India’s SLS Prices Edge Higher in August on Cost Push and Festive Demand

Key Highlights

• Feedstock cost push: Prices of Crude Palm Kernel Oil rose x.xx in India in August, which put upward pressure on Lauryl Alcohol costs and SLS production costs.
• Imports disrupted: Berth congestion at Shanghai, Ningbo, and Qingdao ports delayed Chinese SLS export shipments, while labour shortages and berth building in Antwerp and Hamburg delayed European freight.
• FMCG resilience: Ahead of Raksha Bandhan and other festivals, retailers stocked up, with FMCG sales in India increasing x.xx YoY in July, which helped boost soap and detergent demand.

Palm Kernel Oil Surge Raises Input Costs

Upstream markets exerted upward pressure on SLS prices in August, with Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO) in India rising by x.xx during the month. This directly raised the cost of lauryl alcohol, the essential feedstock for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate production. Domestic SLS manufacturers faced higher input costs...