Hand Sanitiser Demand Pumping Ethanol Usage Higher

Efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus have resulted in a sharp jump in demand for denatured ethanol. Reuters reports that European demand for the corn-based product recently doubled, as denatured ethanol is an ingredient in hand sanitizers, and demand for hand sanitizers has surged in recent weeks amid the global outbreak of Covid-19. Before the outbreak, the denatured ethanol market was only projected to grow 6.8 percent in revenue by 2024, with excess supply and low demand. Since the outbreak, hand sanitizers have been quickly selling out on store shelves and online, as the global population seeks to protect itself from the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people use hand sanitizers with a minimum of 60 percent alcohol to combat the virus. However, medical experts say the best precaution remains regular and thorough handwashing.