# Methanol: Relationships

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/links/

Every element and industry that Methanol is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

- [Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-natural-gas/): Outside China almost all methanol is made by reforming natural gas, which is its main cost, so plants are built where gas is cheap and stop when their gas supply fails. *(researched)*
- [Thermal coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-thermal-coal/): China makes most of its methanol, the world's largest share, by gasifying coal, so Chinese coal costs shape the marginal tonne in Asia; the route is cheap where coal is cheap but emits several times more carbon than gas, and India now plans to copy it. *(researched)*
- [Ethylene](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ethylene-and-methanol/): In China, methanol-to-olefins (MTO) plants turn about 2.6 to 3 t of methanol into a tonne of ethylene and propylene, so methanol competes with naphtha and ethane as an olefin feed. Olefin prices therefore cap what MTO plants can pay for methanol, and coastal MTO plants that buy imported methanol are the swing users. *(researched)*
- [Pharmaceuticals](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-pharmaceuticals/): Methanol is a crucial solvent for making and purifying drug intermediates and APIs, and India imports over 90% of the methanol it uses, mostly from the Middle East, so a Gulf supply shock reaches Indian drug makers directly. *(researched)*
- [Ammonia, methanol and e-fuels](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ammonia-methanol-and-e-fuels-and-methanol/): Ammonia, methanol and e-fuels needs methanol; their prices have moved together.
- [Acrylics (PMMA)](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/acrylics-pmma-and-methanol/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Biodiesel (FAME)](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/biodiesel-fame-and-methanol/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Custom synthesis (CDMO)](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/custom-synthesis-cdmo-and-methanol/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Hydrogen](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/hydrogen-and-methanol/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/hydrogen-and-hydrogen-carriers-and-methanol/): Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers needs methanol.
- [Pharma starting materials and intermediates](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-pharma-starting-materials-and-intermediates/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Power-to-X](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-power-to-x/): Power-to-X needs methanol.
- [Ship propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-ship-propulsion/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Small-molecule APIs](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-small-molecule-apis/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Tankers, barges and fuel trucks](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-tankers-barges-and-fuel-trucks/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Transport and logistics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-transport-and-logistics/): Transport and logistics depends on methanol.
- [Wood products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/methanol-and-wood-products/): Wood products depends on methanol.

## Other sections

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