LAB : Market Outlook

Most LAB and LAS makers expected demand to strengthen only in the second quarter of 2013, as no one could foresee a recovery in the global economy in the first quarter.

However, some LAB producers in Asia and the Middle East said buying activity could pick up in the first quarter, when Chinese buyers re-enter the market to restock after the Lunar New Year holiday on 11-15 February. Movements in the China market typically have a ripple effect on other Asian markets.

On the margins front, however, there was considerable uncertainty, as the direction of upstream prices was difficult to predict, LAB suppliers said.

Industry sources said demand for LAB in the Asian and Middle East markets was expected to rise by 3-5% in 2013 from 2012 levels. Current demand for LAB in Asia is estimated at 1.4m tonnes/year, while the combined consumption in the Middle East and North Africa is said to be above 4,00,000 tonnes/year according to industry sources.

Source: ICIS

Weekly Price Update-50 : Linear Alkyl Benzene Price, Analysis

Dear All,
Greetings of the Day,

This week's LAB prices in Asia are negative by around US$ 20-22/MT in comparison with last week's prices, where as in Europe the prices of LAB are almost constant it shows an increase of about US$ 2-4/MT on the other side US Region also shows a negativity in the prices of LAB by around US$ 13-15/MT. 

Linear Alkyl Benzene prices are quite negative this week due to decrease in the prices of raw materials. Due to high correlation with Kerosene, Benzene prices with LAB.

This weeks i.e W-50 prices are mentioned below. All these prices are FOB US$/MT and these prices are just for your reference. This is my analysis and you can take these prices for your knowledge and market understanding.

Any query mail me at manumittal19@gmail.com

Weekly Price Update: Linear Alkyl Benzene Price, Analysis

Dear All,
Greeting of the Day,


Detergent prices are directly affected by the prices of LAB. 45% of the prices of detergents are based on the prices of LAB as it is a major raw material used in the manufacturing of synthetic detergents.

Linear Alkyl Benzene prices are quite high this month due to increase in the prices of Benzene. You know there is more than 90% correlation in between Kerosene, Benzene prices with LAB.

All these below mentioned prices are FOB USD/MT and these prices are just for your reference these are my analysis you can take these prices for your knowledge and market understanding.

In case if you have any question mail me on manumittal19@gmail.com

I'll try to solve your query asap.

Price Update: Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB)

Dear All,
Greetings of the Day,

Welcome again to my Blog!
Hope you all are doing great.

Do you know the demand of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) is quite captive with almost 95% of the LAB produced being consumed in the manufacturing of synthetic detergents.

The remaining 5% is used for other products like liquid detergents, pesticides and paint. Besides LAB accounts for 45% of the cost of synthetic detergents.

This means LAB directly or indirectly affects the pocket of people who are consuming the detergents and in my opinion there are at-least 70-80% people on this globe who are using detergents. A huge market I must say that.

Does LAB Price affect the price of Synthetic detergents?

YES

For ex:-

Lets say a synthetic detergent "M" costs INR 100/Kg. It includes the cost of LAB which accounts INR 45/Kg (45%) a very huge amount I must say that.

If there is any change in the price of LAB whether increase/decrease it will definitely affect the price of synthetic detergents and this will further affect our pocket.

Price Update

You will find the weekly price updates of Linear Alkyl Benzene for 3 regions ASIA, US, EUROPE in my blog, which will be updated every Monday.

This section contains the prices in USD/MT in a range of  USD 50 for all these 3 regions and the Prices will be published on every Monday.

P.S : These prices are calculated and analysed as per my understanding and knowledge about the product.

Analysis: India Linear Alkyl Benzene Imports in 2012

India Imported 132500 MT of Linear Alkyl Benzene

(January to September 2012)

As per the data study and data analysis of LAB

INDIA imported LAB of around 1,32,500 MT that means on an average of 14,723 MT of LAB per month. But in actual imports go like this as shown in fig below:-

Months	LAB imported in INDIA 2012 (MT)
January’12	10200
February’12	13500
March’12	15200
April’12	10000
May’12	21100
June’12	9500
July,12	17200
August’12	12300
September’12	23500
TOTAL	132500

Q. What about the statistics of LAB imports in INDIA last year at same time period i.e. January to September 2011?

India imported around 102500 MT of Linear Alkyl Benzene in the same period last year.

In 2012 till Sep India imports 29.26% of more Linear Alkyl Benzene than the last year’s imports in same time same period. 

