Business Analytiq assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness.
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) price index
This post is a summary of the Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) price developments. The price developments of isopropanol acid are expressed in US$ prices converted FX rates applicable at the time when the price was valid. Isopropanol price index developments are calculated from multiple separate sources of data to ensure statistical accuracy.
The outlook for Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) prices, on the second tab, is generated from different inputs including:
- Very recent price developments of immediate cost drivers of Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) prices
- Recent price developments of underlying feedstocks which drive the price of IPA
- Market futures for both cost drives and feedstocks of isopropanol prices
- Adjustment of current supply/demand imbalances in the Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) market
- Longer term trends in likely demand conditions
Further information on the Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) price chart
What is Isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong, distinct odor. It is a commonly used solvent, as well as an antiseptic and cleaning agent.
Isopropyl alcohol has a number of industrial uses, including as a solvent for coatings, inks, and resins, and as an intermediate in the production of a variety of chemicals, such as propylene oxide. In the medical industry, isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as a disinfectant and antiseptic, particularly for cleaning skin prior to injections or other medical procedures.
Isopropyl alcohol is also widely used in household and personal care products, such as hand sanitizers, cleaning products, and as a component in some cosmetic products. It is also used as fuel in alcohol burners and camping stoves.
In summary, isopropyl alcohol is a versatile chemical compound that is widely used in a variety of industrial, medical, and household applications due to its solvent, antiseptic, and cleaning properties.
How is isopropyl alcohol produced
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, is produced through a process called “gas-phase hydration of propylene.” This process involves reacting propylene with steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce isopropyl alcohol.
The reaction of propylene and steam occurs in a reactor vessel, where the steam is introduced into the reactor along with the catalyst. The reaction produces a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water, which is then cooled and separated. The isopropyl alcohol is then purified and distilled to remove any impurities and residual water.
The production of isopropyl alcohol is a relatively simple and cost-effective process, making it widely available and widely used in a variety of applications.
In conclusion, isopropyl alcohol is produced through a process called “gas-phase hydration of propylene,” which involves reacting propylene with steam in the presence of a catalyst. The reaction produces a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water, which is then cooled, separated, purified, and distilled to remove impurities and residual water.
What is isopropyl alcohol used for
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, is a versatile chemical compound that has a number of industrial, medical, and household uses. Some of the most common uses of isopropyl alcohol include:
Solvent
Isopropyl alcohol is widely used as a solvent for coatings, inks, resins, and other chemicals.
Antiseptic and disinfectant
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as an antiseptic and disinfectant in medical settings to clean skin and medical equipment.
Cleaning agent
Isopropyl alcohol is widely used as a cleaning agent for various surfaces, including electronics and optical equipment.
Fuel
Isopropyl alcohol can be used as fuel for alcohol burners and camping stoves.
Household and personal care products
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used in household and personal care products, such as hand sanitizers and cleaning products.
Intermediate in the production of chemicals
Isopropyl alcohol is used as an intermediate in the production of a variety of chemicals, such as propylene oxide.
In conclusion, isopropyl alcohol has a wide range of uses due to its properties as a solvent, antiseptic and disinfectant, cleaning agent, fuel, and intermediate in the production of chemicals. It is widely used in medical, industrial, and household applications.
What drives the cost of isopropyl alcohol
The cost of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is influenced by a variety of factors, including:
Raw material prices
The price of IPA is directly tied to the price of its primary raw material, propylene, which is a by-product of petroleum refining and natural gas processing. When the price of propylene or petroleum increases, the cost of IPA typically increases as well.
Energy costs
Energy costs, such as the cost of natural gas and electricity, are also a significant factor in the production of IPA. When energy costs increase, the cost of producing IPA typically increases.
Supply and demand dynamics
The cost of IPA can also be influenced by supply and demand dynamics. If demand for IPA is high and supply is limited, the cost of IPA may increase. Conversely, if demand is low and supply is abundant, the cost of IPA may decrease.
Transportation costs
The cost oftransporting IPA from the production site to the end-user can also affect the cost of IPA. If transportation costs increase, the cost of IPA may also increase.
Production capacity utilization
The utilization of production capacity can also impact the cost of IPA. When production capacity is high, the cost of IPA may be lower due to economies of scale. Conversely, if production capacity is low, the cost of IPA may be higher.
In conclusion, the cost of isopropyl alcohol is influenced by a variety of factors, including raw material prices, energy costs, supply and demand dynamics, transportation costs, and production capacity utilization. It is important to monitor these factors in order to understand the overall cost dynamics of isopropyl alcohol.
What are some of the key properties of isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, has a number of important properties that make it useful in a variety of applications:
Solvent properties
Isopropyl alcohol is a highly versatile solvent, dissolving a wide range of substances, including oils, resins, and inks.
