Methanol and green methanol market intelligence
Production pathways, maritime decarbonization, and the e-methanol value chain.
Methanol is one of the world's most widely traded chemicals, with global production exceeding 100 million tonnes annually. Conventional methanol is produced primarily from natural gas and coal. Green methanol — produced from renewable hydrogen combined with captured CO₂ (e-methanol) or from sustainable biomass (bio-methanol) — is emerging as a critical decarbonization fuel, particularly for maritime shipping.
The maritime sector is the largest catalyst for green methanol demand. The International Maritime Organization's emissions reduction targets have driven major shipping lines to order methanol-compatible vessels at unprecedented scale. Maersk alone has ordered over 25 methanol-fueled container ships. By late 2025, hundreds of methanol-ready vessels were on order globally. Port bunkering infrastructure is expanding rapidly across Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai, and other major hubs.
The green methanol market was valued at approximately $2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at over 30% CAGR through the early 2030s, driven by shipping decarbonization, chemical feedstock substitution, and regulatory mandates including the EU's FuelEU Maritime regulation and Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) targets. Production capacity is scaling across Northern Europe (Liquid Wind, European Energy), China (multiple pilot and commercial facilities), and North America (leveraging IRA incentives).
Delphidata tracks the full methanol value chain: green methanol production projects (both e-methanol and bio-methanol pathways), conventional methanol capacity, methanol synthesis technology suppliers, shipping fleet orders and conversions, port bunkering infrastructure development, off-take agreements between producers and shipping lines, and the regulatory frameworks shaping market economics.
What Delphidata tracks.
Structured data across the full value chain.
Green methanol production projects
E-methanol (power-to-methanol from green hydrogen and captured CO₂) and bio-methanol (biomass gasification) facilities worldwide. Mapped with production capacity, feedstock source, electrolyzer capacity, CO₂ supply, technology provider, development status, and timeline.
Maritime fleet and bunkering
Methanol-fueled vessel orders and conversions across container shipping, tankers, bulk carriers, and specialized vessels. Port bunkering infrastructure development — which ports offer methanol bunkering, storage capacity, and planned expansions.
Off-take and supply agreements
Binding purchase agreements and letters of intent between green methanol producers and shipping companies, chemical buyers, and fuel distributors. Tracking agreement volumes, pricing structures, contract duration, and certification requirements (ISCC, EU RFNBO).
Technology and supply chain
Methanol synthesis technology providers, carbon capture integration, electrolyzer suppliers for e-methanol projects, dual-fuel engine manufacturers (MAN Energy Solutions, Wärtsilä), and methanol fuel handling system suppliers.
Policy and economics
FuelEU Maritime regulation, EU RFNBO targets, IMO greenhouse gas strategy, IRA clean fuel incentives, carbon pricing mechanisms, and green methanol certification frameworks. Tracking how regulation translates into production economics and investment signals.
Who uses this intelligence.
Shipping companies and fleet operators
Monitor green methanol supply development across key bunkering routes, evaluate fuel availability risk for methanol vessel investments, track competitor fleet conversion strategies, and assess total cost of ownership for methanol-fueled vessels versus alternatives.
Methanol producers and project developers
Benchmark project economics, monitor competitor developments across pathways (e-methanol vs. bio-methanol), track off-take demand from the maritime sector, and identify optimal locations for production facility siting based on renewable energy access and CO₂ availability.
Investors and financial institutions
Screen green methanol project investments by technology readiness, off-take security, feedstock access, and policy support. Evaluate the green methanol supply-demand gap and identify high-value investment opportunities in production, infrastructure, and enabling technologies.
Chemical companies
Track the transition from fossil-based to green methanol in the chemicals value chain, monitor methanol-to-olefins capacity using renewable feedstock, and evaluate green methanol procurement options for Scope 3 emissions reduction.