# Toluene

A methyl-benzene co-product of refining used to make xylenes and benzene, blend petrol, dissolve paints and inks, and make TDI for foams.

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

Commodity chemicals · Aromatics · No. 27

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 35 Mt a year (2025, indicative, derived: IMARC value divided by about $850-900/t average price)
- 1.5 t CO₂e per t
- HS 290230
 Commodity chemicals · Aromatics · Foundation · Matter

Most toluene never leaves the refinery: it is poured into petrol or turned into other chemicals before anyone can buy it.

Chart: Illustration: Toluene

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Toluene is the most abundant aromatic in refinery reformate, recovered by solvent extraction along with benzene and xylenes; there is no major on-purpose route.

##### Three things to know

1. About 70% of toluene goes either into petrol for octane or into conversion to benzene and xylenes.
2. India made only 127,000 t in 2017 from 288,000 t of capacity, so pharma and paint solvent users depend on imports.
3. Asian toluene hit $781/t FOB Korea on 2 March 2026, its highest since February 2025.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Crude oil**Heavy naphtha from crude distillation
2. 2 **Reforming**Reformate is 15-25% toluene
3. 3 **Extraction**Sulfolane separates the aromatics
4. 4 **Swing decision**Petrol, conversion or solvent sales
5. 5 **End use**Paints, inks, pharma and TDI foam
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##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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