What are the major industrial applications of methanol?

Methanol applications: Formaldehyde production (~35%) - for resins, adhesives, plastics. MTBE/MTAE (~15%) - gasoline oxygenate/octane booster. Acetic acid (~10%) - carbonylation of methanol. DME (dimethyl ether) - fuel, aerosol propellant. Olefins (MTO/MTP) - methanol to ethylene/propylene, growing in China. Biodiesel - transesterification of fats. Fuel - direct blending in gasoline (M85, M100), fuel cells. Chemical intermediate - for chloromethanes, methylamines, MMA. Production: synthesis gas (CO + H2) over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst at 250C, 50-100 bar. Largest merchant chemical by volume (~100 million tons/year). Coal-based methanol significant in China (coal-to-chemicals routes).