Light Linear Alpha Olefins Market is growing at a rapid pace with Chevron Phillips Chemical announcing to expand its alpha olefins production in its Old Ocean, Texas, U.S. facility

 

Linear Alpha olefins are a new type of emulsifier that has recently caught the attention of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) are used in many skincare products for their ability to absorb oil, diminish wrinkles, and also to exfoliate dead skin cells. However, these same chemicals are also considered "permeable" and can soak up other ingredients as well. Linear alpha olefins are one of the widely used products in various end-use industries such as automobile and packaging. The demand is also high in the construction industry as well. As per the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s domestic automobile sales reached 21.55 million units in FY20, registering a CAGR of 1.29%. As per the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), total vehicle (commercial + passenger) sales reached 96 million units in 2017, increasing from 86 million units in 2013 globally. Alpha olefins are typically used in the production of lubricants, plasticizers, surfactants, and oil chemicals, which can augment growth of the light liber alpha olefins market.

Another key factor influencing the development of the market is the rapid growth of the wax industry. Since linear alpha olefins have low molecular weight, they can be widely used to improve the properties of wax. With growing demand for wax in candle making, linear alpha olefins are expected to witness a high surge in demand in the near future. Therefore, such factors can stimulate growth of the light linear alpha olefins market. Recently, in May 2021, Chevron Phillips Chemical announced to expand its alpha olefins production in its Old Ocean, Texas, U.S. facility.

As far as regional impact is concerned, Asia Pacific seems to be registering robust growth in the light linear alpha olefins market. This is typically due to rapidly expanding plastic manufacturing plants as well as growing urbanization in emerging economies such as China and India. On the contrary, North America is exhibiting positive signs due to high growth of the automotive sector.

The production of linear alpha olefins is based on a technique called selective lamination, where a film of the compound is applied onto the surface of non-precursive alcohol. Since alcohols containing multiple double bonds are very viscous, the film can only be applied to the surface in thin layers. The layer of alcohol will break off into two molecules, allowing the double bond to pass through the film. The desired results are obtained when the film comes into contact with a substrate, such as collagen, elastin, or hyaluronic acid. That being said, there are certain aspects of this market that could limit development in the near future. For instance, the implementation of stringent environmental regulations combined with volatility in prices of raw materials can potentially impede growth of the light liner alpha olefins market.