United States Propylene Glycol Market Overview, 2030

The United States propylene glycol (PG) market is a mature yet steadily expanding segment of the universal chemicals industry, underpinned by its versatility, relatively low toxicity, and alignment with safety-critical and consumer-facing applications. PG is widely used across unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) in composites for construction, marine, and increasingly wind turbine blades, where federal infrastructure spending and renewable energy policies are stimulating demand. The coolant and heat-transfer segment represents another significant end-use, supported by the country’s large vehicle parc, stable automotive maintenance cycles, and emerging needs for specialized fluids in electric vehicles and data centers, though demand is highly seasonal in northern states and linked to airport de-icing requirements. Pharmaceutical and personal care sectors, which consume USP/FCC-grade PG, are smaller in volume but offer higher margins, benefiting from rising health expenditures, a robust FDA-regulated drug industry, and consumer preference for clean-label, bio-based formulations. The U.S. enjoys a competitive cost base due to strong propylene and propylene oxide (PO) feedstock integration, yet remains exposed to crude-linked volatility and the ripple effects of Chinese oversupply, which can pressure margins despite domestic demand resilience. Regulatory scrutiny from the FDA, EPA, and municipal procurement bodies continues to influence compliance costs and favor safer PG over ethylene glycol in sensitive applications. Risks include feedstock cost swings, supply chain disruptions, and potential substitution by novel bio-solvents, while opportunities lie in specialty grades, renewable composites, and ESG-aligned formulations. Overall, U.S. PG demand is expected to grow at a mid-single-digit CAGR, with infrastructure, healthcare, and sustainable product trends as the primary structural drivers.

According to the research report ""United States propylene glycol Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the United States propylene glycol market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.22% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. In the United States, the regulatory landscape for the propylene glycol (PG) market is shaped by multiple agencies that govern its use across food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, industrial, and environmental applications. The FDA classifies PG as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for food use under 21 CFR 184.1666 and requires USP-grade PG in pharmaceuticals to comply with cGMP and USP–NF purity standards, while cosmetics fall under the FD&C Act with labeling and safety requirements. Industrial applications are regulated by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), with strict monitoring of PG-based de-icing fluids under the Clean Water Act due to runoff concerns, even though PG is considered less toxic than ethylene glycol. OSHA mandates hazard communication, worker safety, and SDS compliance, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) generally does not classify PG as hazardous for transport but still enforces packaging and spill protocols. Additionally, state-level frameworks such as California Proposition 65 and municipal procurement standards particularly for airport de-icing contracts are pushing demand toward bio-based or low-carbon PG alternatives. Collectively, these regulations create a compliance-intensive but opportunity-rich environment in the U.S., favoring certified producers in food, pharma, and sustainable applications while also requiring vigilance on environmental and occupational safety standards.

In the United States, propylene glycol demand is widely distributed across key end-use industries, each shaped by distinct market drivers and regulatory influences. Construction is a major consumer, with PG used in unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) for composites, coatings, and adhesives, and demand is reinforced by federal infrastructure spending and renewable energy initiatives, particularly wind turbine blade manufacturing. The transportation sector is another significant outlet, where PG-based antifreeze and coolants dominate due to safety advantages over ethylene glycol, supported by the country’s large and aging vehicle fleet, steady maintenance cycles, and emerging applications in electric vehicle thermal management systems, though seasonal swings impact volumes. Food and beverages represent a regulated but growing niche, as PG serves as a humectant, carrier, and solvent in flavors, colors, and processed foods under FDA’s GRAS status, with demand tied to the expanding packaged food and beverage industry. In cosmetics and personal care, PG is valued for its role as a humectant, solvent, and stabilizer in skincare and hygiene products, with growth driven by consumer demand for clean-label and bio-based formulations. The pharmaceutical sector consumes USP-grade PG as a solvent and excipient in oral, topical, and injectable drugs, benefiting from the U.S.’s advanced, FDA-regulated pharma industry and rising healthcare expenditure. The others category, including industrial lubricants, paints, de-icing fluids, and functional fluids for data centers, adds resilience to PG demand, reflecting its versatility.

In the United States, the propylene glycol market is still overwhelmingly dominated by petroleum-based production, which accounts for the majority of capacity due to abundant propylene and propylene oxide feedstock from the country’s large refining and petrochemical complexes. Petroleum-derived PG benefits from well-established supply chains, cost competitiveness, and integration with upstream infrastructure, making it the primary source for industrial-grade applications such as unsaturated polyester resins, antifreeze, de-icing fluids, and coatings. However, bio-based PG, derived from glycerin (a byproduct of biodiesel production) or other renewable feedstocks, is gaining traction as sustainability pressures rise across food, pharma, and personal care industries. The U.S. has seen investment in bio-based PG plants, supported by the availability of glycerin from the expanding biofuels sector and the push from consumer brands and regulators for lower-carbon, renewable ingredients. While bio-based PG currently represents a small share of the total market (estimated in the low to mid-single digits), its demand is accelerating in high-purity applications where ESG commitments, clean-label requirements, and state-level green procurement policies (such as California’s environmental standards) play a key role. Over the medium term, petroleum-based PG will remain the backbone of supply, but bio-based PG is expected to carve out stronger positions in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food & beverage, and specialty fluids, making source diversification an emerging trend in the U.S. market.

In the United States, industrial-grade propylene glycol constitutes the largest share of consumption, driven by its extensive use in unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) for construction composites, automotive coolants, antifreeze, de-icing fluids, paints, and functional fluids, all of which benefit from the country’s strong infrastructure investments, large vehicle parc, and seasonal demand patterns in northern states. Pharmaceutical-grade PG, regulated under USP and FDA standards, represents a smaller but high-value segment, where it serves as a solvent, stabilizer, and excipient in oral, topical, and injectable medicines, supported by the U.S.’s advanced healthcare sector, robust drug manufacturing base, and rising consumer preference for safe, high-purity excipients; this segment is also closely tied to demand from the cosmetics and personal care industry, where USP-grade PG is favored for its safety and low toxicity. The others category, which includes food-grade PG (FCC-certified) used as a humectant and carrier in flavors, colors, and packaged foods, as well as specialty fluids for electronics cooling, data centers, and certain industrial lubricants, adds diversification and resilience to the overall market. While industrial-grade PG dominates by volume due to its wide industrial utility, pharmaceutical and food-grade demand is expanding faster in value terms, reflecting premium pricing, stricter compliance requirements, and growing emphasis on bio-based and clean-label formulations. Together, this grade segmentation highlights the dual nature of the U.S. PG market volume-driven industrial demand balanced by margin-rich, high-purity niches.

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

Aspects covered in this report
• Propylene Glycol 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 End Use
• Construction
• Transportation
• Food & Beverages
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others

By Source
• Petroleum-based
• Bio-based

By Grade
• Industrial Grade
• Pharmaceutical Grade
• Others Show more