Which domestic manufacturers produce propane?

Propane is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃CH₂CH₃. It appears as a colorless gas, is highly flammable, slightly soluble in water, and soluble in ethanol and ether. Propane serves as a critical industrial raw material, widely used in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethylene cracking, propane dehydrogenation, mixed nitro compounds, and refrigerants. It is also an important organic intermediate in the chemical industry, finding broad application in propylene oxide, acrylonitrile, chloromethane, acetic acid, and polyurethane foam. Propane is primarily produced via three main methods: (1) using natural gas as feedstock, followed by cracking and catalytic cracking; (2) using crude oil as feedstock, followed by distillation, cracking, adsorption, and concentration to separate propane; and (3) extracting propane from LPG through condensation, adsorption, and separation. Among these, extraction from LPG is the principal method for producing high-purity propane. Propane has extremely wide-ranging applications. Against the backdrop of rapid growth in its application sectors, both the global and domestic propane markets have shown steady expansion. According to the 'Propane Industry Market Status and Investment Outlook Forecast Report (2022–2026)' released by S&Z Industry Research Center, the global propane market size reached USD 80.69 billion in 2021; domestically, the propane market size amounted to approximately RMB 189.53 billion in 2021, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.6%, accounting for 32% of the total global propane market. Major domestic enterprises engaged in the propane market include Binhua Group, Zhongtai Chemical, Satellite Petrochemical, Baichuan Co., Ltd., Haiyue Energy, Huatai Co., Ltd., Qixiang Tengda, Baofeng Energy, and Chengzhi Co., Ltd. Although numerous Chinese companies operate in the propane market, domestic propane production still relies predominantly on petroleum-based feedstocks and separation processes, yielding low-end products characterized by relatively high sulfur content and low purity. High-purity, high-end propane products remain largely dependent on imports, resulting in low domestic self-sufficiency.

Butane, isobutane, propane, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Butane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is liquefied under pressure. Butane (n-butane) falls within the category of 'liquefied petroleum gas' (LPG). It is commonly used as fuel, propellant, refrigerant, and petrochemical feedstock. Its chemical formula is C₄H₁₀. (Molecular model of butane shown.) Butane is supplied to enterprises requiring butane—not propane. Butane has certain specific applications where it holds advantages over propane. Liquefied petroleum gas (including butane) is not manufactured or synthesized; rather, it occurs naturally alongside other hydrocarbons. LPG is generated during natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Butane is a naturally occurring gas, yet it does not exist in pure, isolated form. LPG processing involves separating and collecting these gases from their petroleum sources. Both processes begin at oil wells. In some respects, butane, isobutane, propane, and LPG are nearly or entirely identical—yet key distinctions must be understood. Their names vary significantly depending on the country or region. In Australia, we refer to it as LPG—but it is propane. Automotive LPG in Australia may be pure propane or a propane-butane mixture. In New Zealand, LPG is almost always a mixture of propane and butane. In the United States, the term 'LPG' is rarely used; instead, it is simply called 'propane'. In certain countries, such as the UK, propane and butane can be purchased separately. In other countries, it is referred to as 'GPL' or 'GLP' instead of 'LPG', as the acronym derives from different languages and grammatical structures—for example, 'gaz de pétrole liquéfié' in French or 'gas licuado de petróleo' in Spanish. What is propane gas? Propane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas liquefied under pressure. Pressurized propane originates from natural gas processing and oil refining. Propane is frequently used alone—or as a propane-butane mixture—in autogas. It is commonly employed for heating and cooking. These are a group of flammable hydrocarbon gases that are liquefied under pressure and typically used as fuels. They are also known as natural gas liquids (NGLs), along with ethane, pentane, and pentanes plus. Their defining common feature is that they can be compressed into liquid form at relatively low pressures. All serve as fuels for combustion and heat generation, though LPG has many additional applications. What is propane? Propane’s chemical formula is C₃H₈. It is a flammable hydrocarbon gas liquefied under pressure. Propane is supplied to virtually all households and most businesses. LPG is delivered in cylinders, which can be replaced or refilled on-site by LPG tankers. Propane’s greatest advantage lies in its lower boiling point of −42°C, compared to butane’s −0.4°C. Thus, propane continues to vaporize—even in colder climates. Conversely, butane’s vapor pressure is roughly one-quarter that of propane, which proves advantageous for certain propellant applications. Propane has a slightly higher energy content per unit mass, but lower energy content per unit volume. What is isobutane?

Petronet LNG seeks propane bids by March for Dahej petchem unit

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Petronet LNG will solicit bids for 1 million tons of annual propane supply by March for its Dahej petrochemical plant. Due to Middle East disruptions, the company considers sourcing from the United States while expanding storage capacity.

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Petronet LNG seeks propane bids by March for Dahej petchem unit

Petronet LNG seeks propane bids by March for Dahej petchem unit

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