Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Key Highlights

• COVID-19 negatively impacted the demand for methyl isobutyl carbinol. The pandemic caused a decline in the manufacturing of plasticizers, frothers, corrosion inhibitors, lubrication oils, and hydraulic fluids, which in turn reduced the market for chemicals such as methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC). MIBC is used in a variety of end-user sectors.
• One of the major factors driving the market is the surging demand for frothers in copper and molybdenum sulfide ores. The increasing demand for surface coating applications will also likely drive the market forward. On the flip side, the toxic effects of MIBC are hindering the growth of the market studied.
• Upcoming mining operations in Latin America are expected to act as opportunities for market growth. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate and is set to dominate the global market during the forecast period.

Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC) Market Trends

Mining Industry to Dominate the Market

• Methyl isobutyl carbinol is branched hexyl alcohol, an organic chemical compound that is used as plasticizers, hydraulic fluids, frothers, and corrosion inhibitors in various applications. Methyl isobutyl carbinol is used as a frother in the flotation process in the mining of ores, such as copper and molybdenum sulfide, as well as coal.
• Froth flotation is an important concentration process that can be used to selectively separate hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic waste gangue. Froth flotation is one of the most popular operational processes for mineral beneficiation and is helpful for separating a wide range of sulfides, carbonates, and oxides before further refining. Methyl isobutyl carbinol absorbs at the water-air interface, assists in bubble formation, and stabilizes flotation froths. Short-chain aliphatic alcohols and polyglycols are the two most common forms of frothers today.
• According to the United States Geological Survey, Australia is by far the world's largest iron ore mining country, with a total production of approximately 880 million metric tons in 2022, followed by Brazil (410 million metric tons) and China (380 million metric tons).
• With a production volume of almost 2.6 billion metric tons in 2022, iron ore was one of the most produced mineral commodities worldwide. Iron ore, potash, and copper were the two mineral products that were produced the most globally, with total production amounts of 40 million metric tons and 22 million metric tons, respectively.
• According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis's (BEA) official data, the total value contributed by the mining sector in the United States (excluding oil and gas) in the third quarter of 2022 was approximately USD 69.7 billion, a 12% increase in value over the same period in the previous year. Also, the industry added nearly USD 205.7 billion in value throughout the first three quarters of the year.
• The market for methyl isobutyl carbinol is anticipated to grow during the projected period as a result of the development of mining industry operations around the world and the continuous increase in investment in the aforementioned industry.

China to Dominate the Asis-Pacific Market

• China is the largest producer of various metals, such as coal, gold, steel, etc. Infrastructure-driven growth in Asia, especially in China, resulted in a significant increase in demand for commodities like iron ore, copper, and coal. Increasing demand for such commodities from the construction industry has been driving the growth of the mining industry in China.
• The government's desire for infrastructure investment to support economic growth has accelerated the development of the construction sector in China. Also, China's expanding mining industry and impending government initiatives are creating a lucrative chance for the market to expand in the future.
• According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's construction industry is expanding significantly. The fourth quarter of 2022 saw an increase in China's construction output of around 50% over the previous quarter (USD 27.6 billion), reaching an estimated USD 40 billion.
• Moreover, According to US Geological Survey, China will be the third largest country in the production of iron ore mines in 2022 globally, with a total production of 380 million metric tons, just after Australia and Brazil respectively.
• Methyl isobutyl carbinol also serves its purposes in the automobile industry. MIBC is used to produce lube oil additives, which are majorly used in the automobile industry. Thus, increased demand for lube oil additives would positively impact the MIBC market.
• The Chinese automotive manufacturing industry is the largest in the world. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, in 2022, automotive production in the country reached 27.02 million units, which increased by approximately 3.4%, compared to 26.08 million vehicles produced in 2021.
• The factors mentioned above are expected to impact the demand for Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MICB) in the forecast period.

Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC) Industry Overview

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