The Methanol Institute has rebranded as MI – The Global Methanol Alliance to reflect its expanded role across the entire energy transition and value chain. Driven by rapid maritime adoption, with over 150 methanol-capable vessels sailing and 290 more on order, renewable production capacity is projected to surge to 12 million tonnes by 2031. Alongside the name change, the organization launched a digital hub to provide centralized market intelligence, safety guidelines, and regulatory frameworks for the scaling industry.
Brussels | September 1, 2026 – Marking a definitive shift from its traditional chemical roots toward a cross-sector energy transition platform, the Methanol Institute has officially unveiled a comprehensive corporate rebrand, becoming MI – The Global Methanol Alliance.
The transition mirrors the organization’s evolution over the past six years, pivoting alongside an expanding global mandate that increasingly intersects traditional chemical production with alternative marine fuels, aviation pathways, and hydrogen carrier economics.
Driving Marine Decarbonization and Alternative Markets
While methanol’s foundational role as a chemical building block remains the anchor of global demand, its adoption curve has accelerated dramatically across hard-to-abate transport sectors, most notably maritime bunkering.
- Marine Fleet Growth: Methanol is firmly established as a viable mainstream marine fuel, backed by a robust orderbook. There are currently over 150 methanol-capable vessels in active operation, with more than 290 additional ships currently on order across global yards.
- Production Scaling: Global renewable methanol output, spanning 47 operational or developing projects worldwide, stands at approximately 0.9 million tonnes.
- Capacity Projections: Driven by surging demand from container lines, bulk operators, and energy majors, renewable methanol production capacity is projected to scale exponentially, reaching 6 million to 12 million tonnes annually by the end of 2031.
Beyond maritime applications, MI’s revamped scope encompasses scaling markets in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), road transport, industrial power generation, and exploring methanol’s utility as a stable liquid hydrogen carrier.
Leadership Perspectives
Speaking on the strategic overhaul, Ben Iosefa, Chair of MI’s Board of Directors, noted that the organization’s institutional footprint has had to adapt to a vastly more complex operating environment.
“The methanol industry has changed, and we have changed with it. Over the past six years, we have seen methanol move into new markets and our membership expand across sectors and the value chain. This new identity reflects the organisation we have become today, while building on the knowledge, experience and industry relationships developed over more than three decades,” said Iosefa.
With regional hubs spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia, MI operates directly at the intersection of industry and governance. The alliance bridges technical operational experience with regulatory policy-making, helping draft the safety frameworks, bunkering standards, and compliance regulations required for international shipping markets to scale safely.
Alexander Döll, CEO of MI, emphasized that the rebrand acts as an umbrella for a vastly diversified stakeholder community.
“We bring together an industry that spans more sectors, more regions, and more parts of the value chain than ever before,” stated Döll. “The Global Methanol Alliance reflects who we are today: a place where the industry comes together, connects across markets and sectors, and works collectively on the issues that will shape methanol’s next phase of growth.”
Digital Expansion and Resources
Alongside the corporate name change, MI has launched a redesigned digital portal. Engineered as a centralized knowledge hub for maritime operators, bunker suppliers, and energy analysts, the platform features consolidated industry data, market intelligence tracking, interactive technical tools, and regulatory guidance covering safety protocols, emissions accounting, and policy updates.
About MI – The Global Methanol Alliance
MI – The Global Methanol Alliance is the global trade association for the methanol industry, connecting companies across the entire value chain and supporting industry engagement in key markets worldwide. Operating through regional offices in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Beijing, Delhi, and Singapore, the alliance collaborates with industry stakeholders, governments, and international organizations to advance the safe, sustainable, and responsible development of global methanol markets.
Source: MI – The Global Methanol Alliance