# Linear alkylbenzene: Trading

Annual formulas linked to benzene and kerosene

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab/trading/

What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.

#### Who buys, and where

- Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran), South-East Asia (Indonesia, Thailand), China, Europe

#### Who sells, and from where

- Detergent makers in India, South-East Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America (HUL, P&G, Nirma, Jyothy, Wipro and many regional sulphonators)

#### Price benchmarks

| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| **LAB CFR India; LAB FOB Middle East** | ICIS; Argus | spot and contract, weekly |

#### Exchanges

| Venue | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **None** | no futures | contract and spot |

#### Contract types

- Annual contracts with formula linked to benzene and kerosene
- Spot cargoes by chemical tanker

#### Traders and distributors

- Japanese and international chemical traders (indicative)

#### How Indian buyers price it

- Domestic producers set monthly prices near import parity CFR India plus duties
- Anti-dumping duties on Iran and Qatar (2025-2030)
- LAB Quality Control Order 2022 (suspended 1 April-1 July 2026)

#### Recent price points

| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | **$1,704/t** | India | Procurement Resource |
| Aug 2026 | **$1,257/t** | FOB China | Procurement Resource |
| Aug 2026 | **$1,611/t** | Germany | Procurement Resource |

#### Good sources to follow
[Chemical Week](https://chemweek.mydigitalpublication.com/articles/india-driving-lab-demand-growth)paid newsletter · S&P Global

LAB and surfactant market analysis
[Procurement Resource LAB price trends](https://procurementresource.com/resource-center/linear-alkyl-benzene-price-trends)freemium research site · Procurement Resource

monthly LAB prices by region
[Chemical Weekly](https://www.chemicalweekly.com)freemium newsletter · Sevak Publications

Indian chemical prices including LAB

## Other sections

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