Due to the rising usage of polyolefin comonomers in the production of various specialty chemicals, the demand for alpha olefins is growing rapidly across the world. This compound is extensively used as a raw material in the production of oilfield chemicals, plasticizers, lubricants, surfactants, and plastomers. For instance, ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers are also called plastomers and are made from the process of polymerization. These materials have hybrid characteristics of plastics and elastomers.

Because of the above-mentioned characteristics of plastomers, they are heavily used in packaging applications and polymer modifications. In addition to this, these compounds have excellent compatibility with hard water and offer several low-cost benefits and good foaming in surfactant production. This is fueling the growing requirement for plastomers in surfactant production processes, which is, in turn, boosting the demand for alpha olefins across the world. Besides this, alpha olefins are also extensively used in lubricant production.

Poly-alpha-olefin-based lubricants have higher oxidative stability and viscosity index than mineral oils. As a result, they are increasingly being preferred in various applications. Apart from these factors, the mushrooming utilization of alpha olefins in plasticizers production is also contributing toward the soaring demand for the compound across the globe. Plasticizers are basically additives that are used for improving a material’s plasticity. According to reports published in 2017, the usage of the compound in plasticizer production was very low.

Chlorinated C20-C24 compounds can be heavily used along with various primary plasticizers for improving polyvinyl chloride’s (PVC’s) plasticity. The adoption of plasticizers made from alpha olefins improves the durability and flexibility of plastic materials. Flexible polyvinyl chloride has applications in several industries such as flow-control equipment, medical devices, automotive, and packaging. This is predicted to create growth opportunities for the companies producing alpha olefins across the world. Due to these reasons, the global alpha olefins market is recording huge growth.

1-Butene, 1-Octene, 1-Hexene, 1-Dodecene, 1-Hexadecene, 1-Tetradecene, C20–C30 linear alpha olefins (LAOs), 1-Octadecene, and 1-Decene are the major types of alpha olefins used around the world. Out of these, the usage of the 1-Hexene was found to be the highest during the past few years. This was because of the large-scale usage of the compound in plastic resin production, which is heavily required in several industries such as food and beverage.

Geographically, the alpha olefins market registered the highest growth in North America in the past years. This was because of the huge requirement for the compound in various industries such as automotive, plastics, and construction. Moreover, the region is the world’s biggest consumer and producer of the compound. The rising production capacity and the growing usage of plastic in the regional countries are propelling the demand for alpha olefins in the region.

Hence, it is safe to say that the demand for alpha olefins will grow tremendously in the coming years, on account of the rising usage of the compound in plasticizer and specialty chemical production across the world.