Compared to last month i.e. August 2012, import of the country has jumped up by 90.88% in the month of September 2012.

Indian Linear Alkyl Benzene import has increased by 47% in September 2012 as compared to same period last year i.e. September 2011.

P.S. -  I appreciate your comments and feedback.  

LAB: Uses of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB)

Textile Industry - 

Around 95% of LAB being consumed in manufacturing of Synthetic detergents.

Distemper - 

Remaining 5% is used for other products like Liquid detergents, Pesticides and paints.

Q - Is there any other use also, if Yes is the answer - then kindly update us with your esteemed Knowledge.

PLANTS : Linear Alkyl Benzene in INDIA

INDIA ONE OF THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF LAB IN THE WORLD

In the Indian LAB market, there are four major producers of LAB in India, namely Reliance group, Indian Oil Corporation, Tamil Nadu Petro Products and Nirma.

India is reeling under over supply of LAB, as the domestic demand is comparatively lower than the domestic capacity and production. The total domestic demand is estimated at around 300000 TPA, while the capacity is close to 500000 TPA. The players are exporting their surplus to ensure higher capacity utilization.

Reliance Industries is the largest player in the Indian LAB sector with dominant share of the capacity amounting to 185000 tonne per annum. RIL is also the 5^th largest producer of LAB in world.

IOC has established world's largest single-train LAB plant in Baroda with an installed capacity of 120000 TPA in August 2004.

Tamil Nadu Petroproducts has LAB capacity of 120000 TPA. 

Nirma follows it with installed capacity of 75000 tonne. Of these, Nirma uses substantial portion of its production for captive use in production of detergents.

During the month of September 2012, India imported approx. 23500 MT of Linear Alkyl Benzene which is  a very huge quantity in-spite-of having the excess production of the LAB in the country.

Can anyone know the reason behind the imports??

News: Iran exempts select polymers, aromatics from export ban

07 November 2012 Source: ICIS

SINGAPORE (ICIS) - Iran has announced on Wednesday the exemption of certain petrochemicals like polyethylene (PE) from its proposed export ban, a source from state-owned Petrochemical Commercial Co (PCC) said.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene monomer (SM), benzene, caustic soda, melamine and linear alkyl benzene (LAB) will also be taken out of the list of commodities on which the ban will apply, the source said, citing an official announcement from the Iran government on 7 November.

“It doesn’t make sense that PE exports are banned. We are a major seller to Asia. Our market share will be severely affected if the ban continues,” the PCC source said.

A UAE-based polymer trader said: “We have just received the news as well. So, now it is a matter of time when the [Iranian] customs will resume the clearance of the exports again.”

Author: Ong Sheau Ling

News: Benzene worth Rs 33 crore seized by DRI

Press Trust of India - November 20, 2012

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized Linear Alkyl Benzene worth Rs 33 crore at Mundra port after a city-based trader allegedly misdeclared its country of origin, officials said.

"A consignment of 3,233 metric tonnes of LAB has been seized at Mundra port. A local trader, who imported it, had misdeclared the country of origin," a DRI official said.

As per the bills, the chemical which is used in the detergent industry, was declared to have been imported from Dubai. However, upon verification, it was found to have been brought from Iran, the official said.

The chemical was meant to be supplied to the industry in Gujarat as well as in other states.

Further investigations are underway.

Welcome: Hello Everyone

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my Blog!!!

I am Manu Mittal an MBA from University of Petroleum and Energy Studies(Energy Trading) working as a Business Analyst in Advance Group India.

Advance Group is the Largest Sulphonator in the country with the installed capacity of 1,68,000 TPA.

As a Sulphonator we need LAB as a raw material  for our plants so as a BA i need to find out lots and lots of information on this chemical so I start my research work I found lots of useful information available on the sites.

But I am still wondering how it's possible that there is not even a single blog made by anybody on the most amazing chemic in the world yeah the most amazing chemic and that is LINEAR ALKYL BENZENE (LAB) the SPECIALTY CHEMICAL.

LINEAR ALKYL BENZENE is a family of organic compounds which is used for making detergents sometimes called LAB's.

I welcome you all to my blog on LINEAR ALKYL BENZENE 

I try my best to make this blog as useful and informative as possible.

If any of you are in urgent need of any kind of information related to LAB kindly mail me on  manumittal19@gmail.com i will try my best to solve your query as soon as possible.