Organic pigments: Feedstocks
Why copper and phthalic anhydride set the price of blue
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.Organic pigments come from aromatic intermediates (anilines, dichlorobenzidine, arylides, naphthols, phthalic anhydride) plus copper for phthalocyanines and solvents for finishing. Feedstocks are a modest share of the value of specialty grades but a large share for commodity blues and yellows. Integration into intermediates and effluent permits decides who is low cost.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | not published; varies by pigment | chromophore building blocks | about 40-60% for commodity azo pigments (indicative) | indicative |
| Oil Crude oil | about 1.2-1.4 t per t CPC crude (indicative) | phthalocyanine ring | largest input for CPC blue (indicative) | stoichiometry (indicative) |
| Cu Copper | copper is about 11% of CPC by weight (stoichiometric) | central metal in phthalocyanine | about 10-15% for CPC blue (indicative) | stoichiometry (indicative) |
| N Nitrogen (ammonia) | about 2-3 t urea per t CPC crude (indicative) | nitrogen source for phthalocyanine | small | indicative |
| Arylides (acetoacetanilides) | about 0.5-0.7 t per t of azo yellow (indicative) | coupling component for yellows | significant; Indian ADD of 24.79-44.90% on Chinese arylides | DGTR final findings, 12 Oct 2026 (via Corpseed) |
| Mc Mica | substrate for pearl pigments | effect pigment base | not published | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese integrated producers (Lily, Longyu) are lowest cost in commodity grades. Indian makers compete in CPC blue and azo pigments with lower labour costs but rely on China for about 30% of intermediates (Sudarshan). European specialty plants have higher costs and depend on quality and approvals.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| Pnt Paints and coatings | about 45% of colour pigment value |
| Bz Benzene | upstream: aromatic feedstock |
| PX Paraxylene | upstream: xylene chain (ortho-xylene to phthalic anhydride) |
| Add Polymer additives | pigments in masterbatch sit alongside additives in plastics compounding |