CEH: ortho-Xylene

Feb 2022. ortho-Xylene (1,2-dimethyl-benzene, o-xylene, or OX) is an aromatic compound that is commonly derived from crude oil sources. It is found in the mixed xylenes stream, which is a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene (MX), and para-xylene (PX). While very similar in structure, these three isomers have very different chemical properties and applications. OX is the second-most-consumed component obtained from the mixed xylenes stream, after PX; in 2021, OX accounted for less than 5% of the global mixed xylenes demand. Over the past decade, OX capacity has increased slightly. Capacity has seen expansion before declining moderately owing to a feedstock shift in the production of phthalic anhydride (PA), the major end use of ortho-xylene. PA is used primarily to produce phthalate-based PVC plasticizers, unsaturated polyester resins used for fiber-reinforced resins, and alkyd resins used for coatings. It has further improved in 2020 and 2021. Overall, global OX demand is projected to record a percentage increase in the low single digits through 2026.

• Publish Date: 2022-02-28
• Chemical Focus: Aromatics and Fibers
• Number of Pages: 96
• 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