The global demand for fatty acids and fatty alcohols is burgeoning in end-user industries such as cosmetics, food, plastics and rubber, according to market analyst Frost & Sullivan.
Southeast Asia has become a hotbed of activity in the sector, said the analyst, due to a combination of factors: raw materials are abundantly available in the region, consumers increasingly prefer vegetable based products and manufacturing costs in the region remain low.
The products manufactured in southeast Asia are mainly basic oleochemicals such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols and glycerin, said Frost and Sullivan.