Phenol (Benzenol) – Uses, Prices, and Production

This blog is the twenty-third in a series of blogs I plan to write providing use, price, and production data on high-use inorganic and organic chemicals.  Click here to see the first blog in this series and a list of chemicals to be featured.  This blog provides data on phenol.  The primary purpose of these blogs is to present estimates of recent price, production, and sales revenues for the chemicals.  The last blog in this series will compare price, production, and sales data for all the chemicals.  

Uses.  Uses of phenol include: 

Ø  As a starting material in making many chemical products, especially polymers;

Ø  As an antiseptic and disinfectant. 

Prices.  The 2019 average global phenol price is believed to be in the range of $1,000 to $1,200 per metric ton (mt). 

Production.  Phenol is produced through a series of reactions starting with benzene (obtained in petroleum processing).  Also needed in the reactions are propene, oxygen, and a catalyst. 

From the internet, estimated 2019 global production of phenol is in the 12 to 14 million mt range.  Using 12 and 14 million mt produced and the prices of $1,000 and $1,200 per mt (see Prices above) gives 2019 global revenues generated by phenol in the $12 to $16.8 billion range (12 million mt times $1,000 per mt; 14 million mt times $1,200 per mt).