# Plasticisers: Feedstocks

Why the alcohol price decides what a plasticiser costs

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

A plasticiser is about two-thirds alcohol and one-third acid by weight, so the price of 2-ethylhexanol (from propylene and syngas) or isononanol (from butenes) sets most of the cost. The anhydride comes from o-xylene or p-xylene. Integrated oxo-alcohol producers set the floor.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **2-Ethylhexanol (or isononanol)** | 0.67 t 2-EH per t DOP or DOTP; 0.69 t INA per t DINP (stoichiometry) | alcohol | about 55-65% (indicative) | stoichiometry; indicative |
| **Phthalic anhydride (from o-xylene)** | 0.38 t per t DOP (stoichiometry) | acid | about 25-30% (indicative) | stoichiometry; indicative |
| **PTA (for DOTP)** | 0.43 t per t DOTP (stoichiometry) | acid | about 25-30% (indicative) | stoichiometry |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | indirect | ultimate carbon source | indirect | chem_master feeds |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | not published | esterification heat | small | indicative |

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

Producers with their own oxo-alcohols and anhydride (BASF, ExxonMobil, Evonik Oxeno, Korean and Chinese majors) are lowest cost; non-integrated esterifiers such as many Indian plants buy 2-EH and live on a thin conversion margin.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [PVC PVC](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pvc/) | flexible PVC takes 80-90% of plasticisers |
| [Adh Adhesives and sealants](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/) | plasticisers in sealants and adhesives |

## Other sections

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