Butanol Price | Current and Historical
Monitor Butanol Prices Worldwide
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See 6 monthly Butanol price assessments covering 6 locations: United States, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China and Middle East. Also check Butanol price history since 2007. The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices - subscribe now and gain access to current prices of 226 commodities, including Butanol.
Data Legend. The Butanol price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) as follows:
- US: Butanol, United States, transaction, fob
- SAM: Butanol, South America, transaction, cif, Brazil
- EUR: Butanol, Europe, transaction, fob, Belgium
- SEA: Butanol, Southeast Asia, transaction, fob, Singapore
- CN: Butanol, China, transaction, cif
- MDE: Butanol, Middle East, transaction, fob, Saudi Arabia
Data Use. Butanol prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 226 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
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Price Dynamics. The Butanol price in United States decreased during December 2018 to 997 USD per metric ton, which represents a decline of 6% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Butanol prices in United States increased significantly by 8%. Meanwhile, in Belgium, the average price of Butanol amounted to 1,140 USD per metric ton, from 1,080 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Butanol price in Belgium is 14% higher than the price one month before.
The price of Butanol in China declined considerably throughout December 2018, reaching 894 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 7% lower than the average price in the previous month and 1% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, Butanol prices in Singapore increased significantly during December 2018, reaching 1,130 USD per metric ton, which means a rise of 15% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 33% from the previous year’s price.
The Butanol prices in Saudi Arabia were flat and a rise of 11% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in December 2018, the Butanol price in Brazil witnessed a rise of 15 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 972 USD per metric ton. The December 2018 price in Brazil is 7% higher than the price one year before.
About Butanol. Butanol (a.k.a. Butyl Alcohol, BuOH, Bio-Butanol) encompass the aliphatic saturated C4 alcohols of empirical formula C4H10O. Among five structurally isomeric alcohols, 1-Butanol (or n-Butanol) and isobutanol (2-methyl-1-propanol) are the ones most commercially relevant, being used in a wide range of applications. Actually, it is worth noting that 1-butanol production plants also can be used for the manufacture of 2-methyl-1-propanol. It is a colorless liquid with a vinous odor. Normal butanol is found naturally as a fermentation product of carbohydrates, as well as a crude oil derivative, and it is highly soluble in water. The alcohol is present in a variety of foods and beverages, one of its main uses. It is also used extensively as an industrial intermediate in many processes.
n-Butanol was first industrially produced back in 1912, from carbohydrates fermentation. Since then, in light of the growing demand for that alcohol, a number of manufacturing processes have been developed, including aldolization of acetaldehyde followed by hydrogenation, propylene carbonylation (Reppe synthesis), and, most importantly, hydrogenation of n-butyraldehyde derived from propylene hydroformylation. When produced from renewable sources, Butanol may be referred to as Bio-Butanol or Green Butanol.
n-Butanol is a liquid at room temperature, and it is very flammable (flash point at 36 °C) in both liquid and vapor forms, so it should be transported and stored away from heat sources in tightly closed containers. Untreated mild steel or enameled steel drums and stainless steel containers can be used for Butanol storage, provided that ingress of moisture is prevented. Storage under dry nitrogen is also used to limit flammability hazards. Its storage should also be in well ventilated areas. Butanol is transported in rail and road tank cars, and in drums as well as in tanker vessels and containers.
Butanol is primarily produced from n-butyraldehyde, obtained in turn from the hydroformylation (Oxo reaction) of propylene. This chemical is also produced as coproduct in the Fischer Tropsch synthesis of methanol. In developing countries, there is considerable Butanol production from fermentation of molasses or corn products. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Butanol are listed below.
- Propylene (hydroformylation/Oxo process, followed by hydrogenation of the butyraldehyde intermediate, catalyzed by a compound of cobalt, zinc and rhodium),
- Molasses (such as corn) (fermentation, with acetone and ethanol as coproducts),
- Propylene + carbon monoxide + water (Reppe reaction)
The uses and applications of Butanol may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Butanol are pure/high performance liquid chromatography grade (HPLC, 99.5% minimum purity); solvent grade (99% minimum purity); and industrial grade (95% minimum purity).
