# Formaldehyde: Feedstocks

Why the price is really just methanol plus a bit

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/formaldehyde/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Formaldehyde is methanol plus air. Methanol is 80-90% of the cash cost, so the formaldehyde price is essentially the methanol price times about 1.15 plus a conversion margin. Producers with captive methanol or cheap port access win; most plants are too small to integrate.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | about 1.13-1.22 t per t HCHO (100% basis) | sole carbon source | about 80-90% of cash cost (indicative) | stoichiometry and process yields (indicative) |
| [Tc Thermal coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/thermal_coal/) | indirect | feedstock behind most Chinese methanol | via methanol | indicative |
| [Ag Silver](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/silver/) | small; regenerated | catalyst in the silver process | under 1% (indicative) | indicative |
| [Mo Molybdenum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/molybdenum/) | small; replaced every 1-2 years (indicative) | catalyst in the oxide process | about 1-2% (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Low-cost producers sit next to methanol plants or import terminals (Chinese coal-chemical parks, US Gulf). Indian producers pay import parity for methanol plus duty and freight, so their formalin price tracks CFR India methanol.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Adh Adhesives and sealants](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/) | UF, PF and MF wood adhesives |
| [PU Polyurethanes (MDI, TDI, polyols)](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polyurethanes/) | via MDI |
| [Con Construction chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/) | sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde superplasticisers |
| [Gly Herbicides](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/) | glyphosate routes use formaldehyde |
| [Pnt Paints and coatings](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/paints_coatings/) | amino resins and pentaerythritol for alkyds |

## Other sections

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