Antiseptic properties
Isopropyl alcohol is a potent antiseptic and disinfectant, making it useful for cleaning wounds and other medical surfaces.
Evaporation rate
Isopropyl alcohol has a fast evaporation rate, which makes it useful as a cleaning agent and for degreasing surfaces.
Low toxicity
Isopropyl alcohol is relatively low in toxicity, making it safe to use in a variety of industrial, medical, and household applications.
Low boiling point
Isopropyl alcohol has a low boiling point, which makes it easier to separate from other substances during distillation.
Low freezing point
Isopropyl alcohol has a low freezing point, making it useful as a coolant in refrigeration systems.
Flammability
Isopropyl alcohol is flammable, which makes it useful as a fuel source.
In conclusion, isopropyl alcohol has a number of important properties, including its versatility as a solvent, its antiseptic properties, its fast evaporation rate, its low toxicity, its low boiling and freezing points, and its flammability. These properties make it useful in a wide range of applications, including as a cleaning agent, antiseptic, and fuel source.
How big is the global IPA market
According to https://oec.world/ :
Propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are the world’s 1235th most traded product.
In 2020, the top exporters of Propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol were United States ($382M), China ($319M), Germany ($204M), South Korea ($189M), and Netherlands ($188M).
In 2020, the top importers of Propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol were India ($184M), Belgium ($166M), United States ($145M), Germany ($114M), and China ($94M).
Further information
Business Analytiq
BE THE FIRST TO SEE RISK AND OPPORTUNITY!
BusinessAnalytiq provides unlimited market trend data and an online tools to track market developments, key benchmarks & leading indicators.
BusinessAnalytiq leads to price visibility, better negotiations, easier budgeting and forecasting, lower raw material prices, and improved better internal and external communication. BusinessAnalytiq will decrease risk and higher profit.
Where does the data come from?
- The source of the data are exclusively public non-confidential sources. We have no access to primary data
- This the index trend of the price trend of the "product category" in general, and not a single specification of the product in particular
- The data is a combination of contract and spot pricing
- Our algorithms are set up to eliminate significant product mix impact on the reported price
- We combine public publications, import/export records, trading prices, company announcements, magazine articles, tweets, and other sources of ad-hoc public information.
- The chart shows the our best approximation of the market trend based on our algorithm interpretation of the signals
- For most indexes we have multiple sources and we focus on using statistically-correlated sources
- As a function of our automation, it is likely that recent trends will be adjusted as we discover more information. So, for example, the price trend for February 2024 will be first calculated in February 2024 and adjusted in March, April and May 2024.
- We will update the data trend as more information becomes available, and this means that recent trends will always be adjusted as we get more data available
- The algorithm will regularly revise our understanding of market trends, and indicated market trends may change
- The data is presented in US$. The UOM of measure is shown in the Index list table
- Our automated software and we do our best to create an accurate representation of the trend
Where does the data NOT come from?
- We do not purchase data from any other source and republish it.
- We will not purchase data from any other source and republish it
- We do not extrapolate trends, even for the forecast. We look for other market signals and leading indicators
What data should our company use?
- If you are making decisions driving significant share of profit, we always recommend that you buy data from the companies who invest in direct primary market access such as ICIS, amongst many others
- Our data, at best, represents an estimate of the market trend based on public information
- We have no direct access to the market, and we do not interview suppliers and customers
- Our automated analysis tools in the online software are set up to combine our data with other sources of data
- We do not recommend that you use our data for direct price mechanisms, as we may change and improve the data trends over time, including historical data
What does the quality indication in the main menu mean?
- Quality level A: Data is from a reliable and confirmed source
- Quality level B: Data is from multiple credible sources and there are no major statistical inconsistencies between them
- Quality level C: Data is from multiple credible sources and there are some statistical inconsistencies between them
- Quality level D: Data is from a single credible source, but we cannot verify the data
- Quality level E: Data is either:
- From a single source, which we consider reliable, but we cannot verify the data.
- From 2 or more sources which have some periods of contradicting trends.
- Quality level F: Data is from a single source which we consider indicatively correct, but the data is anecdotal and we cannot verify the data.
What are the disclaimers?
- We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site.
- The information is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, fitness for purpose or timeliness.
- By their nature, outlooks are always uncertain
How often do we update the data?
- We aim to update the data series on the 9th and 24th of each month (but we do not always make it for each chart)
- The data for the current month and recent history are fine-tuned over time.
What are we doing to improve the data?
- We are continually improving our data collection and processing methods
- Pricing data will be updated from time to time as we improve the accuracy
- We are reviewing all data sources in the first half of 2024.
- There will be continuous fine-tuning of the trend and forecast algorithm as part of that.
- The key focus in 2024 is to add many additional indexes
How can i give feedback on the data or request for new indexes
- Feel free to contact us if you have a specific request. You can reach us via the Contact us page