Are there emerging alternative production routes for acrylic acid that could disrupt the market?

Are there emerging alternative production routes for acrylic acid that could disrupt the market?
Two non-traditional routes are drawing attention. Propane direct oxidation, which skips the propylene intermediate, offers a shorter process and potentially lower feedstock costs, since propane has historically traded below propylene. However, the technology remains unproven commercially, with demanding catalyst selectivity and stability requirements that have prevented any industrial-scale plant from starting up. Separately, Chinese researchers have demonstrated direct synthesis from methanol and acetic acid using a NASICON-based catalyst, a route that avoids the water-related problems of the formaldehyde-acetic acid aldol route. This methanol-acetic acid pathway promises lower energy and capital costs, but it is still at the laboratory stage. Given China's existing acrylic acid capacity already exceeds 4 million tonnes with operating rates below 70%, any new technology faces a high commercial barrier unless it delivers a step-change in cost or product quality.