# EPDM: Feedstocks

Cheap olefins plus one costly diene

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/feedstocks/

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.

EPDM is mostly ethylene and propylene, which are cheapest from ethane and propane in the US and Middle East. ENB, a small share by weight but several times the price per tonne, comes from butadiene and cyclopentadiene and is made by few companies. Feedstock is about 50-60% of EPDM cash cost; solvent recovery energy is the next largest item (indicative).

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Ethylene (chemical tile: ethylene)** | about 0.45-0.75 t (indicative) | main backbone monomer | about 30% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative; ethylene CFR Asia in the $700s/t expected for 2026 (ChemOrbis, Dec 2025, via ethylene tile) |
| **Propylene (chemical tile: propylene)** | about 0.2-0.5 t (indicative) | breaks crystallinity, gives elasticity | about 15% (indicative) | indicative; propylene CFR Asia in the $700s/t expected for 2026 (ChemOrbis via propylene tile) |
| **Ethylidene norbornene (ENB, from butadiene and cyclopentadiene)** | about 0.02-0.12 t (indicative) | cure site for sulphur vulcanisation | about 10-15% (indicative) | indicative; butadiene tile lists ENB among butadiene uses |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | indirect | feedstock and energy | energy about 10-15% (indicative) | indicative |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | indirect | feed outside gas regions; oil-extended grades | included above | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

US Gulf and Saudi plants on ethane-based ethylene are lowest cost. Korean and Chinese plants are mid-curve. European plants on naphtha olefins and expensive energy sit at the top.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Lub Lubricant additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lubricant_additives/) | EPM and OCP viscosity modifiers are made in EPDM plants |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epdm/links/index.md)