France Propylene Oxide Market Overview, 2030

The French propylene oxide (PO) market has evolved as part of Western Europe’s mature chemical landscape, shaped by strong downstream polyurethane (PU) and specialty chemical industries. Historically, France relied on a combination of domestic PO production and imports from neighboring European countries such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Early production primarily used the chlorohydrin process and PO/styrene monomer (PO/SM) co-production, which provided a steady supply of PO alongside co-products like styrene. However, environmental concerns, stringent wastewater regulations, and EU directives gradually phased out chlorohydrin-based plants due to high chlorine usage and effluent toxicity. The PO/SM route persisted but remained tightly linked to styrene economics, with production often limited by co-product value and market volatility. The TBA co-product process was historically relevant but its significance in France declined as MTBE demand dropped under European fuel regulations. Over the last two decades, the hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) process has emerged as the dominant technology for PO supply in France, driven by its low environmental footprint, minimal effluent generation, and compliance with EU ESG standards. Downstream demand has been a major driver of market evolution polyether polyols account for the majority of PO use, feeding rigid foams for insulation and flexible foams for furniture and automotive seating. Other applications include propylene glycols for pharmaceuticals, food, and chemical intermediates, as well as glycol ethers for coatings and cleaning agents. Today, France’s PO market is characterized by mature, import-reliant supply chains, ESG-driven technology preference, and stable downstream consumption in construction, automotive, and specialty chemical sectors.

According to the research report ""France Propylene Oxide Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the France propylene oxide market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 630 Million by 2030. The French propylene oxide (PO) market is highly integrated into the broader Western European chemical ecosystem, characterized by strong downstream polyurethane (PU) consumption and import reliance from neighboring countries. Producer strategies in France emphasize vertical integration, where major players align propylene supply, PO production, polyol manufacturing, and polyurethane system houses to capture margins, reduce logistics costs, and stabilize revenues in a market exposed to feedstock and co-product volatility. Route flexibility is another key strategy: HPPO-based imports are favored due to lower environmental impact and compliance with EU ESG standards, while PO/SM-based supply remains relevant where styrene integration ensures co-product profitability. Leading producers also engage in regional hedging, leveraging dual-continent footprints and European supply networks to manage cyclical demand fluctuations, tariff exposures, and cross-border logistics. Customer retention is prioritized through spec-in relationships with downstream systems houses, supplying rigid and flexible foam formulations for construction, appliances, and automotive sectors. The downstream dynamics in France are shaped by major multinational PU players such as Covestro, BASF, Wanhua, Dow, and Huntsman/Indorama, which operate system houses supplying OEMs and large-scale construction projects. Glycol consumers, including unsaturated polyester resin producers, food and pharmaceutical companies using monopropylene glycol, and aviation de-icing operators, provide stable but specialized demand. Overall, France’s competitive landscape emphasizes integration, ESG-aligned production, and deep downstream partnerships, ensuring reliable supply to high-value end users while mitigating risks associated with feedstock volatility, co-product economics, and European market cycles.

France’s propylene oxide (PO) market is largely import-dependent, sourcing primarily from neighboring Western European producers, and the landscape of production processes reflects this regional supply. The chlorohydrin process, historically significant in early European PO production, has been effectively phased out in France due to its high chlorine consumption, substantial wastewater generation, and stringent European Union environmental regulations. The styrene monomer (PO/SM) process remains relevant indirectly, as French imports include PO co-produced with styrene from integrated complexes in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands; however, its economics are closely tied to styrene market fluctuations, which can impact PO availability. The TBA co-product process (PO/TBA) has limited influence, as the route’s co-product, MTBE, faces restricted demand in European fuel markets, reducing the attractiveness of this production method for French supply chains. The cumene-based process plays a negligible role, being niche globally and largely absent from European integration. In contrast, the hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) process is increasingly dominant for France’s PO imports due to its low environmental footprint, minimal effluent generation, and compliance with EU ESG standards. HPPO-based supply is especially preferred for downstream polyether polyol and polyurethane systems, supporting the country’s construction, automotive, and specialty chemical sectors. Overall, the French PO production process landscape reflects a clear shift toward cleaner, sustainable HPPO technology, while legacy chlorohydrin and co-product-dependent routes are largely obsolete, ensuring alignment with environmental regulations and industrial sustainability goals.

In France, propylene oxide (PO) consumption is driven primarily by downstream applications in polyether polyols, propylene glycols, glycol ethers, and other specialty chemicals. Polyether polyols represent the largest segment, accounting for approximately 65–70% of PO demand, mainly used in polyurethane (PU) systems. Rigid foams derived from polyols are extensively applied in building insulation, appliances, and energy-efficient construction materials, reflecting France’s commitment to EU energy-efficiency and sustainability standards. Flexible foams are widely used in automotive interiors, furniture, and bedding, while CASE applications coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers provide high-margin industrial usage. Propylene glycols (20–25%) serve multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, cosmetics, and chemical manufacturing. Monopropylene glycol (MPG) is especially important for de-icing applications in airports and for unsaturated polyester resins in coatings and composites. Glycol ethers (5–7%) are critical in paints, coatings, and cleaning chemicals, linking PO demand to construction, maintenance, and consumer goods industries. The others category (3–5%) encompasses surfactants, flame retardants, and niche chemical intermediates. The French PO application landscape demonstrates a mature, diversified profile, with strong reliance on polyols for rigid and flexible PU foams, stable glycol consumption in industrial and consumer sectors, and smaller but strategic usage of glycol ethers and specialty derivatives. Import dependence and a growing preference for HPPO-origin PO, due to environmental regulations, shape both supply and investment strategies in France, ensuring alignment with downstream demand and sustainability objectives.

In France, propylene oxide (PO) consumption is strongly linked to its derivatives polyether polyols, propylene glycols, and glycol ethers which feed a diversified range of end-use industries. The building and construction sector is the largest consumer, driven by rigid polyurethane foams used in insulation panels, roofing, and energy-efficient appliances, reflecting compliance with EU and French energy-efficiency regulations and the country’s focus on sustainable construction practices. The automotive industry is another key sector, using PO-derived flexible foams for seating, dashboards, headrests, and interior trim, as well as in CASE applications such as adhesives, coatings, and elastomers, aligning with France’s strong automotive manufacturing and export orientation. Textile and furnishing applications utilize flexible foams in furniture, mattresses, and bedding, providing stable demand linked to domestic consumption and exports. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry consumes propylene glycols and glycol ethers for resins, coatings, solvents, and specialty chemical formulations, representing a smaller but essential segment. Packaging applications benefit from PU-based adhesives and protective coatings, while electronics demand remains niche, focused on sealants, encapsulants, and coatings for insulation and protection. The others category, including food, paints, and coatings, captures residual demand for glycol ethers and PO derivatives used in specialty formulations. Overall, France’s PO end-use landscape is mature and diversified, with construction and automotive driving bulk demand, complemented by stable industrial and niche applications, and shaped by sustainability mandates, ESG-driven supply preferences, and import-reliant sourcing from integrated European HPPO and PO/SM producers.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Propylene Oxide Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Production Process
• Chlorohydrin Process
• Styrene Monomer Process
• TBA Co-product Process
• Cumene-based Process
• Hydrogen Peroxide Process

By Application
• Polyether Polyols
• Propylene Glycol
• Glycol Ethers
• Others

By End-use industry
• Automotive
• Building & Construction
• Textile & Furnishing
• Chemical & Pharmaceutical
• Packaging
• Electronics
• Others (Food, and Paints & Coatings) Show more