Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is a kind of chemical raw material with low toxicity, excellent environmental performance and wide application. It is a flammable clear liquid with a boiling point of 90°C, insoluble in water, and can be used as a methylation reagent. It is an important organic synthesis intermediate, molecular structure contains carbonyl, methyl and methoxy functional groups, has a variety of reaction properties, in the production of safe use, convenient, less pollution, easy transportation and other characteristics. Dimethyl carbonate is a kind of "green" chemical product with development prospect because of its low toxicity. In 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19, a large number of enterprises shut down, and the manufacturers of dimethyl carbonate were affected to varying degrees.

There are three main types of dimethyl carbonate: industrial grade, medical grade and battery grade. Among them, industrial grade dimethyl carbonate occupies more than half of the market share. These produced dimethyl carbonate is mainly used in the production of polycarbonate and electrolyte solvents.

The main production processes of dimethyl carbonate in foreign countries are gas phase oxidation carbonylation and liquid phase oxidation carbonylation. Domestic processes are mainly PO transesterification, two-step urea process, one-step urea process, coal to ethylene glycol, methanol carbonyl oxidation and EO transesterification.

China's production of dimethyl carbonate occupies more than half of the global market, but due to the relatively backward technology, the production capacity utilization rate is low, and the price of dimethyl carbonate is lower than the global average price. The United States is the second-largest producer of dimethyl carbonate, expected to produce less than a quarter of China's in 2020, but its prices are relatively high. At present, the major manufacturers in the Chinese market occupy a quite important position in the international market, and they can consolidate the market position of dimethyl carbonate in China through advanced technology.