1,5-Pentanediol and 1,6-Hexanediol Market

By Ma Yaoyao, Wu Yifan, China National Chemical Economic and Technical Development Centre

Production
The first 1,6-hexanediol production line in China was a pilot unit constructed by Liaoyang Petrochemical Co., Ltd. in September 2004. The design capacity of the unit was 200 t/a. Qualified 1,6-hexanediol was produced in December 2005. Due to problems in hydrogenation catalyst, the unit’s production was later suspended. A 1,6-hexanediol unit with a design capacity of 10 kt/a was constructed by Lishui Nanming Chemical Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Boadge Chemical Co., Ltd. today) and started production in November 2008. The actual capacity of the unit was 8 kt/a (That unit can also produce 1,5-pentanediol). A 5 kt/a 1,6-hexanediol unit was constructed by Liaoning Tianhua Chemical Co., Ltd. and started production in the first half of 2011. A 1,6-hexanediol unit with a design capacity of 10 kt/a was constructed by Shandong Yuanli Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and started production in 2012 (1,5-Pentanediol can also be produced).
Table 1 and Figure 1 respectively show the producers in 2016 and the output of recent years.


Import and export
China’s import of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol increased from 9 kt to 10 kt during 2012-2016, while export increased from 1 kt to 4 kt. The main import sources were Germany and Japan. Table 2 shows the import and export of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol by China during 2012-2016.
Consumption
China uses 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol mainly in making UV coatings, polyester and plasticizers. The consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol was 14 kt in 2012 and increased to 30.3 kt in 2016, with an average annual growth of 21.3%. Figure 2 shows the consumption pattern in 2016. The consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making UV coatings was biggest, accounting for around 43% of the total. Makers of polyester, plasticizers and other sectors came next.



UV coatings
UV coatings contain no solvents or only trace amounts, can be almost totally cured by radiation and emit extremely little VOCs. The UV coatings sector has therefore developed rapidly in China in the past dozen years. Active monomers are important components of UV coatings. One of the common active monomers is 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA). HDDA is a fast curing monomer with low viscosity used extensively in making photo-curable coatings, inks, sealants and injection-molded products. China’s total output of HDDA in 2015 was around 19 kt. Major producers include Jiangsu Litian Technology Co., Ltd., Tianjin Tianjiao Radiation Curing Material Co., Ltd., Taiwan Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd., Cytec Industries (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Yixing Honghui Chemical Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Sanmu Group Co., Ltd.
Consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making UV coatings grew from 6 kt in 2012 to 13 kt in 2016, with average annual growth of 21.3%.
With growing commitment to environmental protection, the demand for UV coatings will grow steadily. Output of HDDA will also grow quickly, reaching around 25 kt in 2020. Consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making UV coatings will reach 18 kt at that time, or 42.3% of all consumption, with average annual growth of 8.5%.
Polyester
Large polyester producers in China have expanded capacity steadily in recent years. Capacity increased from 38.60 million t/a in 2012 to 47.24 million t/a in 2016, with average annual growth of 5%. Output increased from 30.10 million tons in 2012 to 35.56 million tons in 2016, with average annual growth of 4%. It is expected that the average annual growth of demand will be 5% during the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), and demand will increase by at least 7.0 million tons by 2020.
Major polyester producers using 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol today include Zhejiang Huafon Group, Xuchuan Chemical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Shandong Qingdao Xinyutian Chemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Yantai Huada Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Tak Fat Group, Zhejiang Jiaxing Hexin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Anhui Hefei Anli Group Co., Ltd. Consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making polyester was around 4 kt in 2012 and went up to 11 kt by the end of 2016, with average annual growth of 28.8%.
It is expected that the consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making polyester will reach 15 kt in 2020, with average annual growth of 8.1%.
Plasticizers
The use of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making plasticizers can improve the properties of some products, giving them good extraction resistance and low-temperature resistance for instance. Consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making plasticizers was around 2 kt in 2012 and went up to 3.9 kt in 2016, with average annual growth of 18.2%.
Consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in making plasticizers has huge potential. It is expected that the consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in plasticizers will reach around 6 kt in 2020, after average annual growth of 11.4%.
Other applications
1,5-Pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol can be used in the production of various fine chemicals. 1,6-Dibromoethane can be produced from 1,6-hexanediol and hydrobromic acid through thermal reaction in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. 1,6-Dibromoethane is an organic chemical raw material with extensive applications. In the pharmaceutical sector it can be used to synthesize depressors, stabilizers and indole hormone inhibitors. In the pesticide sector it can be used to synthesize pesticide intermediate hexamethylene dicyanide. In the daily article sector, as 1,6-dibromoethane has sterilizing function, it is often used to synthesize detergents, shampoos and antiseptic fluids for table settings and poultry huts. In the reagent sector it can be used to synthesize Grignard reagents for polymers.
Major enterprises using 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in other sectors such as fine chemicals include Jiangsu Yixing Chengyuan Chemical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Yancheng Longsheng Chemical Co., Ltd. and Henan Sanmenxia Aoke Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Around 2 kt of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol were consumed in such other sectors in 2012 and went up to 2.4 kt in 2016, with average annual growth of 4.7%.
It is expected that the consumption of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in still other sectors will reach around 3.6 kt in 2020 and the average annual growth of the consumption will be 10.7% during 2016-2020.
After comprehensive consideration of growing consumption by makers of UV coatings, polyester and plasticizers and in other sectors such as fine chemicals, it is expected that total consumption will reach 42.6 kt in 2020, with average annual growth of 8.9%.
Prices
Major raw materials for 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol are co-produced in the production of adipic acid. Figures 3 and 4 show the prices of adipic acid and the prices of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol in China during 2012-2016. Adipic acid prices are influenced mainly by prices of raw material benzene and adipic acid supply/demand in the domestic market. The price trend of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol has a high correlation with that of adipic acid. The price of 1,6-hexanediol floated in the range of RMB16 000-18 000/t during 2012-2016 and was quite stable. The price trend of 1,5-pentanediol was similar, but the selling price was slightly higher.



Supply/demand
With the future completion of a 30 kt/a unit constructed by Shandong Yuanli Science & Technology Co., Ltd. in Fuling of Chongqing, the import volumes of 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol will likely be reduced, even though demand will increase. It is expected that China’s capacity to make 1,5-pentanediol and 1,6-hexanediol will reach 53 kt/a in 2020, while consumption grows to 42.6 kt. See Table 3 for details.                              

Table 3  Supply/demand of 1,5-pentanediol & 1,6-hexanediol in China

Year    Capacity
(kt/a)    Output
(kt)    Import
volume (kt)    Export
volume (kt)    Apparent
consumption (kt)
2012    13    9.4    9    1    17.4
2013    23    12.3    8    2    18.3
2014    23    16.2    9    4    21.2
2015    23    21    9.1    3    27.1
2016    23    21.7    9.9    4    27.6
2020 (E)    53    49    2.6    9    42.6