Higher fatty alcohols imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
The United States imported $58.4 million of higher fatty alcohols in 2024 (32.2 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 147 countries. Value rose 6% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $104.3 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $58.4M | 32.2K t |
| 2023 | $55.4M | 26.3K t |
| 2022 | $104.3M | 32.8K t |
| 2021 | $57.1M | 31.3K t |
| 2020 | $33.1M | 24.2K t |
| 2019 | $37.2M | 26.7K t |
| 2018 | $52.3M | 31.1K t |
| 2017 | $42.1M | 25.5K t |
Where the United States imports higher fatty alcohols from
One supplier dominates: Malaysia accounted for 50% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+141% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | $29.3M | 50% |
| Indonesia | $18.0M | 31% |
| India | $5.8M | 10% |
| Thailand | $2.3M | 3.9% |
| Japan | $845K | 1.5% |
| Germany | $674K | 1.2% |
| Philippines | $633K | 1.1% |
| Senegal | $184K | 0.3% |
| France | $144K | 0.3% |
| Mexico | $128K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.81 per kg, close to the world average of $1.84.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Higher fatty alcohols exports from the United States
The United States exported $24.7 million of higher fatty alcohols in 2024 (11.2 thousand tonnes). It ranks 6th of 76 countries for exports of this product. The largest buyer markets were Mexico (37%), Brazil (20%), Canada (19%). Among the main buyer markets, France grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $9.1M | 37% |
| Brazil | $4.9M | 20% |
| Canada | $4.7M | 19% |
| Netherlands | $3.1M | 13% |
| France | $745K | 3% |
| Dominican Republic | $383K | 1.6% |
| South Korea | $317K | 1.3% |
| Japan | $303K | 1.2% |
| Egypt | $102K | 0.4% |
| Philippines | $90K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States higher fatty alcohols imports (HS 2905.17): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2905.17: Alcohols: saturated monohydric, dodecan-1-ol (lauryl alcohol), hexadecan-1-ol (cetyl alcohol) and octadecan-1-ol (stearyl alcohol).
Common questions
What is the value of higher fatty alcohols imported by the United States?
The United States imported higher fatty alcohols worth $58.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 32.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 147 countries worldwide, with 10% of world imports. The value was up 6% on 2023.
Which countries supply higher fatty alcohols to the United States?
Malaysia was the largest supplier with 50% of the value ($29.3 million), followed by Indonesia (31%) and India (10%). The top three together account for 91%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. Mexico grew fastest among the top ten, up 648% on the year.
What is the average import price of higher fatty alcohols per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.81 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.84 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of higher fatty alcohols to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $42.1 million in 2017 to $58.4 million in 2024, an increase of 39%. The peak was 2022 at $104.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $55.0 million a year.
Does the United States also export higher fatty alcohols?
Yes. The United States exported $24.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Brazil and Canada. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $33.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for higher fatty alcohols?
The HS code for higher fatty alcohols is subheading 2905.17. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2905 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for the United States reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World higher fatty alcohols trade: top importers and exporters
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