: they combine the product mix actually crossing borders, the average contract level behind those shipments and freight-relevant volume. Treat them as the trade-weighted baseline for the heading, and read the coverage note above before applying them to a single grade.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade public trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-06
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 290512 moved from USD 963.83/ton in 2025-08 to USD 1,433.23/ton in 2026-07 (+48.7% across the window). The window high was USD 1,442.88/ton in 2026-06 and the low USD 963.66/ton in 2026-01. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +32.0% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 518.4 million of export value on 466,859 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 38,905 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
The EU side of the same heading is one month fresher than the panel above: Eurostat Comext records EU27 imports of HS 290512 from outside the EU at USD 1,380.38/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 1,190.69/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +6.3% against 2026-07, on 7,368 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 115,317 tonnes. On the 12 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +31.4% on the export panel and +11.7% on the EU import side, so the two agree on direction. Import values are recorded on a CIF-type basis by a single bloc, so the level is not comparable with the export panel — the comparison above is directional.
2026-08 is deliberately not in the series: of the 12 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 10 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-06 (the heading drew 18 filers in total that month); neither 2026-09 nor 2026-10 drew a single filing for this heading. Splicing a partly-filed month onto a fixed panel would move the unit value through composition alone, so the window stays at 2026-07 until the whole panel for 2026-08 has reported.
HS 290512 carries propan-2-ol together with propan-1-ol in one heading, so the series here is the combined propanol trade and is not an IPA-only quote; the propanol page on this site is built on the same heading, and customs data does not split the two isomers.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 12 economies: BRA (76), CZE (203), FIN (246), GRC (300), GTM (320), HUN (348), MYS (458), NLD (528), IND (699), SWE (752), GBR (826), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 963.66 to USD 1,442.88/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 1,433.23/ton, -0.7% against the previous month, on 28,857 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- Isopropanol demand runs to disinfectants and sanitizers, electronics and precision cleaning, coatings and inks, and to acetone via dehydrogenation, so offtake carries a hygiene and electronics base that behaves differently from the general solvent cycle inside the same heading.
- Related market pages on this site: Propanol (the sibling isomer in the same heading), Acetone (the dehydrogenation outlet), Propylene (the hydration feedstock), Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (the solvent made downstream of acetone).
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
Need the supplier landscape, contract structure or a delivered-cost build-up behind this heading? Request a sample report or a custom cut.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) | The most common drop-in substitute for IPA in surface cleaning, disinfection (hand sanitizers, medical wipes), and general-purpose solvent applications. Ethanol at 70–80 vol% is equally effective as a biocide and is preferred in food-contact and cosmetic applications due to lower toxicity. Requires no reformulation in most cleaning products; however, ethanol has a higher boiling point (78°C vs 82°C) and slightly different solvency profile, which may require minor formulation adjustment in coatings or inks. |
| n-Propanol (1-Propanol) | Can substitute IPA in solvent applications such as coatings, printing inks, and cleaning agents where a propanol-type solvency is needed. n-Propanol has a higher boiling point (97°C) and slightly stronger solvency for some resins, making it preferable in slow-evaporation coating formulations. It is a near drop-in replacement in many industrial solvent blends but is generally more expensive than IPA. |
| Ethyl Acetate | Used as a substitute for IPA in coatings, adhesives, and printing ink formulations where a fast-evaporating, low-toxicity solvent is required. Ethyl acetate offers similar evaporation rate and good solvency for nitrocellulose and polyurethane resins. Substitution is typically straightforward but may require adjustment of resin-to-solvent ratios due to different polarity and hydrogen-bonding characteristics. |
