What is Trioctyl Trimellitate (TOTM): Price Trend and Trade Data
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
40.8%
Neutral
24.7%
Bearish
34.5%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published data (2025-07 to 2026-06) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 291739 is 2026-06 at USD 2,147/ton, -1.2% against the previous month and -0.4% against 2025-07.
Reported volume across the fixed 7-economy panel was 195,117 tonnes over the window, 16,260 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +22.2%.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 291739. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Coverage note: HS 291739 is a residual line for aromatic polycarboxylic acid esters not covered elsewhere; TOTM is one member of that group, so the line average is not a TOTM quote.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade monthly trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?period=202606&cmdCode=291739&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-09-23
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-07 to 2026-06)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 291739 moved from USD 2,155/ton in 2025-07 to USD 2,147/ton in 2026-06 (-0.4% across the window). The window high was USD 2,173/ton in 2026-05 and the low USD 1,642/ton in 2026-01. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +22.2% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 379.2 million of export value on 195,117 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 16,260 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 7 economies: CAN, CZE, MYS, NLD, POL, IND, SWE. The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 1,642 to USD 2,173/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-06: USD 2,147/ton, -1.2% against the previous month, on 18,778 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- TOTM demand is concentrated in 105-125 C rated wire and cable insulation and in medical PVC where low volatility matters more than cost.
- Upstream feedstock pages on this site: Octanol and Dioctyl Terephthalate.
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page. Coverage note: HS 291739 is a residual line for aromatic polycarboxylic acid esters not covered elsewhere; TOTM is one member of that group, so the line average is not a TOTM quote.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP / DOP) | General-purpose PVC plasticization at lower temperatures. DEHP can replace TOTM in standard wire and cable or flexible PVC applications where heat resistance above 90 °C is not required. It is a drop-in replacement in terms of processing compatibility but offers significantly higher volatility and lower thermal stability, making it unsuitable for high-temperature cable insulation (105–125 °C rated). Regulatory restrictions on DEHP in medical and food-contact applications limit its use in those segments. |
| Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) | Used as a lower-cost alternative to TOTM in general flexible PVC applications such as flooring, wall coverings, and non-critical wire insulation. DINP offers better volatility resistance than DEHP but still falls short of TOTM's performance at elevated temperatures. Substitution is straightforward in standard PVC compounding but requires reformulation to match mechanical properties at high service temperatures. |
| Tris(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate variants / Mixed trimellitate esters (e.g., triisononyl trimellitate, TINTM) | Direct functional substitutes within the trimellitate plasticizer family. TINTM and other mixed-alcohol trimellitates offer similar low volatility and heat resistance to TOTM and can be used as drop-in or near-drop-in replacements in automotive wire and cable, medical PVC, and high-temperature cable insulation. Selection depends on specific viscosity, compatibility, and cost requirements. |
| Dioctyl adipate (DOA) / Diisononyl adipate (DINA) | Adipate plasticizers serve as partial substitutes in flexible PVC applications requiring good low-temperature flexibility (e.g., refrigerator gaskets, cold-climate cables). They do not match TOTM's high-temperature performance and are typically used in blends with trimellitates or phthalates rather than as full replacements. Substitution is partial and application-specific. |
| Citrate esters (e.g., acetyl tributyl citrate, ATBC; acetyl triethyl citrate, ATEC) | Bio-based, non-phthalate alternatives used primarily in medical PVC applications (blood bags, IV tubing, medical gloves) where regulatory compliance and biocompatibility are critical. Citrates can replace TOTM in medical-grade PVC where migration and toxicological profile are the primary drivers, though they generally offer lower heat resistance and higher volatility than TOTM. Reformulation of the PVC compound is typically required to match mechanical performance. |
| Polymeric plasticizers (e.g., polyester adipates, polyester sebacates) | High-molecular-weight polymeric plasticizers offer very low volatility and migration resistance comparable to or exceeding TOTM, making them suitable substitutes in applications requiring minimal plasticizer loss over time (e.g., automotive interior parts, long-life cable insulation, coated fabrics). They are generally more viscous and harder to process than TOTM, requiring higher processing temperatures or blending with monomeric plasticizers. Used as partial or full replacements depending on the application. |
| Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) | Higher-molecular-weight phthalate offering improved volatility resistance compared to DEHP/DINP. Used as a cost-effective substitute for TOTM in wire and cable insulation rated up to approximately 90 °C. Not suitable for 105 °C or higher-rated applications where TOTM is specified. Drop-in compatible with standard PVC compounding equipment. |
| Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) | Bio-based secondary plasticizer and heat stabilizer used in PVC. ESBO can partially replace TOTM in flexible PVC formulations, particularly in food-contact and medical applications, providing both plasticization and stabilization functions. It is not a full drop-in replacement for TOTM as a primary plasticizer due to limited compatibility at high loading levels and inferior low-temperature performance, but it is commonly used in blends to reduce TOTM content. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Octanol — the 2-ethylhexanol consumed in the esterification step.
