Fuel Oxygenate Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Composition (Alcohol, Ether), By Application (Automotive,Marine, Small Aircrafts, Equipment and Tools , Others) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Fuel for combustion is used worldwide for energy production. Right from power plants to automobiles, all require combustion of fuel to produce energy. The incomplete combustion of fuel is primarily responsible for the emissions of particulate matter, greenhouse gases, etc. Several methods have been used to reduce the harmful emissions from combustion of fuel.  

Petrol or gasoline is used as fuel in spark ignition type internal combustion engine. This type of engine is used for a variety of application such as boats, automobiles, aircraft, etc. Oxygenates are added to petrol to increase the octane number of the fuel. The high octane number fuel enhances the performance of the engine and reduces emissions.

Oxygenate added petrol reduces carbon monoxide and soot created during burning of fuel. Oxygenates have less energy density than petroleum-based fuel and lower the vehicle’s fuel mileage. They are effective modifiers to improve acceleration of the engine and help keep engines clean for more extended performance.

On the basis of composition, the fuel oxygenate market can be segmented into alcohols and ethers. Alcohol includes Methanol, Ethanol, Tertiary-butyl alcohol (TBA) and n-Butanol while ether consists of Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), Di-isopropyl ether (DIPE), Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) and Tertiary-amyl methyl ether (TAME). As a result of groundwater contamination issues, MTBE was partially banned from being used as an oxygenate in USA.

MTBE can still be used in specific specialty fuel applications in USA and in rest of world as a gasoline additive. Currently, ethanol and ETBE are more commonly used as oxygenates. ETBE is popular because it is typically made from bioethanol, and therefore considered a biofuel additive. Ethanol blends have promoted the growth in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV). FFV has modified spark-ignition engines that are designed to run on high alcohol levels. Based on application, the fuel oxygenate market can be divided into automotive, marine, small aircraft, equipment & tools, and others.      

The major market driver for the global fuel oxygenate market is the increasing demand for reduction of emissions worldwide. Several countries have formulated rules and regulations which make it mandatory to blend a certain amount of ethanol in petrol.

The key market restraint for the global fuel oxygenate market is the adverse impact on environment due to use of certain oxygenates such as MTBE. Majority of oxygenates is made from conventional energy sources like natural gas or coal. Development and deployment of electric vehicles also have adverse effects on fuel oxygenate market. 

Key Players Covered

Some of the major companies that are present in the fuel oxygenate market are EcoFuel Group, FZE, Evonik Performance Intermediates, HELLENIC PETROLEUM Group of Companies, Huntsman Corporation, PETROTEL LUKOIL S.A, LyondellBasell, SABIC, Saras S.p.A., Reliance Industries, Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited, and PETRONAS.

Segmentation

Regional Analysis

The global fuel oxygenate market has now been spread into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. The market for fuel oxygenate dependent on production of petrol or gasoline while the gasoline market is dependent on automobile sector. Europe has the largest number of automobile while USA has second largest number of automobiles. Although China has third largest automobile ownership, it has very low number of automobiles owned per capita. Developing countries such as India, Brazil, Mexico, etc. have very low number of cars per capita. These countries are expected to have rapid growth of automobile sector which will have positive influence on fuel oxygenate market.

Key Industry Developments

• In August 2019, KBR, Inc. has acquired isomerization technologies from RRT Global that will enable KBR to offer expanded octane and clean fuel technology solutions to customers. KBR has acquired the patented technology with intellectual property rights to offer MAX-ISOM globally and to offer isomerization technologies for C4 and C7 streams. Isomerization offers refiners higher-octane gasoline blendstock that does not contain benzene, aromatics, oxygenates and olefins.


• In July 2019, Food and ingredients manufacturer Bunge Ltd. and BP to form a 50:50 joint venture (JV) that to create a leading bioenergy company in Brazil,  which is one of the world’s largest fast-growing markets for biofuels.