Dimethyl ether (DME) is emerging as a significant petrochemical with diverse applications, primarily in the fuel sector and as an aerosol propellant. The current surge in demand for DME is propelled by the increasing deficits in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in countries already grappling with limited oil and gas reserves. The abundant coal deposits in the Asia-Pacific region, coupled with stringent emission regulations, are pivotal factors expected to fuel the future growth of the DME market.
LPG serves as a fundamental household fuel and finds extensive use across various industries. The demand for LPG is witnessing rapid escalation, particularly in developing nations, driven by industrial expansion and population growth. The stable production and escalating consumption of LPG are amplifying the deficits in various countries, leading to an increased reliance on imports.
Dimethyl ether (DME) emerges as a dependable substitute for propane within LPG and can be seamlessly blended with LPG, comprising up to 20.0%, without necessitating changes to the existing infrastructure. This unique application of DME has created a scenario in the market where companies, in collaboration with governments and other institutions, are actively advocating for the consumption of DME for LPG blending. Consequently, the DME market is robustly propelled by the strategic interest of numerous countries seeking to address their LPG deficits and, in turn, decrease their reliance on imports.
The Asia-Pacific region, endowed with rich coal deposits, stands out as a significant driver for the DME market. The stringent emission norms imposed by various countries in this region are compelling industries to explore cleaner alternatives, with DME emerging as a viable and eco-friendly solution. This growing inclination towards environmentally sustainable practices is expected to further boost the adoption of DME in the coming years.
Additionally, the demand for DME is intricately linked to the deficits in LPG faced by nations. As industrialization and population growth drive up the consumption of LPG, the deficits become more pronounced, making these countries increasingly dependent on external sources. In this context, DME presents itself as a versatile solution, offering the potential to address LPG deficits without the need for significant infrastructure modifications.
Furthermore, the compatibility of DME with existing LPG infrastructure, allowing for blending without major adjustments, adds to its attractiveness as a strategic solution. This characteristic positions DME as a pragmatic and cost-effective approach for countries looking to reduce their dependence on LPG imports.
The surge in demand for Dimethyl ether (DME) is intricately tied to the growing deficits in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) faced by countries with limited oil and gas reserves. The rich coal deposits in the Asia-Pacific region and stringent emission norms are pivotal drivers for the increasing interest in DME as a potential solution. As countries seek to mitigate their LPG deficits and reduce import dependency, the versatility and compatibility of DME with existing infrastructure make it a compelling choice for blending with LPG, further propelling the growth of the DME market.
Report Attribute/Metric | Details |
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Market Opportunities | · Many organizations and car manufacturers, nowadays, tend to use enhanced quality fuel on their cars. |
Market Dynamics | · The ever-rising demand for the automobile in the current scenario. |
The Dimethyl Ether Market Size was valued at USD 6.02 Billion in 2023. The Dimethyl Ether industry is projected to grow from USD 6.37 Billion in 2024 to USD 16.18 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.35% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Methoxymethane is another term for dimethyl ether, sometimes referred to as DME. This gas has no flavor or color. The gas has a low boiling point and is produced from a variety of basic sources, including coal, biomass, methanol, and natural gas. Researchers from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC R&D), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, and Ashok Leyland Ltd. have created a system that enables a diesel-powered automobile vehicle to function in flex-fuel mode, that is, either 100% diesel or Dimethyl Ether (DME) + Diesel mode. The initiative was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
The majority of industrialized and emerging nations have enacted stringent laws prohibiting high-emission fuels in the car industry. The creation of fuels other than standard fuels is a result of the ever-growing environmental concern. Dimethyl ether demand is anticipated to rise in the automotive sector due to its possible usage as a propane substitute in liquid petroleum gas (LPG), a fuel used in both the automotive and home sectors. Throughout the projection period, dimethyl ether will also be used more often in gas turbines and as a fuel for diesel engines.
