Isostearic Acid Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising Usage as a Food Additive - Isostearic acid is a chemical molecule that is obtained from renewable resources and is frequently added to food items as an emulsifier and is commonly used as an additive in food products.
• Growing Applications in Metalworking Fluids- Isomeric acid's lubricating qualities are often utilized to create metalworking fluids, which are mostly mineral oil-based lubricants that are used in machining processes.
• High Demand for Detergents- Isostearic acid, is one the main ingredients in low foam surfactants which is used in cleaning detergents and can also be used as an emulsifier, and wetting agent.
• Increasing Drug Development– Isostearic acid is utilized in medicinal preparations as emollients and also as an active ingredient in imiquimod compositions intended to cause models of psoriasiform illness a skin inflammatory condition that affects over 2% of people.

Challenges

• Varying Prices of Raw Materials - Isostearic acid is derived from both vegetable and animal fats and oils the costs of which typically vary daily owing to bad weather that damages crops, and geopolitical instability. Moreover, due to the conflict in Ukraine, the prices of sunflower, soybean, and palm oils have been rising. For instance, more than 55% of the world's sunflower oil production and an astounding 74% of exports come from the Black Sea countries of Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, prices for animal fats and oils are susceptible to fluctuations since fewer animals are killed domestically and more tallow is exported which is said to directly affect the price of biofuel.
• Exorbitant Cost of Isostearic Acid Owing to Supply Chain Disruptions
• Existence of Substitutes Resulting in Intense Competition in the Market