# Epoxy resins

Thermosetting resins from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin that make tough coatings, circuit boards and wind blades; overbuilt in China and now ringed by trade duties.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/epoxy/

Pseudo-commodities · Resins & fibres · No. 62

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 3.2 Mt demand and 3.27 Mt production (2023)
- 5.0 t CO₂e per t
- HS 390730
 Pseudo-commodities · Resins & fibres · Foundation · Matter

The world can make twice as much epoxy as it uses, so trade duties now ring the market from Washington to Delhi.

Chart: Illustration: Epoxy resins

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Bisphenol A reacts with epichlorohydrin and caustic soda to make a liquid resin. Formulators later add an amine or anhydride hardener that cures it into a hard solid.

##### Three things to know

1. World capacity of about 6.5 Mt in 2023 was double the 3.27 Mt made, so plants ran at about 50%.
2. In 2025 the US, EU and India all imposed anti-dumping duties on Asian epoxy; India's range from $37 to $483 a tonne.
3. Aditya Birla is doubling its epoxy capacity from 123 kt a year to 246 kt.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Phenol, acetone**Joined into bisphenol A
2. 2 **Epichlorohydrin**From propylene and chlorine, or glycerine
3. 3 **Condensation**BPA, ECH and caustic soda react
4. 4 **Liquid resin**About 0.67 t BPA per tonne
5. 5 **Cure**Amine or anhydride hardener sets it solid

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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