Acrylic acid: Feedstocks
Why cheap propylene decides who competes
What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Acrylic acid is made from propylene (from naphtha cracking, refinery FCC or PDH) and air. Propylene is most of the cost, so producers near cheap PDH propylene in China and the US Gulf are competitive. Esters also need butanol or 2-ethylhexanol (from propylene via oxo synthesis); SAP needs caustic soda.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | about 0.7 t per t AA (indicative) | main feed | about 60-70% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| Gas Natural gas | about 0.7 t per t AA (indicative) | main feed in Chinese PDH clusters | about 60-70% (indicative) | indicative |
| NaCl Salt | about 0.3 t per t SAP (indicative) | neutralisation | about 10% of SAP cost (indicative) | indicative |
| Molybdenum-bismuth and molybdenum-vanadium catalysts | small; replaced every 3-5 years (indicative) | oxidation catalysts | about 2-3% (indicative) | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese producers integrated with PDH and oxo alcohols, and US Gulf producers, are lowest cost. European producers are highest cost. New Indian capacity will rely on refinery propylene from IOCL's Gujarat refinery.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| Pnt Paints and coatings | acrylic emulsions |
| Adh Adhesives and sealants | pressure-sensitive adhesives |
| WT Water treatment chemicals | polyacrylates |
| Srf Surfactants | polyacrylate co-builders |
| PMMA Acrylics (PMMA) | related acrylic chain (methacrylates are a separate route) |