Published March 2023
The majority of furfuryl alcohol is used in the production of furan resins for foundry sand binders in the metal casting industry. Currently, furfuryl alcohol is used mainly in binders for the traditional furan no-bake system and in smaller quantities in furan hot-box, warm-box and gas-hardened processes. In its main application, the foundry business, furfuryl alcohol competes primarily with phenol, the feedstock for phenolic resins.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of furfuryl alcohol:
The production and use of furfuryl alcohol is centered in mainland China. Low-cost production in mainland China forced most of the industry in North America, Western Europe and Japan to shutter operations in the 1990s. Mainland China has also captured most of the global foundry business. Little change is expected in the near future. Any growth in the global industry will depend on activity in mainland China.
Mainland China continues to be the world’s largest producer and consumer of furfuryl alcohol, accounting for more than 85% of worldwide capacity, 85% of production, and about 65% of global consumption in 2022. Since 2000, a number of foundries have relocated to mainland China, which has led to increased domestic demand for furan resins, especially from the automotive, windmill, and machinery industries. However, it is expected that mainland Chinese demand for furan resins in the heavy casting industry will grow at a more moderate rate.
It is estimated that about 90% of worldwide demand for furfuryl alcohol in 2022 was used for the production of furan resins. The remaining applications include tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) and use in solvents, flavor and fragrance chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. THFA is used mainly as a specialty solvent or chemical intermediate, with its primary end markets being agricultural chemicals, coatings and cleaning solutions.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
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