15 Methanol Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for methanol as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 methanol manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked methanol companies as of November, 2024: 1.The Chemical Co., 2.SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD., 3.Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Table of Contents
What Is Methanol?
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood spirit, or carbinol, is the simplest form of alcohol. It's produced primarily from natural gas or coal gas through sophisticated processes involving high temperatures and pressures. As a Class 4 hazardous alcohol with the lowest flash point among alcohols, methanol demands careful handling.
Uses of Methanol
As a fundamental chemical raw material, methanol is crucial for producing acetic acid, formaldehyde, phenolic resins, and adhesives, and serves as a solvent in numerous chemical reactions. Its role in energy sectors, such as in gasoline additives, biodiesel fuel, and as a hydrogen source for fuel cells, is increasingly significant.
Properties of Methanol
Clear, colorless, and with a pungent odor, methanol melts at -97°C and boils at 64.7°C. Its solubility spans across water, ethanol, benzene, and ether. Highly flammable, methanol's vapor can lead to explosive reactions, and its light blue flames are nearly invisible in daylight. Methanol poisoning, potentially fatal, can result from ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, with symptoms including blindness.
Other Information on Methanol
1. Methanol Manufacturing Process
Methanol is typically synthesized from natural gas, using a reaction between carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a copper oxide-zinc oxide/alumina catalyst. Alternative methods include wood distillation, bacterial fermentation, and as a byproduct in the wine fermentation process.
2. Reaction of Methanol
Methanol combustion produces carbon dioxide and water, while its oxidation on heated copper yields formaldehyde. Toxic to humans, methanol's metabolism generates formic acid, causing potential blindness and metabolic acidosis. Methanol reacts with sodium to produce sodium methoxide and hydrogen.
3. Fuel Reforming With Methanol
Heated methanol generates syngas, enhancing fuel thermal efficiency due to its endothermic combustion reaction. Methanol is also explored as a fuel for hydrogen fuel cells, promising higher energy efficiency than direct methanol fuel cells, albeit with challenges related to carbon monoxide poisoning of platinum-based cells.
List of 15 Methanol Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- Japan
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Exxon Mobil Corporation
Synthetic fuels (Methanol to gasoline)
Company Overview
ExxonMobil is a Texas-based multinational oil and gas corporation that operates as a producer, manufacturer, supplier and distributor across 200 countries and territories around the world. Formed in 1999 with the merger of companies Exxon and Mobil, the corporation's primary commodities include oil products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as chemicals like propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene. Other commodities include crude oil and natural gas extracted — as well as refined — via ExxonMobil's subsidiaries and partners like Exxon Neftegas, ExxonMobil Australia, and ExxonMobil Nigeria.
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The Chemical Co.
Methanol
Company Overview
The Chemical Company (TCC) was founded in 1988 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. TCC is a distributor of chemicals, composites, and plastics. TCC strategically sources materials to provide customers with secure product supply to ensure longterm supply security. TCC’s product categories include C.A.S.E. (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers) such as adipic acid and casein, flame retardants such as dicyandiamide and calcium chloride, silanes, acid such as boric acid and citric acid, water treatment such as melatonin and nicotinamide, intermediates such as acetone, fertilizer & crop nutrition such as ammonium sulfate, and polymer additives such as resorcinol and zinc borate.
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SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Sankyo Chemical Co. LTD., established in 1957 and headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, is a manufacturer of several intermediate materials, including paints, industrial cleaning agents, thinners, organic industrial chemicals, and adhesives. The products can be used in several areas, including silk screen printing, wiping off resin, washing agents for flux, metal processing, and mold forming. The company accepts contract manufacturing and provides several environmentally friendly products that comply with ISO 14001, the Industrial Safety and Health Law, and the PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) Law.
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KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC.
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a reagent manufacturer with overseas affiliates in other countries, including China, France, USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Its product portfolio includes analytical reagents, ionic liquids, Iodine compounds, ultra-pure chemicals, and water analysis kits. The company is also developing regenerative medicine and genetics reagents and has over 50,000 products. It has several certifications, including ISO 9001, acquired in 1994, making it the first Japanese company in the reagent industry. Other certifications are ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO/IEC 17025.
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Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd.
