What is Propanol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Solvent 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-1-ol and propan-2-ol inside a single heading, so this series is the combined normal- and iso-propanol trade and not a molecule-specific quote; the isopropanol page on this site is built on the same heading, and the split between the two isomers is not visible in the published total.
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
- Propanol demand is split: n-propanol goes into esters, printing inks and pharmaceuticals, while isopropanol goes into disinfectants, electronics cleaning, coatings and acetone. The combined heading therefore moves with both the solvent cycle and the hygiene and electronics cleaning base.
- Related market pages on this site: Isopropanol (the isomer sharing this heading), Acetone (the dehydrogenation product of IPA), Propylene (the hydration feedstock), Isobutanol (the C4 oxo-alcohol made on the same synthesis route).
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 |
|---|---|
| Isopropanol (2-Propanol, IPA) | The most common functional substitute in solvent applications. IPA can replace n-propanol in surface cleaning, disinfectants, cosmetics, and coating formulations. It is often a drop-in replacement at similar concentrations, though its slightly different solvency parameters (lower Kauri-Butanol value) may require minor reformulation in some resin-dissolving applications. IPA is generally lower in cost and more widely available. |
| Ethanol | Substitutes for n-propanol in pharmaceutical excipient, cosmetic, and disinfectant applications where regulatory acceptance of ethanol is preferred. Ethanol has a lower boiling point (78°C vs 97°C), so formulations requiring slower evaporation may need adjustment. In printing inks and coatings, ethanol can partially replace n-propanol but may require co-solvent addition to maintain solvency for certain resins. |
| n-Butanol | Used as a substitute in solvent and ester synthesis applications where a higher-boiling, slower-evaporating alcohol is acceptable or preferred. In coatings and lacquers, n-butanol provides better flow and leveling. Butyl acetate (derived from n-butanol) can substitute for propyl acetate in many coating formulations. Requires reformulation due to different evaporation rate and viscosity effects. |
| Propylene Glycol | Substitutes for n-propanol in cosmetic, personal care, and pharmaceutical solvent/humectant applications where a less volatile, lower-irritation solvent is desired. It is not a drop-in replacement due to its much higher boiling point and viscosity, but serves the same functional role as a carrier solvent and preservative co-solvent in lotions, creams, and oral formulations. |
| Ethyl Acetate | Replaces n-propanol and propyl acetate in printing ink, adhesive, and coating solvent applications. Ethyl acetate is a faster-evaporating ester solvent with good solvency for nitrocellulose and other resins. Substitution is common in flexographic and gravure inks; reformulation of the solvent blend is typically required to match drying speed and viscosity targets. |
| Methanol | Can substitute for n-propanol in certain industrial solvent blends and as a feedstock for ester synthesis (methyl esters instead of propyl esters) where the end-use application tolerates the different ester. Not suitable as a direct drop-in in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications due to toxicity concerns. Used as a partial replacement in fuel-additive and antifreeze blends. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Ethylene
- Isopropanol
- n-Butanol
- Isobutanol — the C4 oxo-alcohol made on the same synthesis route.
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 Consumer and Commercial Products | US EPA | 1991 (amended 2007 for aerosol coatings) | VOC limits per product category (g/L); propanol (as 2-propanol) is listed as a regulated VOC for photochemical ozone formation control | https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/technical-overview-volatile-organic-compounds |
| United States | Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Flammable and Combustible Liquids | OSHA / NIOSH | 1971 (OSHA PEL; NIOSH REL unchanged) | Isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol): OSHA PEL TWA 400 ppm (980 mg/m³), STEL 500 ppm; NIOSH REL TWA 400 ppm (980 mg/m³), STEL 500 ppm; n-Propanol (1-propanol): OSHA PEL TWA 200 ppm (500 mg/m³), STEL 250 ppm | http://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/475 |
| United States | OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard (GHS) | OSHA | 2012 | Classification: flammable liquid, eye damage, reproductive toxicity | https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/475 |
| European Union | Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) | ECHA | 2007 (registration phased in) | Propanol (n-propanol and 2-propanol) must be registered if manufactured or imported at 1 tonne/year or more; substance of potential concern (no specific emission threshold for solvent use) | https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach |
| European Union | Transport of Dangerous Goods | ECHA (REACH integration) | 2009 (IMDG Code) | n-Propanol UN 1274, Class 3 (flammable liquid), Packing Group II | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/1907/2006 |
| People's Republic of China | Anti-dumping Duty Measure on n-Propanol (NPA) | China MEE / Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) | 2020 (imposed; sunset review initiated 2025) | Anti-dumping duties on US-origin n-propanol of 254.4%–267.4%; ongoing expiry review | https://www.trade.gov/china-initiates-review-its-antidumping-duty-measure-n-propanol-united-states |
| 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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