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Article: Fatty Acids Makers Deal with Thin Margins.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Chemical Week
- Article date:
- August 22, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Access Intelligence, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PRODUCT PRICES IN the $2.85-billion North American fatty acids market are mired near historic lows, and demand volume is expected to slip 2%-3% by year-end, to 910 million m.t., says Don Ciancio, global v.p./process intermediates at Uniqema.
But major fatty acids suppliers, including Cognis and Uniqema, say that lower vegetable oil feedstock costs and increased demand for higher-value products are helping them cope through a difficult period. Demand has dropped for fatty acids such as lauric and stearic acid for traditional soaps, but demand for new personal care products using higher-value fatty acids has risen.
Specialty fatty acids including dimers, ...