Stepan seeks US surfactants price increases for 10 January

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Stepan Company announced price increases on a range of US surfactants, effective 10 January 2022, according to a company pricing announcement.

Although the announcement did not cite a reason for the increases, demand for surfactants into cleaning supplies is expected to increase with the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

In addition, demand from oilfield activity remains strong amid elevated crude oil and natural gas prices.

In addition to the product price increases, Stepan seeks a separate 1.5 cent/lb transportation increase.

Transportation costs throughout the US supply chain have risen sharply, due to insufficient trucks, railcars, and containers; high gasoline prices; and labour shortages.

The surfactants class of chemical products comprises numerous cleaning and detergent uses, from household agents to oilfield applications.

Stepan seeks price increases for surfactants in the following product categories:

Product Category	Price Increase ($/lb)
Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acids	$0.03
Alkyl Benzene Sulfonates and Dry Sulfonates	$0.03-0.11
Short Chain Alcohol and Ether Sulfates	$0.075-0.09
Lauryl Alcohol Sulfates and Dry Sulfates	$0.09-0.26
Low Active Alkyl Ether Sulfates	$0.07-0.11
High Active Alkyl Ether Sulfates	$0.10-0.16
Ether Sulfates – Phenol	$0.07
Olefin Sulfonates and Dry Olefin Sulfonates	$0.03-0.10
Sulfonated Methyl Esters	$0.11
Hydrotropes	$0.04
Amides	$0.08 – $1.19
Betaines, Sultaines and other Amphoterics	$0.14
Amine Oxides	$0.14
Sulfoacetates	$0.26
Sulfosuccinates and Sulfosuccinate Blends	$0.09-0.23
Methyl Esters	$0.05-0.84
Biocidal, Industrial and Cosmetic Quats	$0.03–0.21
Softeners	$0.06-0.22
Phosphate Esters	$0.05-0.57
Alkoxylates	$0.015-0.18
Specialty Polyesters	$0.02-0.08
Specialty Esters	$0.03-0.61
Transportation	$0.015* *Note: Price increase is independent of and in addition to any increase above

Blends and derivatives of these products are also subject to the increases.

Stepan products are used in a variety of sectors, including coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers; construction; cleaning; insulation; oilfield; and personal care.