Hexane Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (n-Hexane, Isohexane, Neohexane), By Grade (Technical Grade, Food Grade, Other Grades), By Applications (Industrial Solvents, Edible Oil Extractant, Adhesives and Sealants, Cleaning and Degreasing, Other Applications) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2024-2032

Market Overview

The global hexane market size was valued at USD 2,025 million in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 2,835 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period (2022–2030). Factors like increasing demand for edible oil extraction and growing oil and gas refining stimulate market growth.

Hexane is a chemical solvent that is both inexpensive and colourless, and hexane production wholly depends on crude oil supplies. Hexane has many different industrial uses because of its exceptional qualities. Pure base hexane and solvent base hexane are the most common types of hexane available. Pure-based hexane is utilized in laboratories for research and development purposes, while solvent-based hexane is typically employed for industrial uses. The main factor driving the hexane market development rate is the rise in demand for hexanes in various consumer items, such as glues, gasoline, and cement, as well as increased public knowledge of the advantages of hexanes in different ways industrial applications.

Market Dynamics

Market drivers

Increasing demand for the edible oil extraction

Hexane is the most typical solvent used for the extraction of edible oil. It extracts soybean oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, peanut, cottonseed, and many others. The alternatives to hexane for oil extraction cannot overcome the advantages and simple technology required for using hexane as a solvent. The superior benefits offered to drive the hexane market during the forecast period.

Global oil production has increased rapidly over the past ten years due to the growing demand from home cooking applications and food industries. The global vegetable oil production increased by 1.77% to 207.5 million metric tons in 2019-20 compared to the 203.6 million metric tons produced in 2018-19. Vegetable oil production increased by only 0.77% globally in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic has impacted various food manufacturing industries. Hence, the growing oil consumption is estimated to drive the market for hexane as an extraction solvent for vegetable/edible oil production during the forecast period.

Growing oil and gas refining and exploration

The growing oil and gas explorations are likely to drive downstream refining. The refining of crude oil only produces hexane. According to the Five-Year Plan published by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, China intends to raise domestic crude oil production to 200 million tonnes by 2020. The country has also been promoting exploration to ensure domestic oil supplies. India is a major oil-importing country focusing on reducing its dependence on oil imports. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has created a new blueprint to increase crude oil production by 4 million metric tons and double its natural gas production by 2021.

More than ten large petrochemical projects are under construction in the United States, with a combined value of over USD 207 billion. Thunder Horse South Expansion Phase 2 would further boost the market, as it is one of the most significant oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. This project would add two new subsea production wells in the near term, and about eight wells would be drilled as part of the overall development. The other projects include Mad Dog Phase 2, Herschel, and Manuel. The growing downstream refining is likely to drive the production of hexane, thereby creating opportunities for hexane production during the forecast period.

Market restraint

Health concerns related to hexane and availability of alternatives

Hexane has long-term consequences in humans, including sensory polyneuropathy symptoms like tingling and numbness in the limbs, vision problems, headaches, muscle weakness, and exhaustion. Hexane causes acute effects in humans for accidental exposure at the workplace in the manufacturing or application industries. The consumption may lead to severe abdominal pain and impact the respiratory system.

In the case of solvent extraction, hexane is one of the most economical solvents, and it has the best extractability compared to other solvents. On the other hand, due to the toxicity of hexane, it is often replaced with heptane or cyclohexane in industrial solvents and cleaning products. Moreover, the shift toward water-based adhesives and sealants and water-based paints and coatings from solvent-based products is estimated to restrain the hexane market somewhat. Health concerns related to hexane and the availability of greener and non-toxic alternatives in various applications are estimated to restrain the market during the forecast period.

Key market opportunities

Increasing demand from rubber production

Hexane is used as a solvent for rubber and tire production applications. Tire manufacturers use hexane to allow the tread and plies of rubber to adhere together. In the rubber industry, hexane is used as a solvent and cleaning agent. However, the increasing demand for rubber from various applications such as footwear and industrial products is expected to drive the rubber market during the forecast period. The expansion of the rubber industry is likely to provide more opportunities for hexane in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

Asia-pacific dominates the global market

By region, the global hexane market share is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the largest market shareholder in the global market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period. In the Asia-Pacific region, China is the largest economy in terms of GDP. Currently, the top vegetable oils consumed in the country include soybean oil (44%), rapeseed oil (24%), palm oil (18%), and peanut oil (9%), with other oils. While the household consumer sector prefers rapeseed oil and soybean oil as their preferred choice, the commercial and food industry sector uses more palm oil (which is imported) for its cost-effective and versatile nature. Additionally, palm oil consumption in the country has increased due to broad applications in processed foods and fried snacks. Still, it is mainly imported from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. However, other significant oils, like soyabean oil, rapeseed oil, and peanut oil, are produced locally in China, creating demand for the market in the country.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7%, generating USD 600 million during the forecast period. In the European Union, Spain, and the Netherlands, Germany is one of the leading exporters of edible oil, particularly oil made from soybeans and rapeseed. In 2019, the German textile sector generated a turnover of about 30 billion euros. Germany's second-largest consumer goods industry is the textile and apparel sector. The market in this region is anticipated to be significantly driven by the rising demand for technical fabrics. Germany's textile and apparel sector has an extraordinarily high export rate of roughly 40%.

