Fatty alcohols: Natural or petrochemical feedstocks in the 1980s?

The economics of fatty alcohol use and production is reviewed. Beyond that in place or announced, there is little likelihood of more US fatty alcohol capacity in the next ten years. Barring a cataclysmic event, the real price of ethylene will increase at a rate approximately equal to the rate of increase for coconut oil price in the next ten years. Producers of fatty alcohols will be indifferent, if feedstock economics are the only consideration, between natural and petrochemical raw material bases for this class of oleochemicals. Presented at the 73rd annual meeting of the AOCS, Toronto, May 1982.