The market segmentation, based on Raw Materials, includes Natural Gas, Coal, Biomass, and Others. The Natural Gas segment may dominate the market. Natural gas is an abundant and relatively low-cost feedstock for DME production, making it an attractive option for many producers. In addition, the use of natural gas as a feedstock for DME production can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as DME is a cleaner-burning fuel compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Based on Application, the global market segmentation includes Transportation Fuel, Aerosol Propellant, LPG Blending, and Others. The LPG Blending segment may dominate the market. LPG is a mixture of propane and butane, and it can be easily blended with DME to create a higher-quality, cleaner-burning fuel. LPG blending can also help to increase the overall energy density of the fuel, making it more efficient. In addition, blending DME with LPG can provide economic benefits for producers, as it can help to increase the overall value of the LPG and improve the profitability of the blending process.
September 2023
Rinnai, a global manufacturer and distributor of gas appliances, and Dimeta, a global joint venture whose mission is to accelerate the production and use of renewable and recycled carbon Dimethyl Ether (DME), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the possibility of decarbonizing the LPG market in Europe via the use of DME.
According to the organizations, renewable and recycled carbon DME is a sustainable fuel that burns cleanly and is produced from a variety of feedstocks, including waste, biomass, and biogas. Compared to gasoline and diesel, it can reduce emissions by up to 85 percent.
DME, which shares chemical similarities with bioLPG and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), can be seamlessly integrated into existing LPG supply chains and incorporated with it up to 20%. This offers a viable solution to the annual emission reduction of more than 13 million tonnes of LPG used for energy in Europe.
Dimeta and Rinnai will investigate the potential applications of DME blended with LPG and utilized in pre-existing appliances, in addition to 100% DME dedicated appliances such as dryers, furnaces, and hot water production systems.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
By region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The Asia-Pacific region dominates the DME market due to the high availability of raw materials used in manufacturing, which is primarily due to the increased use of DME in various applications such as LPG blending, aerosol propellant, transportation fuel, and other applications within the region. North America, on the other hand, will continue to demonstrate profitable development over the projected period due to its uses in LPG blending, which results in reduced soot and NOx emissions in the environment.
Figure 3: DIMETHYL ETHER MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review
The major market players are investing a lot of money in R&D to expand their product lines, which will spur further market growth. With significant market development like new product releases, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, increased investments, and collaboration with other organizations, market participants are also undertaking various strategic activities to expand their global presence. To grow and thrive in a market climate that is becoming more competitive and growing, competitors in the Dimethyl Ether industry must offer affordable products.
Manufacturing locally to cut operating costs is one of the main business tactics manufacturers use in the global Dimethyl Ether industry to benefit customers and expand the market sector. Major market players, including Jiutai Energy Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell, Nouryon, Air Products, and Chemicals Inc, and others, are attempting to increase market demand by funding R&D initiatives.
Mitsubishi Corporation is a Japanese multinational corporation that operates across a wide range of industries, including energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, and living essentials. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Mitsubishi Corporation has a global network of over 200 offices and subsidiaries in more than 90 countries. The company's business operations are organized into three main groups: Global Environmental & Infrastructure Business Group, Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development Group, and Energy Business Group.
Royal Dutch Shell, commonly known as Shell, is a British-Dutch multinational oil and gas company. The company is organized into four main business segments: Upstream, Downstream, Integrated Gas, and New Energies. The Upstream segment is involved in exploration and production activities, including conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources. The Downstream segment includes activities such as refining, marketing, and trading of oil and gas products, as well as the manufacture and marketing of chemicals. The Integrated Gas segment is involved in the production and marketing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other gas-related activities. The New Energies segment is focused on developing and investing in low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
January 2022: Air Products and Chemicals Inc with Indonesian coal miner Bukit Asam and energy company Pertamina, started constructing a new plant that converts coal into dimethyl ether (DME) with an investment of USD 2.3 billion.
January 2021: Mitsubishi Corporation announced that Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited (CGCL), a joint venture between Mitsubishi group companies including Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC), Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering (MHIENG), and the National Gas Company of Trinidad, started commercial production of dimethyl ether (DME) from December 2020 with an annual production capacity of 20 kilotons of DME.
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