ICIS offers up-to-date reliable pricing information on the Paraffin wax market weekly in Asia, Europe and the US. Our comprehensive reports cover domestic and spot price assessments while commentary gives an overview detailing the factors that influence price moves.
If you are involved in this industry, you can use our news and analysis to help support those vital business choices.
Updated to Q1 2017
The first quarter is likely to be a quiet trading period for the paraffin wax market. Price levels are expected to be largely stable across different regions.
US paraffin wax supply and demand weer balanced in the fourth quarter of 2016 and this may be sustained into the first quarter of 2017, with Chinese wax imports as a key factor in maintaining supply balance. Moreover, earlier expectations of the closure of ExxonMobil’s Beaumont, Texas, Group I base oil and wax facility did not materialise.
Europe’s market players suggest that import prices from China are on the rise and this could make those volumes less attractive. As a result, some players believe demand for domestic material could increase.
Asia’s trade is likely to remain slow in the near term. In key export market China, offtake may be limited in January ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities. Market participants are expecting more discussions to take off from mid-February.
On the whole, the use of alternative waxes such as soy wax and palm wax is increasing. Some large candle manufacturers have also made production changes that minimise seasonal effects.
We offer the following regional Paraffin wax analysis and news coverage to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices in the Paraffin wax marketplace.
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Paraffin waxes are classified according to oil content, melting point, and the amount of processing put in.
Paraffin waxes are classified according to oil content, melting point, and the amount of processing put in. At room temperature paraffin wax can be found in a solid state, when it reaches 37°C and above the wax will begin to enter a liquid phase.
At the simplest level, slack wax, a byproduct of base oil refining, is the feedstock from which different grades of more sophisticated waxes are produced. Fully refined waxes are white, odourless and tasteless, and have less than 0.5% oil content.
They are widely used for candle making and in the packaging industry as wax coatings for paper, film and foil substrates including corrugated board, cups and container. Waxes are marketed in either liquid or solid state.
Other common uses are for corrugated boxes, waxed papers, frozen food cartons and wrappers, paper cups, candles, cosmetics, rubber antioxidants, lumber end seal, adhesives, protective coatings, food additives, cheese dipping, crayons, moisture barriers, polishes, modelling clay, plus many others.
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