# Fatty alcohols: Production Indonesia's new wave of plants and where capacity heads Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fatty_alcohols/production/ 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 UN Comtrade 2024; GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025; UN Comtrade 2024; GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 (company list); locations indicative; GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025 #### 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](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **Shell Chemicals** oxo detergent alcohols (Neodol) | UK / US | 0.56 Mt capacity (derived: 11%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **Wilmar International** | Singapore / Indonesia | 0.46 Mt capacity (derived: 9%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **Musim Mas** | Singapore / Indonesia | 0.41 Mt capacity (derived: 8%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **Ecogreen Oleochemicals** | Indonesia | 0.41 Mt capacity (derived: 8%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **BASF** | Germany | 0.36 Mt capacity (derived: 7%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **Kao** integrated with its consumer brands | Japan | 0.36 Mt capacity (derived: 7%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **KLK Oleo** | Malaysia | 0.31 Mt capacity (derived: 6%) | 2024 | [GlobalData presentation, Fedepalma International Conference, Aug 2025](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | #### 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](https://fedepalma.org/conferenciainternacional/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/M4_1_6-FNL-PPT-CONFERENCIA-INTERNACIONAL-2025_GlobalData_compressed.pdf) | | **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](https://godrejindustries.com/public/uploads/listing_compliance/BSENSEPRESSRELEASEJULY32025.pdf) | 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). | ## 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) - [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fatty_alcohols/feedstocks/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)