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Germany paid the most for fatty acid ethoxylate in Q3 2026: USD 2,050/MT, up 1.4% from USD 2,022/MT in Q2. High energy costs, specialty grades and steady demand from personal care and detergent makers keep German prices above the other three markets. Worldwide, the average rose 1.4% to USD 1,768/MT from USD 1,744/MT, mostly because higher fatty acid and ethylene oxide costs and firm demand from detergent and personal care makers led producers to raise prices in all four markets. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 1,725-1,865/MT range, with ethylene oxide and fatty acid prices, energy costs, demand from detergent and personal care makers and freight costs doing most of the work.
Fatty acid ethoxylate is a non-ionic surfactant made by reacting fatty acids with ethylene oxide. It acts as an emulsifier, dispersant and wetting agent in detergents, personal care products, textile processing and agrochemical formulations. Prices in this report refer to commercial grade fatty acid ethoxylate in drums and bulk and are quoted per metric ton. They depend on fatty acid and ethylene oxide prices and demand from detergent and personal care makers.
Producers react fatty acids from palm, coconut or tallow with ethylene oxide in a controlled process, then neutralize and filter the product. China, India, the United States and Germany are large producers. The number of ethylene oxide units changes the properties, so grades sell at different prices. Ethylene oxide is costly to ship, which keeps production close to buyers.
Prices should rise modestly through the rest of 2026. Fatty acid and ethylene oxide costs are firm and demand from detergent and personal care makers is steady. Large capacity in China limits the size of the increase. A year ago the global average was USD 1,695/MT, and the latest quarter, at USD 1,768/MT, is 4.3% higher.
The risks for Q4 are balanced, with no clear tilt either way. What could push prices higher? Higher ethylene oxide or palm oil prices, plant outages or stronger demand from detergent makers would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Lower ethylene oxide or fatty acid prices, new capacity or weaker demand from personal care makers would lower prices.
| Region | 2026 Price Range (USD/MT) | Outlook |
| Global Average | 1,725 - 1,865 | Firm raw material costs support a modest rise |
| China | 1,460 - 1,580 | Large capacity keeps prices lowest |
| India | 1,580 - 1,710 | Domestic demand and large capacity limit prices |
| United States | 1,850 - 2,005 | High costs support prices |
| Germany | 2,000 - 2,165 | High energy costs and specialty grades keep prices highest |
China firmed 1.5% to USD 1,500/MT in Q3 2026, from USD 1,478/MT in Q2. Chinese prices rose as the demand from detergent and textile makers improved. Taking Q3 2025 as the base, at USD 1,431/MT, the latest quarter is 4.8% higher. The four markets averaged USD 1,768/MT in the quarter, so the price in China was 15.2% lower.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q3 2026 in China?
China rose. Demand from detergent and textile makers improved, ethylene oxide costs increased, and producers raised prices. Year to date, China is 3.5% higher than the Q4 2025 level of USD 1,449/MT, while the global average is 3.2% higher. On the global measure the average was 1.4% higher over the quarter. The quarterly change in China was 1.5%.
In Q3 2026, the average price in India rose 1.3% to USD 1,620/MT, compared with USD 1,599/MT in Q2. Indian prices rose as the demand from detergent and agrochemical makers improved. Against the USD 1,556/MT recorded in Q3 2025, the current average represents a 4.1% increase. In comparison with the average of USD 1,768/MT across the four markets, the price in India was 8.4% lower.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q3 2026 in India?
India rose. Demand from detergent and agrochemical makers improved, fatty acid costs increased, and producers raised offers. Over the first nine months of 2026 the price in India has risen by 3.1%, which compares with a 3.2% gain in the global average. For comparison, the global average moved 1.4% higher over the same quarter.
The United States' average moved up 1.2% in Q3 2026, to USD 1,900/MT from USD 1,877/MT in Q2. American prices rose as the demand from personal care and industrial cleaner makers improved. The Q3 2025 average of USD 1,830/MT puts the current price 3.8% above its level a year earlier. The United States ended the quarter 7.5% above the group average of USD 1,768/MT.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q3 2026 in United States?
