The Blooming Demand for Epichlorohydrin and its Market Analysis

This blog contains detailed information on epichlorohydrin definition, market drivers as well as key players, and pricing trends.

Epichlorohydrin: Definition

Epichlorohydrin, with the chemical formula C3H5ClO, is a highly reactive organic molecule. It's a colourless liquid that's largely used to make epoxy resins, which are widely utilised in adhesives, coatings, and plastics.

It is a clear, colourless liquid, and its molecular formula is 92.52 g/mol. The density of epichlorohydrin is 1.18 g/cm3 at 20°C.

The melting point and boling points of epichlorohydrin are -57.2°C and 116.1°C, respectively. It is soluble in water, ethanol, ether, and benzene. The vapour pressure of epichlorohydrin is 14.8 mmHg at 25°C.

It is also employed as a solvent, a fumigant, and in the production of a variety of compounds, including glycerol, elastomers, and water treatment chemicals.

However, epichlorohydrin is a dangerous compound that can cause skin and respiratory irritation, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has categorised it as a potential human carcinogen. As a result, in many nations, its use and handling are strictly regulated.

Market Drivers

Epichlorohydrin is a critical raw element in the production of epoxy resins, which have several applications in the construction, automotive, electronics, and aerospace industries. Epichlorohydrin demand is being driven by rising demand for certain end-use items.

It is also used to make water treatment chemicals such as quaternary ammonium compounds and glycidyl ethers. Growing demand for clean water, as well as a greater emphasis on environmental rules, are driving demand for water treatment chemicals, which in turn are boosting demand for epichlorohydrin.

The expansion of the worldwide automotive and construction industries is boosting demand for epoxy resins, which is a key application of epichlorohydrin. The growing demand for lightweight materials and high-performance composites in these industries is also driving the demand for epichlorohydrin.

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Because epichlorohydrin is dangerous, its usage and handling are strictly restricted in many countries. As a result, the demand for epichlorohydrin is also driven by the need to comply with government rules for its usage and management.

Research and development activities to optimise production techniques and create new uses for epichlorohydrin are also driving the global market demand for this chemical. The development of bio-based epichlorohydrin, for example, is projected to enhance demand for this chemical in the future.

Key Market Players

• Solvay SA (Solvay): It is a chemical manufacturing firm that develops and sells speciality polymers, chemical materials, and critical chemicals, among other things. It serves natural resources and the environment, building and construction, healthcare, aeronautics and automotive, electrical and electronics, agrochemical, food, consumer goods, industrial applications, and other industries. The company uses special chemicals composed of eco-friendly resources to increase the product's quality and function.
• Zachem SA: It is a company that manufactures and distributes organic colorants, optical bleaching agents, and organic and inorganic pigments. These dyes and pigments are produced in a variety of colours and are customised to meet the needs of the customer.
• Samsung Fine Chemicals Company Limited: The company is the largest manufacturer of plastic and PE-related products such as sanitary bags, aprons, zipper bags, sanitary gloves, rollbacks, and kimbags, which may be found in homes and make daily living easier. It has been a market leader due to its stable employment and solid operations.
• Dow Chemical Company: Dow Chemical Company, an American manufacturer of chemicals and plastics, is one of the world's top suppliers of chemicals, plastics, synthetic fibers, and agricultural products.
• Aditya Birla Chemicals:  It is a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, is a world-class chemical company with a long history of globalising chemicals. It is a leading producer of Caustic Soda and Chlorine derivative chemicals, an epoxy resin player in the top two Sulphites in the world, and a top 5 Food Phosphates manufacturer in the world.

Epichlorohydrin Price Trend Analysis

North America

Recently, the Epichlorohydrin market in North America, like the markets in Europe, experienced a further increase.

According to market participants, downstream textile and cosmetics firms showed moderate interest in the commodity for their manufacturing needs.

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Furthermore, the demand for this product has decreased for epoxy resin makers. Because of lower European imports and modest manufacturing activity in upstream industries due to moderate downstream demand, the commodity was scarce in warehouses and stocks. Nonetheless, the market was trending upward.

Europe

In recent times, the Epichlorohydrin market expanded more in Europe. According to industry participants, customers' concerns about rising energy and natural gas prices as a result of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine were influencing demand.
As a result, this product was experiencing decreased demand from downstream epoxy resin makers. The product market in Germany arose as a result of the commodity's limited availability in warehouses and stocks as a result of the average production activities of upstream companies. The same cause also had a negative influence on exports.

APAC

Recently, the Asian market for Epichlorohydrin has been falling. In India, adequate quantities of the commodity remained unsold, and suppliers were forced to declare offers to increase their sales because textile and cosmetic manufacturing enterprises showed just a passing interest in it.

Taking China into account, the product's market fell due to decreased demand from downstream sectors, which were forced to reduce their production rates as a result of the re-implementation of Covid - 19 limitations. Upstream enterprises were also forced to reduce the epichlorohydrin production cost due to similar reasons.

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