Ethylene oxide (EO) is mainly used as a chemical intermediate and key petrochemical building block in the manufacture of textiles, detergents, polyurethane foam, antifreeze, solvents, medicinals, nonionic surfactants, adhesives, flame retardants and other products. EO derivatives (especially ethylene glycol, monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol) find common applications in the plastics industry, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry, to name only a few. Ethylene oxide is known as the most universal sterilant because it can be used for sterilization of almost all medical devices including plastic and heat sensitive materials.
Taking into consideration its intermediate status and the fact that most of manufactured EO is consumed by its producers in making derivatives, the flexible and market-sensible integration of EO production with both downstream and upstream sectors is of great significance for the EO business. For instance, Huntsman, a recognized leader in the worldwide production of derivatives of ethylene oxide (EO), executes such integration at its 500,000 mt/y manufacturing plant in Port Neches, TX, where EO output, fully integrated with ethylene feedstock supply, acts as a cornerstone in the production of such derivatives as ethanolamines, glycols and surfactants.
Ethylene Oxide: major global manufacturers
Another important aspect of the EO market is related to the questions of safety and sustainability. The issues of shipping ethylene oxide (ethylene oxide can cause a wide variety of harmful effects for health and environment), energy recovery and the use of renewables in the production process loom large on the EO market. For example, specialty chemical manufacturer Croda Inc. gets 75 percent of its energy from renewables at its EO-manufacturing site in Atlas Point, Del. Thus, adequate efforts to integrate the EO production with the economics of derivatives, logistical soundness, compliance with ecological regulations and adherence to sustainability principles may act as a solid foundation for the EO market development.
More information on the ethylene oxide market can be found in the insightful research report “Ethylene Oxide (EO): 2016 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2020”.