Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)

The manufacture of MTBE consumed 10.8% of the 111.8 million metric tonnes of methanol produced in 2024. The major use for MTBE is to boost gasoline octane value in blends. MTBE adds oxygen when blended with gasoline, allowing for more efficient combustion and less carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon in exhaust emissions. MTBE replaces the higher combusting, more volatile components of gasoline and is designed to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, helping to abate ground-level ozone/smog formation. MTBE is also used as a source of isobutylene in the manufacture of high-purity polyisobutylene.

Growth in MTBE demand typically follows gasoline demand growth on a global basis. Asia accounts for more than half of world supply and demand and China more than half of Asian demand. Global growth in MTBE demand will predominantly be in China. 

MTBE can be made using available refinery and olefin cracker butylene streams, but technology employing the use of iso-butane and methanol has become prevalent. 

Exports of MTBE from the US have become regular, mainly to Mexico, Canada and South America. In Asia, MTBE trade is focused towards Singapore, with China a growing exporter. European MTBE supply is increasingly from the Middle East. A trade matrix showing MTBE trade by MMSA region and country listings can be provided to clients separately. 

Exports of MTBE from the US have become regular, mainly to Mexico, Canada and South America. In Asia, MTBE trade is focused towards Singapore, with China a growing exporter. European MTBE supply is increasingly from the Middle East. A trade matrix showing MTBE trade by MMSA region and country listings can be provided to clients separately. 

MMSA maintains a detailed global database of MTBE producers and consumers, as well as global supply and demand balances and forecasts through 2050.