In January 2026, prices of Fatty Alcohol in Europe remained unchanged, with market participants trading in a balanced yet cautious supply and demand situation. Demand for the beginning of the year was still moderate; buyers delayed the purchases due to insufficient inventory. The personal care and cosmetics industries continued to drive consumption on the back of stable consumer spending and sustained demand for clean and science-based products. Conversely, the demand for Fatty Alcohol from the paints and coatings sector was low but firm, due to sluggish building and weak development in the manufacturing sector. Production remained steady, although increased power costs were faced by producers. European exports were broadly stable with some weakening in key exporting countries such as Germany amid a softer global trade outlook. Fatty Alcohol prices are projected to increase in the coming weeks in the first quarter of 2026. Supply is expected to be tightened and prices upward supported by inventory replenishment, export order improvement, higher logistic cost, lower operating rate, and an increase in palm kernel oil (PKO) and coconut oil costs.