| Acetone | Substitutes IPA in industrial cleaning, degreasing, and solvent applications, particularly for dissolving resins, adhesives, and coatings. Acetone evaporates faster than IPA and has stronger solvency for many polymers. It is widely used in electronics cleaning and nail-care products as a direct substitute. Not suitable as a disinfectant. Acetone is actually a co-product / precursor of IPA (via acetone hydrogenation), so the two are closely linked economically. |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK / 2-Butanone) | Replaces IPA in coatings, adhesives, and industrial cleaning where stronger solvency for high-molecular-weight polymers (e.g., vinyl, epoxy, polyurethane) is needed. MEK is a drop-in or partial substitute in solvent blends; it has a higher boiling point (80°C) and stronger KB value than IPA, so lower volumes may be needed. Not applicable as a disinfectant or pharmaceutical solvent. |
| Propylene Glycol | Substitutes IPA in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations (skin-care products, topical preparations) where a humectant, less volatile solvent is acceptable. Propylene glycol is non-flammable and has very low toxicity, making it preferred in leave-on cosmetic products. It is not a drop-in replacement for fast-evaporating cleaning or electronics applications due to its much higher boiling point (188°C) and viscosity. |
| Diisopropyl Ether (DIPE) | A byproduct of IPA production, DIPE can substitute IPA as an industrial solvent and as a fuel oxygenate additive (replacing MTBE or IPA itself in gasoline blending). In extraction processes, DIPE's lower water miscibility can be advantageous. Substitution in cleaning applications is limited by its higher flammability risk and peroxide-forming tendency. |
| Denatured Ethanol / Specially Denatured Alcohol (SDA) | Used as a regulatory or cost-driven substitute for IPA in industrial cleaning, surface preparation, and sanitization. In many jurisdictions, denatured ethanol is subject to lower excise duties than IPA, making it economically attractive. It is a near drop-in replacement in most cleaning and disinfection applications; formulation changes are minimal but compatibility with certain plastics and elastomers should be verified. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Propylene
- Acetone
- Propanol
- Methyl Isobutyl Ketone — the solvent made downstream of acetone.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings | EPA | 2025 (amendments; compliance deadline extended to 17 January 2027) | VOC content limits (g/L) vary by category (e.g., industrial maintenance 450 g/L); 2-Propanol (Isopropanol) included in general VOC definition with photochemical reactivity factors; no specific Isopropanol emission threshold | https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/aerosol-coatings-national-volatile-organic-compound-emission; https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/17/2025-00436/national-volatile-organic-compound-emission-standards-for-aerosol-coatings-amendments |
| United States | 40 CFR Part 59 - National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Consumer and Commercial Products | EPA | ongoing (baseline standards in effect) | VOC content limits by product category; 2-Propanol participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions (except negligible reactivity designation) | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-59 |
| United States | USP Monograph: Isopropyl Alcohol | USP | 2022 (revised 2022; methanol limit test added) | NLT 99.0% isopropyl alcohol by weight; Limit of methanol NMT 0.02% (200 µL/L); total impurities NMT 1.0%; individual known impurities NMT 0.1% | https://www.uspnf.com/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/revisions/isopropyl-alcohol-rb-notice-20210730.pdf |
| European Union | Indicative Occupational Exposure Limits (Directive 2009/161/EU - 3rd list) | EU Commission (via ECHA/GESTIS) | 2009 (in effect) | 200 ppm TWA (no STEL specified in directive list); national variations (e.g., Germany AGW 200 ppm / 500 mg/m³; France VLE 400 ppm) | https://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gestis-internationale-grenzwerte-fuer-chemische-substanzen-limit-values-for-chemical-agents/index-2.jsp |
| China | Emission Standards of Air Pollutants for Printing Industry (GB 41616-2022) | MEE | 2022 (effective 1 January 2023) | Organized and fugitive VOC emission limits (specific numerical values not detailed for IPA but apply to VOC solvents); requires control measures | https://chemical.chemlinked.com/news/chemical-news/china-implements-new-standards-for-vocs-emissions-in-key-industries |
| China | Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Glass Industry (GB 26453-2022) and Mineral Wool Industry (GB 41617-2022) | MEE | 2022 (effective 1 January 2023) | VOC emission limits (organized/fugitive) with specific numerical thresholds per standard; applies to VOC-containing operations | https://chemical.chemlinked.com/news/chemical-news/china-implements-new-standards-for-vocs-emissions-in-key-industries |