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
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Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
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Nanjing Kapsom Engineering Limited
Methanol Plant
Manufacturer Overview
Nanjing Kapsom Engineering Limited, founded in 2017 and located in Nanjing, China, is an EPC contracting manufacturer and supplier of solutions for the construction of various chemical plants. The company designs and builds chemical plants such as ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, urea, and sulfuric acid plants. The company also offers various services, including engineering support and equipment fabrication, assembly and installation, as well as quality control inspections. Industries served include renewable energy, fertilizer, metallurgy, the military, and more. The company provides technology and equipment to over 80 countries worldwide, including Germany, Poland, Brazil, Canada, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia.
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Merck
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
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Clariant
Methanol Synthesis
Manufacturer Overview
Clariant, founded in Pratteln, Basel-Country in 1995 is a manufacturer of chemical products such as Additives, Catalysts, and Functional Minerals. The company's product portfolio includes stabilizers, plasticizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, and a wide selection of catalysts for different applications, including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. Their products are used in industries such as Food and Beverage Processing, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Chemical and Petrochemical, and personal care. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, and New Product Design and Development.
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Alfa Laval Corporate AB
FCM Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Alfa Laval Corporate AB was founded in 1883 and headquartered in Lund, Sweden. Alfa Laval serves energy, utilities, home, personal care, food, dairy, beverage, marine, transportation, pharmaceutical, biotech, water, and wastewater industries. Alfa Laval provides heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling products and solutions worldwide. Alfa Laval operates in three divisions: Energy, Food & Water, and Marine. Alfa Laval offers oil & gas-fired steam and composite steam boilers, exhaust gas economizer, and ballast water treatment systems, and exhaust gas cleaning products. Alfa Laval also provides sensing and control, cleaning validation, condition monitoring, agitators, tank, powder mixers, fittings, and tubes, as well as wall mounted cleaning nozzles, rotary jet and heads; and tank accessories and covers.
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Johnson Matthey
Methanol
Manufacturer Overview
Johnson Matthey, established in 1817 and based in London, UK, is a manufacturer and supplier of sustainable technologies. The company's product range includes transport, fuel cells, mobile emissions control, biorenewables, and FCC additives. These products address challenges such as decarbonizing modern life, reducing automotive emissions, transforming energy systems, and supporting a circular economy. The company serves the energy, chemicals, and automotive sectors. It also specializes in catalysis, fine chemicals, process technology, and advanced chemistry.
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nacalai
Methanol
Company Overview
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
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Company Overview
CATO Research Chemicals Inc. is headquartered in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, in China. The company performs research and development and production of more than 32000 standard products and 48000 analytical reference material products for manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and chemical markets. The company distributes a range of chemicals from raw materials to intermediates to analytical testing and customized synthetic compounds. The categories of chemicals that the company sells include plant growth regulators, polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, ketones, and fatty alcohols.
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Independent Commodity Intelligence Services
Methanol
Company Overview
Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) is a provider of independent market intelligence and analysis for the global energy and chemicals sectors that was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in London, UK. ICIS offers a wide range of products and services, including price assessments, news and analysis, market research, and consulting. The company has over 1,000 employees and operates in over 100 countries. ICIS's customers include energy and chemicals companies, financial institutions, governments, and regulators. ICIS is a source of market intelligence for the global energy and chemicals sectors.
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SYZYGY PLASMONICS
methanol
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Methanol Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Chemical Co. |
19.4%
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| 2 | Merck |
12.5%
|
| 3 | SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD. |
11.4%
|
| 4 | Exxon Mobil Corporation |
9.5%
|
| 5 | SYZYGY PLASMONICS |
6.5%
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| 6 | Johnson Matthey |
5.7%
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| 7 | Alfa Laval Corporate AB |
5.7%
|
| 8 | Nanjing Kapsom Engineering Limited |
5.3%
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| 9 | KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC. |
4.9%
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| 10 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
4.2%
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Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the methanol page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- Exxon Mobil Corporation: 62,000
- KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC.: 1,062
- Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.: 283
Newly Established Company
- Clariant: 1995 (29 years ago)
- The Chemical Co.: 1988 (36 years ago)
- SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.: 1957 (67 years ago)
Company with a History
- nacalai: 1934 (90 years ago)
- KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC.: 1944 (80 years ago)
- Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd.: 1948 (76 years ago)
Methanol Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Methanol Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
Japan
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5 | 62.5% |
United States of America
|
2 | 25.0% |
China
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1 | 12.5% |