The United States rose. Demand from personal care and industrial cleaner makers improved, ethylene oxide costs increased, and producers raised prices. Since the end of 2025, the price in the United States has risen 2.8%, from USD 1,848/MT to USD 1,900/MT, while the global average has risen 3.2%. The global average shifted 1.4% higher in the same quarter.
Prices in Germany firmed 1.4% in Q3 2026 to USD 2,050/MT, compared with USD 2,022/MT in Q2. German prices rose as the demand from personal care and detergent makers improved. Year on year, the average is 4.5% higher, against USD 1,962/MT in Q3 2025. The price in Germany was 16.0% above the group average of USD 1,768/MT in Q3 2026.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q3 2026 in Germany?
Germany rose. Demand from personal care and detergent makers improved, energy costs increased, and producers raised prices. The cumulative 2026 change for Germany is a 3.2% increase, from USD 1,986/MT to USD 2,050/MT, while the global average shows a 3.2% gain over the same period. Across the four markets the average was 1.4% higher on the quarter.
Prices in China firmed 1.1% in Q2 2026 to USD 1,478/MT, compared with USD 1,462/MT in Q1. Chinese prices rose as the demand from detergent makers strengthened. The year-on-year change is a 5.3% increase, from USD 1,404/MT in Q2 2025. This places China 15.3% below the four-market average of USD 1,744/MT for Q2 2026.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q2 2026 in China?
China rose. Demand from detergent makers strengthened, ethylene oxide costs went up, and producers lifted prices. Coming after a 0.9% gain in Q1, the Q2 figure sits 5.3% above the USD 1,404/MT of Q2 2025. The same direction continued in Q3, with the price reaching USD 1,500/MT. Across the four markets the average was 1.0% higher on the quarter.
India recorded a 1.0% gain in Q2 2026, with the average reaching USD 1,599/MT against USD 1,583/MT in Q1. Indian prices rose as the demand from detergent makers strengthened. The Q2 2026 average is 4.4% above the USD 1,532/MT recorded in Q2 2025. Against the four-market average of USD 1,744/MT, India stood 8.3% below in the quarter.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q2 2026 in India?
India rose. Demand from detergent makers strengthened, ethylene oxide costs went up, and producers lifted offers. The 0.8% gain in Q1 set the base, and Q2 finished 4.4% above the USD 1,532/MT recorded a year earlier. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 1,620/MT. On the global measure the average was 1.0% higher over the quarter.
The Q2 2026 average for the United States stood at USD 1,877/MT, an increase of 0.9% on the USD 1,861/MT recorded in Q1. American prices rose as the demand from personal care makers strengthened. Compared with Q2 2025, when the United States averaged USD 1,802/MT, the current price is 4.2% higher. The United States finished Q2 2026 7.6% above the four-market average of USD 1,744/MT.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q2 2026 in United States?
The United States rose. Demand from personal care makers strengthened, energy costs went up, and producers lifted prices. This followed a 0.7% gain in Q1 and left the United States 4.2% above its Q2 2025 average of USD 1,802/MT. The move then extended in Q3, taking the price to USD 1,900/MT. For comparison, the global average moved 1.0% higher over the same quarter.
Germany registered a 1.0% increase in Q2 2026, taking the average to USD 2,022/MT from USD 2,002/MT in Q1. German prices rose as the demand from personal care makers strengthened. Measured against Q2 2025, when the average stood at USD 1,924/MT, the market is 5.1% higher. The four markets averaged USD 1,744/MT in the quarter, so the price in Germany was 15.9% higher.
Why did the price of Fatty Acid Ethoxylate change in Q2 2026 in Germany?
Germany rose. Demand from personal care makers strengthened, energy costs went up, and producers lifted prices. After a 0.8% gain in Q1, the quarter closed 5.1% above the USD 1,924/MT recorded in Q2 2025. The same direction continued in Q3, with the price reaching USD 2,050/MT. The global average shifted 1.0% higher in the same quarter.
