Chemical Economics Handbook

Furfural
Published August 2011

China is the dominant player in the world furfural market. With 80% of global
capacity and 72% of world consumption, China will continue to drive the overall
market. Strong annual growth of over 6% is expected in the next five years as
China's furfural consumption continues to grow as a result of strong demand in
furfuryl alcohol use for furan resins and increased furfuryl alcohol exports.
Other regions that may experience growth, albeit from smaller volumes, include
Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and Oceania. Only minimal growth is
expected in Central and South America and the Middle East. Outside of China,
other Asian countries, including Japan, are expected to experience flat growth
or slight declines in furfural use.
The following pie chart shows world consumption of furfural:

Furfuryl alcohol is the primary end use for furfural. In major regions, it accounts
for 88% of total use, followed by solvent applications in lubricating oils and
butadiene extractions (5%); the remainder is in other applications (7%) such as
chemical, pharmaceutical and flavoring intermediates.
Furfural is converted into furfuryl alcohol via hydrogenation, and then most is
further processed into furan resins used mainly for foundry sand binders in the
metal casting industry. Furfural consumption will continue to be driven by furfuryl
alcohol use, particularly in China where furfuryl alcohol continues to grow
strongly for furan resin production and exports to other regions. In the United
States and Western Europe, furfural demand for this application is expected to
grow only slightly (12% annually) as foundry industry growth is limited.
Other furfural applications such as chemical and agrochemical intermediates, as
well as uses in the pharmaceutical, fragrance and food industries, will
experience some growth in the various regions.

Table of Contents
Section

Page Number

Summary
Manufacturing Processes
Supply and Demand by Region
United States
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Chemical Intermediate Use
Furfuryl alcohol
Tetrahydrofuran
Solvent Use
Refining of lubricating oils
Butadiene extraction
Other
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Canada
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Price
Trade
Mexico
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Price
Trade
Central and South America
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Price
Trade
Western Europe
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Furfuryl Alcohol
Solvent Applications
Refractory products
Refining of lubricating oils
Agricultural Chemicals
Other
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Central and Eastern Europe
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Africa
Middle East
Asia
Japan
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Solvent use
Other
Price
Trade
China
Producing Companies

5
8
9
9
9
10
11
13
13
13
14
14
15
15
15
17
17
18
19
19
19
19
20
21
21
21
21
22
22
23
23
25
25
26
27
27
29
30
30
31
31
31
31
32
32
34
34
36
37
37
38
38
40
40
40
41
42
44
45
45
45
45
47
48
48
48
49
50
50

Copyright 2015 IHS Inc. All Rights Reserved