5. Use of synthesis gas

5.1 Market

Virtually all syngas produced worldwide is purified and/or converted within the production plant to obtain the end product (hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, oxo-alcohol, etc.). There is therefore no syngas market.

Among syngas derivatives, hydrogen represents a special case. Hydrogen can be produced within the complex (typically the refinery) in which it is consumed, in which case it is referred to as "captive" gas. It can also be produced and sold by a third-party company to the end consumer. This is known as "merchant" hydrogen.

The main consumers of hydrogen are refineries, with almost 50% of the market, followed by ammonia production units (almost 40%), methanol production units (in the latter case, the figure takes into...