What is Isooctanoic Acid Market Analysis: Price Trend and Trade Data
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
38.6%
Neutral
28.2%
Bearish
33.2%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published data (2025-07 to 2026-06) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 291590 is 2026-06 at USD 2,693/ton, -5.1% against the previous month and +7.2% against 2025-07.
Reported volume across the fixed 13-economy panel was 906,458 tonnes over the window, 75,538 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +14.0%.
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 291590. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Coverage note: HS 291590 is the residual line for saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids; 2-ethylhexanoic acid shares the heading with caprylic and other acids, so this is a line-level average, not a 2-EHA 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=291590&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 291590 moved from USD 2,513/ton in 2025-07 to USD 2,693/ton in 2026-06 (+7.2% across the window). The window high was USD 2,837/ton in 2026-05 and the low USD 2,340/ton in 2025-08. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +14.0% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 2,315.7 million of export value on 906,458 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 75,538 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 13 economies: AUS, BRA, CZE, DNK, HUN, IDN, IRL, MYS, MEX, NLD, POL, SWE, USA. 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 2,340 to USD 2,837/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-06: USD 2,693/ton, -5.1% against the previous month, on 78,519 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- Isooctanoic acid demand is led by metal carboxylate driers for alkyd coatings and inks, followed by ester plasticizers, lubricants and initiator intermediates.
- Upstream feedstock pages on this site: n-Octanoic Acid and Octanol.
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 291590 is the residual line for saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids; 2-ethylhexanoic acid shares the heading with caprylic and other acids, so this is a line-level average, not a 2-EHA quote.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Neodecanoic Acid (Versatic 10) | Used as a drop-in or partial replacement in metal drier salts (cobalt, manganese, zirconium neodecanoates) for alkyd coatings and printing inks. Neodecanoic acid offers higher hydrolytic stability and lower volatility; it is the preferred alternative when improved weathering resistance or reduced odor is required. Reformulation of the metal salt is straightforward since the carboxylate coordination chemistry is analogous. |
| 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (same compound, different purity grade) | Within the isooctanoic acid family, lower-purity technical grades can substitute for high-purity grades in less demanding applications such as PVC heat stabilizer intermediates or lubricant additive synthesis, reducing cost at the expense of color and consistency. |
| Naphthenic Acids | Historically used as the primary source of metal soaps (driers, catalysts) before synthetic branched acids became dominant. Naphthenic acid metal salts can replace isooctanoic acid metal salts in paint driers and oil-field corrosion inhibitors where color and odor are not critical. The substitution is straightforward for drier applications but naphthenic acids have variable composition and stronger odor, limiting use in high-quality coatings. |
| Isononanoic Acid | A C9 branched-chain acid used as an alternative to isooctanoic acid in ester plasticizer synthesis (e.g., trimethylolpropane triisononanoate) and metalworking fluids. It offers slightly higher molecular weight and lower volatility. Substitution typically requires minor reformulation to adjust ester stoichiometry and viscosity targets. |
| Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA) | Can partially replace isooctanoic acid in metal soap and drier applications where unsaturation is acceptable. TOFA-based cobalt or manganese driers are lower cost but have inferior oxidative stability and color. Used as a cost-reduction substitute in industrial coatings and alkyd resins where premium performance is not required. |
| Octanoic Acid (Caprylic Acid, n-C8) | The straight-chain C8 acid can substitute for isooctanoic acid in some metal salt and catalyst applications (e.g., tin or bismuth carboxylates for polyurethane catalysis). However, its higher melting point and lower solubility in hydrocarbon solvents limit direct drop-in use; reformulation of the solvent system is typically needed. |
| Stearic Acid / Oleic Acid | Long-chain fatty acids can replace isooctanoic acid in metallic soap applications (e.g., calcium, zinc, or lead stabilizers for PVC) where the primary function is lubrication and thermal stabilization rather than solubility in aromatic solvents. The substitution is partial and application-specific; branched-acid soaps generally outperform stearates in solubility and compatibility with resin systems. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- n-Octanoic Acid — the linear C8 isomer sharing the same trade heading.
- Octanol — the 2-ethylhexanol that is oxidised to isooctanoic acid.
