Abstract
Global production and consumption of IPA in 2007 was approximately 2.0 million metric tons. Global capacity utilization was 83.5% in 2007; this was a slight increase from 2006. Global IPA consumption is estimated to have increased by 3% in 2007, and is expected to increase on average by 2.5% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.2% per year from 2012 to 2017. Average global utilization rates are expected to remain in the low -80s range in the next few years, slowly increasing after 2012.
Solvent uses accounted for about 57% of global IPA consumption in 2007, followed by acetone production with 7% of total consumption. Other applications for IPA include intermediates production such as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), isopropylamines, isopropyl acetate, and isopropyl acetate.