Fatty Acid Ethoxylate prices rose through 2025 and the first half of 2026 and rose again in the third quarter in all four markets. The global average moved from USD 1,640/MT in Q1 2025 to 1,666 in Q2, 1,695 in Q3 and 1,714 in Q4, then 1,727 in Q1 2026, 1,744 in Q2 and 1,768 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 7.8% across the window. Higher fatty acid and ethylene oxide costs and steady demand from detergent and personal care makers lifted prices for six quarters.
| Quarter | Price (USD/MT) | QoQ Change | Direction |
| Q3 2026 | 1,768 | +1.4% | ↑ Rising |
| Q2 2026 | 1,744 | +1.0% | ↑ Rising |
| Q1 2026 | 1,727 | +0.8% | ↑ Rising |
| Q4 2025 | 1,714 | +1.1% | ↑ Rising |
| Q3 2025 | 1,695 | - | - Stable |
| Q4 2026 | In Progress | - | - In Progress |
2025 was a year of gradual increases for fatty acid ethoxylate, with prices rising in each quarter in all four markets. Starting near USD 1,640/MT in Q1, the global average finished the year at 1,714 in Q4, a gain of about 4.5%. Higher fatty acid and ethylene oxide costs and steady demand from detergent and personal care makers supported producers throughout the year.
In China, prices moved from about USD 1,380/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,449/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. Chinese prices rose gradually as ethylene oxide costs and demand from detergent makers increased. The latest quarter places China at USD 1,500/MT, which is 3.5% above the level at which 2025 ended. The quarterly sections above show how the annual average developed over the year.
In India, prices moved from about USD 1,510/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,571/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. Indian prices rose gradually as ethylene oxide costs and demand from detergent makers increased. Since the 2025 close of USD 1,571/MT, the price in India has moved up 3.1%, reaching USD 1,620/MT in Q3 2026.
In the United States, prices moved from about USD 1,777/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,848/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. American prices rose gradually as the energy costs and demand from personal care makers increased. At USD 1,900/MT in Q3 2026, the United States stands 2.8% above its Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.
In Germany, prices moved from about USD 1,891/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,986/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. German prices rose gradually as the energy costs and demand from personal care makers increased. The Q4 2025 close of USD 1,986/MT compares with USD 2,050/MT in Q3 2026, a 3.2% increase. The quarterly sections above show how the annual average developed over the year.
Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Fatty Acid Ethoxylate Price Intelligence
We keep a continuous eye on fatty acid ethoxylate prices wherever it is produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through ethylene oxide and fatty acid prices, energy costs, plant outages, freight and demand from detergent, personal care and textile makers. Our forecasts draw on production data, trade flows, input cost trends and demand indicators across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
Detergents, personal care products, textile processing and agrochemical formulations.
In Q3 2026, it averaged USD 1,500/MT in China, USD 1,620/MT in India, USD 1,900/MT in the United States, and USD 2,050/MT in Germany. Germany was the priciest market.
The global average went from USD 1,714/MT in Q4 2025 to 1,727 in Q1, 1,744 in Q2 and 1,768 in Q3, up 3.2% overall. Gradual increases through 2025 and early 2026 continued in the third quarter.
Higher fatty acid and ethylene oxide costs and firm demand from detergent makers led producers to raise prices.
We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 1,725-1,865/MT range. Firm raw material costs and steady demand point to a modest rise.
Germany sits at the top and China at the bottom. Germany pays the most on high energy costs and specialty grades, while China sits lowest on large capacity.
Monthly. Need something more current? The Expert Market Research team is available directly.
Ethylene oxide and palm oil prices, plant outages and demand from detergent makers drive the volatility.
China, India, the United States and Germany lead supply of fatty acid ethoxylate.
Agree contracts with producers, track ethylene oxide and fatty acid prices and diversify between supply regions.
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