# Fatty alcohols: Feedstocks

Coconut or ethylene: the price ratio that picks the winner

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

Oleo alcohols need lauric oils, which are a small and volatile market: palm kernel and coconut oil together are a fraction of palm oil supply. Synthetic alcohols need ethylene. The lauric-oil-to-ethylene price ratio decides which route is cheaper.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [PO Palm oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/palm_oil/) | about 1.1-1.2 t per t alcohol (indicative) | main lauric feedstock | about 70-80% (indicative) | palm_oil tile; indicative |
| [Cnt Coconut oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/coconut/) | about 1.1-1.2 t per t | lauric feedstock (Philippines, Indonesia) | about 70-80% (indicative) | coconut tile |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | about 0.02-0.03 t per t (indicative) | hydrogenation of esters or acids | about 3-5% (indicative) | indicative |
| **Methanol** | mostly recycled; small net use | transesterification | small | indicative |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | about 1 t per t (indicative) | Ziegler and oxo alcohols | about 60-70% for synthetic producers (indicative) | ethylene tile; indicative |

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

Integrated Indonesian and Malaysian producers with own palm kernel oil are lowest-cost on the oleo side; US Gulf synthetic plants on shale ethane are competitive when lauric oils are expensive. European and Indian producers buy feedstock at market and rely on specialties and proximity.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[PO Palm oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/palm_oil/)[Cnt Coconut oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/coconut/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Srf Surfactants](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/surfactants/) | SLES, SLS and alcohol ethoxylates take most fatty alcohol |
| [EO Ethylene oxide](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/) | ethoxylation partner |
| [Amn Specialty amines and ethanolamines](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/specialty_amines/) | fatty amines and quats |

## Other sections

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