| China | GB 37822-2019 Standard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds | MEE | 2019 (effective) | Requirements for fugitive VOC emission control in facilities; numerical emission factors and limits specified | https://chemical.chemlinked.com/chempedia/china-volatile-organic-compounds-voc-s-management |
| China | Ecological and Environmental Code | National People's Congress / MEE | 2026 (effective 15 August 2026) | Lifecycle management of chemical substances; pre-manufacturing registration for new chemicals; coordinated control of VOCs and other air pollutants | https://www.hoganlovells.com/en/publications/chinas-new-ecological-and-environmental-code-key-highlights-and-practical-implications; https://www.igsd.org/chinas-new-ecological-and-environmental-code-a-legislative-framework-for-curbing-super-climate-pollutants/ |
| China | Regulation on the Administration of Pollutant Discharge Permits | MEE | 2021 | Permit required for VOC emissions from industrial sources | https://www.china-briefing.com/news/chinas-environmental-regulations-compliance-for-foreign-companies/ |
| China | Anti-Dumping Investigation into Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) from China PR | MOFCOM / DGTR (India) | 2026 (ongoing/investigation) | Investigation initiated; potential anti-dumping duties on Chinese IPA imports (India); no specific duty rate or threshold published as final ruling pending | https://dgtr.gov.in/en/anti-dumping-cases/anti-dumping-investigation-concerning-imports-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-originating |
| International | UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code / ADR / RID) | UN (via IMO / UNECE) | ongoing (current editions) | UN number 1219; Proper shipping name: ISOPROPANOL (ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL); Class 3 (Flammable liquid); Packing group III | https://www.chemradar.com/en/tools/un/detail/1219 |
| International | GHS Rev.11 (2025) | UNECE | 2025 | Hazard statements: H225, H319, H336 (as per CLP); Signal word: Danger; Pictograms: GHS02, GHS07 | https://unece.org/transport/dangerous-goods/ghs-rev11-2025; https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ghs/ |
Key Influence Events
Isopropanol (IPA), also known as isopropyl alcohol or 2-propanol, is a colorless, flammable alcohol with the molecular formula C3H8O and CAS number 67-63-0. It is the simplest secondary alcohol and is miscible with water, ethanol, and most organic solvents. IPA is one of the most widely produced and consumed industrial solvents globally, used extensively as a cleaning and disinfecting agent in electronics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, coatings, and printing inks. It is also a key intermediate in the production of acetone and isopropyl acetate. Commercially, IPA is produced predominantly by the indirect or direct hydration of propylene derived from petroleum refining or steam cracking.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Isopropanol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Solvent and Acetone Demand
Isopropanol (IPA), also known as isopropyl alcohol or 2-propanol, is a colorless, flammable alcohol with the molecular formula C3H8O and CAS number 67-63-0. It is the simplest secondary alcohol and is miscible with water, ethanol, and most organic solvents. IPA is one of the most widely produced and consumed industrial solvents globally, used extensively as a cleaning and disinfecting agent in electronics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, coatings, and printing inks. It is also a key intermediate in the production of acetone and isopropyl acetate. Commercially, IPA is produced predominantly by the indirect or direct hydration of propylene derived from petroleum refining or steam cracking.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade |
|---|
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton and are not subscription price assessments. Grade-level specifications are not restated here: confirm them with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with the EU cross-check, the exchange rate used to express it in dollars and the HS classification reference.
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=290512&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409?format=JSON&freq=M&reporter=EU27_2020&partner=EXT_EU27_2020&flow=1&indicators=VALUE_IN_EUROS&indicators=QUANTITY_IN_100KG&product=290512&sinceTimePeriod=2025-08
- https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/data/EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A?format=csvdata&startPeriod=2025-08&endPeriod=2026-10
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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