Isopropyl alcohol trade will show an increase in imports and exports

Although the total import volume of isopropanol reached 37,000 tons in the first 11 months of 2018, the average monthly import volume was 3391 tons, and the average import volume of isopropanol in the past three years was basically maintained at the level of more than 3,000 tons. The change was not obvious. However, industry insiders expect that in the long run, the import volume of isopropyl alcohol will continue to decrease, while the domestic isopropyl alcohol production capacity is gradually oversupplied, and it is expected to achieve complete self-sufficiency. "From the perspective of importing countries, China's imports of isopropyl alcohol are mainly from Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Japan, and the number of Taiwanese companies accounts for 69% of the total annual imports." Analyst Zheng Mingnan said that the oceans are dominated by the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands, but the number is very limited. The reason for this phenomenon is mainly that the near-ocean goods have certain advantages in terms of transportation distance and convenience of operation.

It is worth noting that the increase in the export of isopropanol is very obvious. The reporter learned that in 2012, the annual export of isopropyl alcohol was only 3,235 tons. By the first 11 months of 2018, the export volume reached 85,819 tons, an increase of 2,552%. "As domestic production capacity continues to increase, the excess capacity can only be adjusted by increasing exports. It is expected that the annual export volume of isopropyl alcohol will double twice in 2017." Zheng Mingnan said that the price of acetone continued to fall in 2018. The cost line of acetone isopropyl alcohol is relatively low, and the export price of domestic isopropyl alcohol has an absolute advantage. More companies are targeting the export market.

From the perspective of exporting countries (regions), China's export of isopropanol is relatively dispersed, and India is the most important exporter. In the first 11 months of 2018, isopropanol was exported to India at 38,000 tons, equivalent to about 44% of the total in the previous 11 months, followed by Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

At present, isopropanol is in a pattern of overcapacity, and there is no new growth point in downstream demand. Only by adjusting imports and exports can its supply and demand be maintained at a reasonable leverage. At present, the domestic production capacity of isopropanol has not been fully released, so the export will still be the main direction, and the import aspect will still show a decreasing trend.