Stearic acid price index

Stearic acid price December 2025 and outlook (see chart below)

• India:US$1.61/KG, -4.2% down
• Northeast Asia:US$1.31/KG, 2.3% up
• South America:US$1.39/KG, unchanged
• Europe:US$1.65/KG, 2.5% up

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Stearic acid price index

This post is a summary of the Stearic acid price developments. The price developments of Stearic acid are expressed in US$ prices converted FX rates applicable at the time when the price was valid. Stearic acid price index developments are calculated from multiple separate sources of data to ensure statistical accuracy.

The outlook for Stearic acid prices is generated from different inputs including:

• Very recent price developments of immediate cost drivers of Stearic acid prices
• Recent price developments of underlying feedstocks which drive the price of Stearic acid
• Market futures for both cost drives and feedstocks of Stearic acid prices
• Adjustment of current supply/demand imbalances in the Stearic acid market
• Longer term trends in likely demand conditions

What is Stearic acid and what is it used for

Stearic acid (IUPAC name: octadecanoic acid) is a saturated long-chain fatty acid with the chemical formula C₁₈H₃₆O₂. It occurs naturally in animal fats (e.g., tallow) and some vegetable fats (notably cocoa and shea butter) and is widely used industrially as an emulsifier, surfactant, emollient and lubricant. Typical applications include soaps and detergents, cosmetics and personal-care products (creams, lotions, cleansers), candles, rubber and plastic additives, lubricants, metal-release agents, and certain food and pharmaceutical formulations.

How is Stearic acid produced

Commercial stearic acid is obtained from fats and oils by processing triglycerides — common routes are saponification/hydrolysis of fats followed by acidulation and fractional/distillation separation, or by hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., hydrogenating oleic acid from vegetable oils). After separation, further refining and purification steps yield grades for cosmetic, food and industrial uses.

How large is the global market for Stearic acid

Estimates vary by methodology: market-research firms report the global stearic-acid market value in the low-to-mid-single-tens of billions of USD (for example, one report estimated about USD 12.32 billion in 2024 with a mid-single-digit CAGR to 2030, while another analysis reported broader oleochemical market figures that place stearic-acid-related markets higher). Volume estimates from industry analysts put global demand near roughly 9–10 million tonnes around the mid-2020s, with projected steady growth driven by personal care, detergents, and industrial uses. Because firms use different scopes and definitions (pure stearic acid vs. broader stearates/oleochemicals), reported dollar figures can differ substantially between sources.

Where is Stearic acid produced

Stearic acid production is concentrated where feedstocks (animal tallow or vegetable oils such as palm, soy, cocoa/she a) and oleochemical industries are strong. Major producing countries and regions include China, India, the United States and Southeast Asia (notably Indonesia and Malaysia), with significant manufacturing capacity also in parts of Europe. Large oleochemical companies and integrated palm-oil supply chains in Southeast Asia are important global suppliers.