SECTION I

PRODUCT ANALYSIS

1.1.

General details

Alternate name

Molecular formula
CAS No.
Appearance
Solubility
Specific gravity at 20/20 C
Boiling Range 0C
Relative Density at 25 0C
1.2.

Propylene glycol
Methyl glycol
1,2-Dihydroxypropane
1,2-propanediol
C3H8O2
57-55-6
Clear, colourless, viscous liquid, practically odourless,
hygroscopic
Miscible with water, ethanol 95%, acetone and chloroform
1.0375 to 1.0405
184-189
1.035 to 1.040

Grades

Pharma
Food & Flavour
Industrial

1.2.

Product application

1.2.1. General details

Propylene glycol is used as solvent in pharmaceutical, food and flavour industry.
The important application sectors include the following
*
*
*
*
*

Pharmaceutical
Food sector
Cosmetic
Tobacco
Industrial

1.2.2

Pharmaceutical sector

Used as a carrier, solvent, emollient and humectant

Used in many preparations including estrogen and vitamin formulations; antiseptic, elixirs and
ointments.
Also used as a solvent in extraction of crude drugs and preparations in pharmaceutical industry.
1.2.3

Food sector

Used as a solvent for extraction of vanilla flavour from vanilla beans, coffee flavour from roasted
coffee and such other flavours.
Used as a solvent for food colours. It has the advantages of lower volatility and lower cost.
Food antioxidants such as butylated hydroxy anisols (BHA) and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT)
are sold, by dissolving in propylene glycol.
Used as a heat transfer medium in the cooling of beer, wine, milk and other liquids and in the
immersion freezing of poultry and other foods.
1.2.4. U.S FDA-approved use of Propylene Glycol in foods
Food category
Alcoholic beverages
Confections and frosting
Frozen dairy products
Seasonings and flavourings
Nuts and nut products
All other foods
1.2.5

Maximum content, wt%

5
24
2.5
97
5
2

Cosmetic sector
2

Propylene glycol is used as medium for cosmetic preparations like cold creams, vanishing
creams, shaving creams and shampoos.
1.2.6

Tobacco sector

Used as a humectant, plasticiser and solvent.

Employed to plasticise cigar wraps and in pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff.
To prevent breaking and crumbling, the leaves are sprayed with a casing mixture, composed
mainly of propylene glycol, sugar and water, before stripping from the stems.
Less than 5% glycol is required to maintain the desired moisture content in the tobacco over a
wide range of relative humidities.
1.2.7. Industrial sector
Propylene glycol is used as basic raw material for unsaturated polyester resins and polyols.
It is used as a chemical intermediate for brake fluids, coupling agents, plasticisers for adhesives,
cork and paper products, low toxicity coolants, heat transfer medium, lubricants, surfactants
and de icing fluids.
It is an important intermediate in the production of alkyd resins for paints and varnishes.
It is also used as a solvent and plasticiser in printing inks and as a preservative in floral
arrangements.
The other applications include its use as coolant for automobiles and heavy duty diesel engine
trucks, which compete with traditional ethylene glycol-based products.
1.2.8. New application
Arco Chemical of USA is investigating the use of propylene glycol (PG) as a substitute for
ethylene glycol (EG) as an antifreeze and coolant in car engines in cooperation with Chrysler and
Texaco.

SECTION II
TRADE ANALYSIS

2.1.

Annual Import

2.1.

Annual Import

2.2.

Annual export

2.3.

Annual export

SECTION IV
SUPPLY ANALYSIS

4.1.

Indian manufacturer-Manali Petrochemicals Ltd.

Manali Petrochemicals Ltd. is the only producer of polypropylene glycol in the country.
It produces polypropylene glycol in the following grades:
PPG 400
PPG 1000
PPG 2000
PPG 4000
While it supplies PPG 1000 and PPG2000 depending on the order from time to time, PPG 400
and PPG 4000 are not regularly produced.

Period (April to
March)
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009

Installed capacity
in tonnes
13250
13250
13250

Production level in
tonnes
16430
16,875
16,069

Sales quantity in
tonnes
16,359
17,502
15,553

4.2.

Indian Production level

In 000 tonnes

Period : April 2009 to December 2009

13090 tonnes

Source: Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, Govt. of
India

SECTION V
DEMAND ANALYSIS

5.1.

Demand drivers

The major end user industries of propylene glycol are the following
* Unsaturated polyester resins
* Food flavours including cigarettes industry
* Pharmaceutical
Propylene glycol is also used in India as a solvent and as an intermediate in polyurethane foam.
The demand is likely to go up in tune with the performance for the following industries

Unsaturated Polyester resins

Pharmaceutical preparations
Food flavours
Cigarets
Cosmetics

The above industries are growth oriented are likely to register growth in tune with the overall
GDP growth rate in the country.
5.2.

Growth rate in demand

Annual Average Growth Rate (AAGR) in demand through 2015

6%

5.3.

Consumption Norm For Propylene Glycol In Selected Products

Product

Consumption norm

Bleach cream
Cold cream
Mascara
Shaving cream
Brillant blue liquid
Epoxy acrylate
V.V. flush colour
Black containing min. 30%
V.V. flush colour
Yellow containing min. 30%
V.V. flush colour
Cyan containing min. 30%
Cigarettes with filter plug without filter
plug
5.4.

0.029 kg per kg
6 kg per 100 kg
5 kgs per 100 kg
0.080 kg per kg
0.200 kg per kg
0.253 kg per kg
86.70 kg per 1000 kg
86.70 kg per 1000 kg
86.70 kg per 1000 kg
18 kgs per one million nos.x

Assessment of Demand for Propylene glycol

Period April 2009 to March 2010

Grade

Demand in tonnes per

annum

Industrial grade (Largely polyester resin)

22850

Pharmaceutical

6050

Flavour inclusive of cigarettes and others

14100

Total

43000

SECTION VI
GLOBAL SCENARIO

6.1.

Global Demand

Global Demand for Propylene glycol

1.6 million tonnes per annum

The major outlet for propylene glycol (PG) is in unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs) used in
surface coatings and glass fibre reinforced resins.
The second largest consumer is functional fluids such as de-icing and antifreeze.
PG is also consumed in plasticisers and hydraulic brake fluids. Other uses are in non-ionic
detergents and as a humectant in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, animal foodstuffs and tobacco
industries. PG is an excellent solvent and extractant.
6.2.

Growth rate in demand

The strongest growth is likely to be in Asia, mainly China, and demand in East Asia is forecast at
more than 7% per year through 2015.
Overall demand in Europe will be steady.
The US propylene glycol market is fairly balanced.
An important factor is the influence of cold weather that would drive demand for PG in aircraft
deicing fluid (ADF)-type applications.
Average global growth rate in demand

4.5% per year through 2013.

10