- Dioctyl Terephthalate — the other non-ortho plasticizer competing for the same PVC applications.
- Dioctyl Phthalate — the general-purpose plasticizer TOTM replaces where heat resistance is required.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH | ECHA | 2007 (pre-reg) | Registration required for manufacture/import >=1 t/year; no authorization or restriction | Link removed 2026-09-22 (not reachable when checked) |
| EU | REACH | ECHA | 2018 (extended one-generation reproductive toxicity study request) | Additional information required on reproductive toxicity for tri-n-octyl trimellitate | Link removed 2026-09-22 (not reachable when checked) |
| US | TSCA Inventory | EPA | 1976 (active) | Listed on TSCA active inventory; no restrictions identified | https://www.aglayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Trioctyl-Trimellitate-TOTM-SDS.pdf |
| EU | EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) | EU Commission | 2017/745 | Justification required for continued use of materials like DEHP above 0.1% w/w (Annex 1, Chapter 2, Section 10.4); TOTM permitted as alternative plasticizer in blood bags and tubing | https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2019-05/ev_20190404_co05_en_0.pdf |
| Global | Transport Classification | UN Model Regulations / IMDG Code | 2023 (GHS Rev 11 / UN Orange Book) | Not classified as dangerous goods; no UN number; not regulated for transport (DOT, IATA, IMDG) | https://redox.com/wp-content/sds/2910.pdf |
Key Influence Events
Trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM), also known as tris(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate or TEHTM, is a high-molecular-weight ester plasticizer produced by the esterification of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) with 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH). It belongs to the trimellitate family of plasticizers and is characterized by its low volatility, excellent heat stability, and good electrical insulation properties. TOTM is primarily used as a primary plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for demanding applications such as automotive wire and cable insulation, medical tubing and blood bags, and high-temperature electrical cables, where conventional phthalate plasticizers would be inadequate due to their higher volatility and lower thermal stability.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Trioctyl Trimellitate (TOTM): Price Trend and Trade Data
Trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM), also known as tris(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate or TEHTM, is a high-molecular-weight ester plasticizer produced by the esterification of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) with 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH). It belongs to the trimellitate family of plasticizers and is characterized by its low volatility, excellent heat stability, and good electrical insulation properties. TOTM is primarily used as a primary plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for demanding applications such as automotive wire and cable insulation, medical tubing and blood bags, and high-temperature electrical cables, where conventional phthalate plasticizers would be inadequate due to their higher volatility and lower thermal stability.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, light yellow oily liquid | — | All commercial grades |
| Purity (TOTM content) | ≥99.0 | % | Standard / High-purity |
| Color (APHA/Hazen) | ≤50 | APHA | Standard grade |
| Color (APHA/Hazen) | ≤30 | APHA | High-purity / Medical grade |
| Acid Value | ≤0.10 | mg KOH/g | All grades |
| Saponification Value | 285–295 | mg KOH/g | All grades |
| Moisture Content | ≤0.10 | % | All grades |
| Density (20 °C) | 0.982–0.988 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Viscosity (25 °C) | 200–280 | mPa·s | All grades |
| Flash Point (COC) | ≥240 | °C | All grades |
| Boiling Point (at 5 mmHg) | ~285 | °C | Reference value |
| Refractive Index (20 °C) | 1.484–1.487 | — | All grades |
| Molecular Weight | ~547 | g/mol | Theoretical |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤10 | mg/kg | Medical / Food-contact grade |
| Residual 2-Ethylhexanol | ≤500 | mg/kg | Medical grade |
Data Sources
Price and volume figures on this page are computed from the public sources listed below. Regulatory sources are cited individually in the Regulatory Status table above.
- UN Comtrade monthly public trade statistics — HS 291739, exports, by month (2025-07 to 2026-06): 2025-07, 2025-08, 2025-09, 2025-10, 2025-11, 2025-12, 2026-01, 2026-02, 2026-03, 2026-04, 2026-05, 2026-06
- Fixed reporting panel for this series: CAN, CZE, MYS, NLD, POL, IND, SWE. Exact API calls are the per-month links above.
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| BASF | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Pasadena, Texas, USA, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada |
| Eastman Chemical | Kingsport, Tennessee, USA | Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, Texas City, Texas, USA, Longview, Texas, USA, Mauá, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Polynt | San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy | San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China |
| LG Chem | Seoul, South Korea | Naju, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| UPC Technology | Taipei, Taiwan | Linyuan, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan |
| Aekyung Petrochemical | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Lanxess | Cologne, Germany | |
| ExxonMobil Chemical | Spring, Texas, USA | |
| UPC Technology Corporation | Taipei, Taiwan | Linyuan, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan |
| Jiangsu Zhengdan Chemical Industry | Jiangsu, China | |
| Bluesail Chemical | China | |
| Wuxi Baichuan | Wuxi, China | |
| Henan Qingan Chemical | Henan, China |
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