# Acetic acid

Made mostly from methanol and carbon monoxide, acetic acid feeds vinyl acetate, PTA for polyester, solvents and paracetamol; China now dominates supply.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/

Commodity chemicals · Methanol & oxygenates · No. 33

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 17-19 Mt a year (indicative, basis: China about 11-13 Mt capacity being about half of world capacity; not a published total)
- 2.4 t CO₂e per t
- HS 291521
 Commodity chemicals · Methanol & oxygenates · Foundation · Matter

The sour acid in vinegar is made industrially from methanol and carbon monoxide, and ends up in paint, polyester and paracetamol.

Chart: Illustration: Acetic acid

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Methanol and carbon monoxide react over a rhodium or iridium catalyst at 30-60 bar. This carbonylation route has pushed out almost every older method since the 1970s.

##### Three things to know

1. China had 10.55 Mt of acetic acid capacity in 2022, roughly half the world, with 7.9 Mt more planned.
2. India's domestic price leapt to Rs 68 per kg in early April 2026, then fell to Rs 45 by May as imports poured in.
3. Reliance plans a 3.0 Mt plant at Jamnagar for 2030, bigger than any single site operating today.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Methanol, CO**0.54 t methanol, 0.53 t CO
2. 2 **Carbonylation**Rhodium or iridium catalyst, 150-200 C
3. 3 **Purification**Distilled to glacial, at least 99.8%
4. 4 **Derivatives**VAM, PTA, esters, acetic anhydride
5. 5 **Products**Paints, glue, polyester, solvents, paracetamol
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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acetic_acid/links/index.md)