- Propylene — the oxo-synthesis olefin at the head of the 2-EH chain.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | ECHA | 2006 | Registered; no reproductive toxicity classification (Category 1/2) assigned under CLP | ECHA Chemical Substance Information, Link removed 2026-09-22 (not reachable when checked) |
| US | TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory | US EPA | ongoing updates (latest 2025) | Listed (active) | US EPA TSCA Inventory, https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory |
| China | Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2013 (ongoing updates) | Not listed | ECHEMI SDS (IECSC reference), https://www.echemi.com/sds/isooctanoic-acid-pd180521112985.html |
| International | IMDG Code | IMO (via SDS) | ongoing | Class 8, UN 3265, PG III (corrosive liquid, acidic, organic) | ECHEMI SDS, https://www.echemi.com/sds/isooctanoic-acid-pd180521112985.html |
Key Influence Events
Isooctanoic acid (also known as 2-ethylhexanoic acid, CAS 149-57-5) is a branched-chain C8 saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula C8H16O2. It is a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid with a mild, rancid odor, produced primarily as a co-product or main product of the oxo synthesis (hydroformylation) of heptene or by oxidation of 2-ethylhexanol. It is widely used as a metal salt precursor (driers, catalysts, stabilizers), as a ligand in coordination chemistry, as a raw material for ester plasticizers and lubricants, and as an intermediate in the synthesis of peroxide initiators and pharmaceutical compounds. Its branched structure imparts good solubility in organic solvents and low water solubility, making it valuable in coatings, PVC stabilizers, and metalworking fluid formulations.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Isooctanoic Acid Market Analysis: Price Trend and Trade Data
Isooctanoic acid (also known as 2-ethylhexanoic acid, CAS 149-57-5) is a branched-chain C8 saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula C8H16O2. It is a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid with a mild, rancid odor, produced primarily as a co-product or main product of the oxo synthesis (hydroformylation) of heptene or by oxidation of 2-ethylhexanol. It is widely used as a metal salt precursor (driers, catalysts, stabilizers), as a ligand in coordination chemistry, as a raw material for ester plasticizers and lubricants, and as an intermediate in the synthesis of peroxide initiators and pharmaceutical compounds. Its branched structure imparts good solubility in organic solvents and low water solubility, making it valuable in coatings, PVC stabilizers, and metalworking fluid formulations.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.0 | % | Technical / Industrial grade |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 98.0 | % | Standard commercial grade |
| Acid Value | 380 – 390 | mg KOH/g | All grades |
| Saponification Value | 382 – 392 | mg KOH/g | All grades |
| Color (APHA/Hazen) | ≤ 20 | Hazen | High-purity / Drier grade |
| Color (APHA/Hazen) | ≤ 50 | Hazen | Standard industrial grade |
| Water Content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.10 | % | All grades |
| Density (20 °C) | 0.902 – 0.910 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Refractive Index (20 °C) | 1.424 – 1.428 | — | All grades |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | ≥ 110 | °C | All grades |
| Boiling Point | 227 – 229 | °C (at 1 atm) | Reference |
| Freezing / Pour Point | ≤ -60 | °C | Reference |
| Iodine Value | ≤ 1.0 | g I₂/100 g | All grades |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 | ppm | Drier / Catalyst 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 291590, 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: AUS, BRA, CZE, DNK, HUN, IDN, IRL, MYS, MEX, NLD, POL, SWE, USA. Exact API calls are the per-month links above.
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| BASF | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Ludwigshafen, Germany, Kuantan, Malaysia |
| Perstorp | Malmo, Sweden | Stenungsund, Sweden |
| OQ Chemicals | Monheim, Germany | Oberhausen, Germany |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Kingsport, Tennessee, USA | |
| KH Neochem Co., Ltd. | Tokyo, Japan | Chiba, Japan |
| Elekeiroz S.A. | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Dow Chemical Company | Midland, Michigan, USA | |
| Grupa Azoty S.A. | Krakow, Poland | |
| Shenyang Zhangming Chemical Co., Ltd. | Shenyang, China | |
| Jiangxi JYT Chemical Co., Ltd. | Nanchang, China |
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