Fatty alcohols: Production
Indonesia's new wave of plants and where capacity heads
Indonesia's new wave of plants and where capacity heads What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | about 5.1 Mt (2024, derived) rising to 6.2 Mt by 2027 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 (2024 derived as 6.2 Mt less 1.1 Mt new capacity) | |
| World output | about 4-4.5 Mt (indicative) | indicative; not published | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 80-85% (indicative) | The fatty alcohol market recovered in 2024 after a weak 2023, but eight new projects in 2025 add supply (GlobalData). | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Concentration | top five companies about 50% of capacity (Sasol 14, Shell 11, Wilmar 9, Musim Mas 8, Ecogreen 8) (2024) | More concentrated than fatty acids because hydrogenation needs high-pressure plants and hydrogen. | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| New capacity | about 1.1 Mt of new capacity in 2024-2027 | Unilever Sei Mangkei 120 kt, Apical Dumai 130 kt and Permata Pelintung 100 kt in Indonesia, and Zhuoyue New Energy 50 kt in China, all 2025 (GlobalData); Godrej doubling to about 70 kt (2025 announcement). | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025; Godrej Industries release, 3 Jul 2025 |
Top producing countries
- Indonesia: largest exporter: 0.84 Mt, $1.28 billion (HS 382370, 2024); Ecogreen, Musim Mas, Wilmar, Apical, Unilever
- Malaysia: 0.53 Mt exports, $0.82 billion (2024); KLK, Emery, IOI
- United States: Sasol Lake Charles (Ziegler), Shell Geismar (oxo), P&G (oleo)
- Germany and Netherlands: BASF, Sasol Germany, KLK Emmerich; Germany 0.19 Mt and Netherlands 0.29 Mt exports (2024)
- China: largest importer (0.65 Mt, $1.07 billion, 2024); Zhejiang Jiahua and Shengtai producers
- Thailand and Japan: PTT Global Chemical, Kao
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sasol Ziegler, oxo and oleo alcohols | South Africa / US / Germany | 0.71 Mt capacity (derived: 14% of about 5.1 Mt) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Shell Chemicals oxo detergent alcohols (Neodol) | UK / US | 0.56 Mt capacity (derived: 11%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Wilmar International | Singapore / Indonesia | 0.46 Mt capacity (derived: 9%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Musim Mas | Singapore / Indonesia | 0.41 Mt capacity (derived: 8%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Ecogreen Oleochemicals | Indonesia | 0.41 Mt capacity (derived: 8%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| BASF | Germany | 0.36 Mt capacity (derived: 7%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Kao integrated with its consumer brands | Japan | 0.36 Mt capacity (derived: 7%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| KLK Oleo | Malaysia | 0.31 Mt capacity (derived: 6%) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VVF fatty alcohols, fatty acids, glycerine | India | 0.1 Mt capacity (derived: 2% of world) | 2024 | GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 |
| Godrej Industries (Chemicals) part of a Rs 750 crore expansion; also +30 kt primary surfactants | India | 70 kt a year after expansion (derived: capacity doubled by adding 35 kt) | 2025-2030 | Godrej Industries release, 3 Jul 2025 |
India has two main producers, VVF and Godrej, and imports the balance: 118 kt ($202 million) of HS 382370 in 2024 against exports of 41 kt ($94 million) (UN Comtrade). Surfactant makers such as Galaxy buy imported and domestic alcohols.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Hosts Sasol and Shell synthetic capacity; imports oleo alcohols from South-East Asia ($0.30 billion, 2024). |
| EU | BASF, Sasol and KLK plants; imports from Indonesia and Malaysia; EUDR applies to palm derivatives. |
| India | Net importer of about 77 kt (2024, derived); domestic expansion by Godrej. |
| China | Largest importer (27% of import value, 2024). |
| Japan | Kao is a major integrated producer. |
| Middle East | Not material (indicative). |