CEH: Linear Alpha-Olefins

Feb 2020. World consumption of linear alpha-olefins (LAO) is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 4.3% during 2019–24, driven mostly by North America (which has a low-cost ethylene feedstock advantage) and China (which plans to supply its polyethylene and polyalphaolefin demand with more domestically produced product, as it tries to lessen its dependence on imports). Forecasts of growth rates vary significantly by region and by LAO cut. Polyethylene comonomer (LLDPE, HDPE, and plastomers/elastomers) is the major LAO consuming market, followed by polyalphaolefins and detergent alcohols. Companies have invested in both full-range LAO plants (where a broad range of even-numbered carbon chain–length LAOs rather than a single product is produced) and in on-purpose technology (where production focuses on one or two specific monomers) in recent years. Given the diverse markets that linear alpha-olefins serve and their importance in the global economy, world capacity is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of nearly 4% during 2019–24.

• Publish Date: 2020-02-14
• Chemical Focus: Intermediates, Solvents and Surfactants
• Number of Pages: 91
• Content Type: Report
• Delivery: Email with link to PDF file

• Global summary; regional coverage
• Producers with annual capacities and plant sites
• Consumption and five-year forecast by end-use application
• Price and production figures and trends
• Trade imports and exports

• Drive market research and commercial development
• Support competitive analysis, marketing and sales
• Inform merger and acquisition decisions