June 24, 2010, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, decided to levy Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand's import anti-dumping investigation of methanol extended for 6 months, delayed the deadline to December 24, 2010. Sub-analysis of consultation, the extension of anti-dumping investigation, reflects China's methanol industry and the related importance and complexity. Asia Consulting expects methanol extended anti-dumping investigation will lead to overseas methanol imports in 2010 decreased compared to 2009, annual imports are expected to remain at 450 tons. Meanwhile, by 2010 China's output more than 17 million tons of methanol. Methanol 2010 apparent consumption will reach 21.5 million t.
        On the one hand, the influx of foreign low-cost methanol and market prices, a great influence on the domestic alcohol industry. Loss of many enterprises, industry operating rates relatively low. Part of the production of methanol in the fertilizer business is affected. As gas prices rise, natural gas as raw material methanol business more difficult. Through anti-dumping can increase market share and boost the market situation.
        On the other hand, from the national industrial policy, under the "oil and chemical industrial restructuring guidance," the need to eliminate backward production capacity, and actively develop new methanol downstream products, ease the problem of excess capacity so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the industrial structure. Through the market's invisible hand of regulation, may be an option. 
        Statistics show that from 2002 to 2008, the proportion of imports of methanol decreased from 45% to 12%. As the overseas production of cheap natural gas, methanol release from January to May 2009, China's imports of methanol increased significantly in the mean close to 60 million tons; but the start of anti-dumping investigations, from June to December 2009, imports of methanol decreased the mean about 340,000 tons. According to Chinese customs statistics, the year 2009, imports reached 5.28 million tons of methanol.
        Asia Consulting estimated, the Commerce Department extended anti-dumping investigation of methanol, methanol will lead to foreign imports in 2010 decreased compared to 2009, the annual import volume is expected to remain at 450 tons. Meanwhile, Shenhua Baotou Coal and Shenhua Ningxia Coal olefins Great Tang Duolun three large-scale methanol plant project in the second half of the continuous production, is operating with methanol production enterprises is expected in 2010 China's methanol production will more than 17 million tons. 2010 apparent consumption of methanol will reach 21.5 million tons.
        On July 28, 2010 held at the Fifth China Taiyuan Coal Oil and coal chemical industry will discuss how to expand the international forum of new methanol downstream applications, such as methanol to gasoline (MTG), methanol to aromatics (MTA), methanol olefins (MTO), as well as how to ease the domestic methanol production capacity surplus. (Young South)