Surfactants: Relationships

Every element and industry that Surfactants is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

Linear alkylbenzene: Linear alkylbenzene exists almost only to be sulphonated into LAS, one of the largest surfactants, so LAB demand is laundry detergent demand. LAB was 60 to 70% of the cost of making LAS acid in 2026, which ties detergent costs to benzene and Gulf supply; India imported over 40% of its LAB in 2022-23 and since June 2025 taxes imports from Iran and Qatar. (researched)
Palm oil: Many cleaning surfactants start from palm, mainly from palm kernel oil, whose short-chain lauric fats make the fatty alcohols behind shampoos and liquid detergents. Kernel oil is a small co-product of palm oil, so surfactant makers depend on a supply set by palm harvests, and they can switch to petrochemical routes such as LAS when palm-based inputs are dear. (researched)
Coconut oil: Coconut oil is a raw material for surfactants; their prices have moved together.
Crude oil: Crude oil is a raw material for surfactants; their prices have moved together.
Apparel and footwear: Apparel and footwear depends on surfactants.
Ethylene oxide: Their prices have moved together.
Fatty acids: Their prices have moved together.
Fatty alcohols: Their prices have moved together.
Healthcare services: Healthcare services depends on surfactants.
Hospitality and tourism: Hospitality and tourism depends on surfactants.
Household and personal care: Household and personal care depends on surfactants.
Paper and packaging: Paper and packaging depends on surfactants.
Real estate: Real estate depends on surfactants.
Sodium silicate: Their prices have moved together.
Specialty amines and ethanolamines: Their prices have moved together.
Textiles and leather: Textiles and leather depends on surfactants.
Waste and recycling: Waste and recycling depends on surfactants.
Wholesale and retail trade: Wholesale and retail trade depends on surfactants.
Wool: Their prices have moved together.