Additionally, it has been calculated that the revenue from the technical textiles used in various high-tech items was over 30%. Germany is thought to manufacture around one-fourth of all European technical textiles. These are expected to contribute to the demand for hexane as a cleaning and degreasing agent in the country.

Hexane has a large share as an industrial solvent in the United States market for pharmaceuticals, paints, coatings, and petrochemical industries. The pharma and petrochemical industries in the country are growing at a moderate rate in the country. On the other hand, following an initial increase in 2020 and 2021, it is anticipated that spending in the pharmaceutical business in the country will decline due to factors such as the impending "patent cliff" and rapid migration to generic medications. Nevertheless, even though it is anticipated that spending on pharmaceuticals will decrease, it is anticipated that the petrochemical industry will experience moderate to high growth in the country. This growth will fuel the demand for the hexane market, primarily because hexane is used as a feedstock in the production of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Segmental Analysis

The global hexane market is segmented by type, grade, and application.

On the basis of type

By type, the global market is segmented into n-hexane, Isohexane, and neohexane.

The Isohexane segment accounts for the largest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. Isohexane is generally used as an alternative to n-Hexane, which can be used in brake cleaners, adhesives, and as a polymerization solvent. Further, it is used as an intermediary in organic synthesis and is majorly applied in food, preservatives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and as a flavor enhancer. All such advantages, coupled with the growing usage, make Isohexane a suitable alternative to n-Hexane in many applications.

N-Hexane is used as a component in fuels and other petroleum products. Food processing is another primary global application of n-Hexane, used as a solvent for extracting vegetable oils from various seeds and crops. It is also used to produce defatted products such as defatted soy flour and food-grade silicone. With growing applications in furniture, leather, and other end-user industries, the demand for n-Hexane has constantly been growing. According to the World Bank, the organized global furniture industry is estimated to grow at a rate of 20% every year. This growth of hexane market is expected to drive the market demand during the forecast period.

On the basis of grade

By grade, the global market is segmented into technical grade, food grade, and other grades.

The technical grade segment accounts for the largest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. Hexane is mainly used in technical grade paints and coatings, as a reagent, as a glue in adhesives and sealants applications, and in gasoline applications, among other things. In the paints and coatings industry, hexane is used as thinners and lacquers in paints and coatings because of its physical properties. The rapidly growing construction industry is driving the market demand for hexane. In addition, hexane is widely used in the automotive industry as a corrosion inhibitor and for degreasing applications. Additionally, it is utilized in the drying process. Vehicle repair technicians also use hexane as a degreaser in a commercially available aerosol containing toluene, acetone, and hexane (50% n-hexane). Owing to all such added properties in a wide range of applications, the technical grade of hexane has been in wide application demand.

Food grade hexane is a light distillate produced at various refineries from special cut Naphtha where the hexane-rich stream is extracted and purified to meet the required specification. This product is mainly used as a solvent in the extraction units for vegetable oils. Hexane also has a greater ability to extract oil when compared to other solvents like petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. In addition, with a boiling point of 69℃, it can retain its liquid state in all atmospheric conditions other than in extreme climates. Its likely volatility aids in easy removal from solids and oil using low energy. All such advantages of using hexane make it viable for use as a food-grade solvent.

On the basis of application

By application, the global market is segmented into industrial solvents, edible oil extractants, adhesives and sealants, cleaning and degreasing, and other applications.

Edible oil extractant is the largest market share in the global market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period. Hexane is widely used as a solvent in the extraction of edible or vegetable oils such as cottonseed, groundnut, mustard, rapeseed, sesame, linseed, rice bran, soybean, sunflower, etc. In the food industry, hexane extracts oils from various foods and vegetables, most commonly peanuts, corn, and soybeans. According to UN data published in 2019, 703 million individuals worldwide were 65 or over; by 2050, the number of elderly is predicted to triple to 1.5 billion. The rapid growth in the edible oil segment can be attributed to the rising awareness among consumers about refined oil and its impact on health. The global production volume of vegetable oil accounted for about 207.33 million tons in FY 2019 and increased to 209.58 million tons in FY 2020, stimulating the hexane market demand. All such advantages of using hexane in edible oil extraction and the growing edible oil segment mark its need to be used as an effective extractant in oil extraction.

Recent Developments

• June 2022 - ExxonMobil, Shell, CNOOC, and Guangdong Provincial Development & Reform Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the potential for a world-scale carbon capture and storage project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China.
• June 2022 - In an announcement, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy declared they had agreed to advance the North Field East project in Qatar, increasing its annual LNG production from 77 million tonnes to 110 million tonnes by 2026. At QatarEnergy's corporate offices in Doha, the agreement was declared.