US LABSA Prices Rise 5.76% on Higher LAB Feedstock Costs

US linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid prices rose *.*** during the week of September *, ****, as a sharp *.** increase in feedstock LAB costs drove the blended sulfonation input cost materially higher and compelled US Gulf Coast linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid producers to raise DEL Houston and FOB Illinois offer levels — even as a concurrent *.** decline in sulphuric acid prices provided meaningful but insufficient cost relief to prevent the overall linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid price advance.

On the supply side, US domestic linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid production from sulfonation facilities operated by Stepan Company, Pilot Chemical, and other Gulf Coast producers maintained adequate but not surplus run rates, with no significant production disruptions reported during the week. The balance of supply and demand for linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid through the rest of **** leans cautiously firm, with detergent demand from household and...