# Surfactants: Relationships

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/surfactants/links/

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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/linear-alkylbenzene-and-surfactants/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/palm-oil-and-surfactants/): 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](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/coconut-oil-and-surfactants/): Coconut oil is a raw material for surfactants; their prices have moved together.
- [Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/crude-oil-and-surfactants/): Crude oil is a raw material for surfactants; their prices have moved together.
- [Apparel and footwear](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/apparel-and-footwear-and-surfactants/): Apparel and footwear depends on surfactants.
- [Ethylene oxide](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ethylene-oxide-and-surfactants/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Fatty acids](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/fatty-acids-and-surfactants/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Fatty alcohols](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/fatty-alcohols-and-surfactants/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Healthcare services](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/healthcare-services-and-surfactants/): Healthcare services depends on surfactants.
- [Hospitality and tourism](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/hospitality-and-tourism-and-surfactants/): Hospitality and tourism depends on surfactants.
- [Household and personal care](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/household-and-personal-care-and-surfactants/): Household and personal care depends on surfactants.
- [Paper and packaging](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/paper-and-packaging-and-surfactants/): Paper and packaging depends on surfactants.
- [Real estate](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/real-estate-and-surfactants/): Real estate depends on surfactants.
- [Sodium silicate](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sodium-silicate-and-surfactants/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Specialty amines and ethanolamines](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/specialty-amines-and-ethanolamines-and-surfactants/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Textiles and leather](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/surfactants-and-textiles-and-leather/): Textiles and leather depends on surfactants.
- [Waste and recycling](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/surfactants-and-waste-and-recycling/): Waste and recycling depends on surfactants.
- [Wholesale and retail trade](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/surfactants-and-wholesale-and-retail-trade/): Wholesale and retail trade depends on surfactants.
- [Wool](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/surfactants-and-wool/): Their prices have moved together.

## Other sections

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