Alcohol, ether and ketone peroxides and Its derivatives market in Germany

Earlier Report Observations

The German market for alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives experienced a substantial contraction between 2018 and 2024. Market volume declined from 21 095 t to 10 266 t, while market value fell from 83.3 million US dollars to 41.5 million US dollars. A temporary uptick occurred in 2021, but the overall trend was downward.

Key drivers of this decline were regulatory changes affecting chemical substances. In 2023, the amended New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG) introduced stricter controls on research chemicals, directly limiting the use of certain peroxide derivatives. The regulatory pressure intensified in 2024 with the publication of the fourth amendment to the KTW assessment basis for plastics and organic materials, which restricted the use of accelerators like ketone peroxides in production processes. Simultaneously, updates to the ECHA Candidate List of substances of concern raised compliance burdens for manufacturers, further dampening market activity.

Earlier measures, such as the 2018 ban on non-commercial alcohol distillation devices, signaled a regulatory environment increasingly focused on control, though their direct impact on the peroxide market was less pronounced. The cumulative effect of these regulations was a marked reduction in both production and consumption of peroxides across the period.

Production alcohol, ether and ketone peroxides and Its derivatives in Germany

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Germany's production of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 105.5 million US dollars, marking a slight decrease of 0.9% from the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 5.5% to reach a peak of 110.1 million US dollars. However, this was followed by the largest decline in 2019, with a drop of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Germany in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Germany's production volume of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives has fallen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, output totaled 21,953 tonnes, showing little change from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 5.3%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Germany in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports alcohol, ether and ketone peroxides and Its derivatives from Germany

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, exports of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives from Germany reached 18,181 tonnes, up by 5.7% from the previous year. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 17,193 tonnes, which saw the largest decline of 3.9%. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 5.7%, averaging an annual increase of 1.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Germany in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, the export structure for these products was balanced rather than concentrated. The United States accounted for 13.1% of exports in kind, the Netherlands for 8.8%, and France for 7.1%, together representing 29.1% of total flows. Many other countries made up the remaining 70.9%.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Germany in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of exports of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives from Germany totaled 89,597 thousand US dollars, a 5.7% increase from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 3.7%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 15.8%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 17.9%, averaging an annual growth rate of 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Germany in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the largest buyer in value terms, accounting for 14.5% of exports, followed by Italy at 7.1% and the Netherlands at 6.9%. Together, these three countries contributed 28.5% of total export value, indicating a diversified country structure.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Germany in value, 2017-2020

Imports alcohol, ether and ketone peroxides and Its derivatives to Germany

Imports in kind, t

Imports of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives into Germany have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 13,304 tonnes, down by 3.1% from 2019. The peak was in 2018 at 16,444 tonnes, which saw the largest increase of 7.4%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 16.5%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 13.1%, averaging an annual decline of 4.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Germany in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands and China were the dominant suppliers of these products to Germany, together accounting for 81.1% of total imports in kind. Other countries each held relatively small shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Germany in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of alcohol, ether, and ketone peroxides and their derivatives into Germany have fallen for the second year in a row. In 2020, import value stood at 42,151 thousand US dollars, a decrease of 12.0% from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 61,222 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest increase of 8.9%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 21.7%. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 25%, averaging an annual decline of 9.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Germany in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, China was the leading supplier in value terms, accounting for 38.2% of imports, followed by the Netherlands at 32.5% and Belgium at 10.7%. Together, these three countries made up 81.4% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Germany in value, 2017-2020