Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (AEO-3, AEO-7, AEO-9)

Nonionic C12-C14 alcohol ethoxylates bought on EO number, cloud point and HLB

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates are made by adding ethylene oxide to a C12-C14 (lauryl-myristyl) or C12-C15 fatty alcohol, and the grade is the average number of EO units: AEO-3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 20 and 23 are the common merchant grades. The EO number sets the hydrophile-lipophile balance and therefore the job. AEO-3 is oil-soluble at an HLB of about 7-8 and is an emulsifier for agrochemical concentrates and metalworking fluids, and the intermediate that is sulphated into SLES. AEO-7, at an HLB of about 11-12 and a cloud point of about 50-60 °C in a 1% solution, is the balanced wetting and detergency grade for hard-surface cleaners, textile scouring and CIP systems. AEO-9, at an HLB of about 13 and a cloud point of about 75-85 °C, is the water-soluble workhorse of liquid laundry and dishwash detergents and emulsion polymerisation. Producers list AEO-3 to 7 as colourless liquids and AEO-9 and above as white pastes or solids, and warn that cloud point depends on the test method and medium, so the buyer's own formulation test decides. The alcohol comes from palm kernel or coconut oil in natural grades, or from ethylene or paraffin in synthetic grades; Malaysian producers make ethoxylates from palm-kernel alcohol, and buyers who need it specify a halal certificate from the producer. Alcohol ethoxylates replaced nonylphenol ethoxylates in most detergent formulations because they biodegrade readily. Under HS 2022 they sit in 3402.42, non-ionic organic surface-active agents.

UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 3402.42 total USD 5.85 billion and about 1.85 million MT across 98 reporters, all nonionic surfactants together: Germany USD 998 million, China USD 901 million and 518,000 MT, the USA USD 811 million and 197,000 MT, the Netherlands USD 510 million and 220,000 MT, Belgium USD 309 million, Italy USD 257 million, Japan USD 249 million, India USD 189 million and 90,000 MT, France USD 183 million, Singapore USD 171 million, Spain USD 152 million, Malaysia USD 122 million and 91,000 MT and the Republic of Korea USD 109 million. Those are declared export values, not offers. AEO grades are generally not classified as dangerous goods for sea transport, though they cause serious eye damage and are harmful to aquatic life, so the producer's current safety data sheet is checked before booking. They move in 200 kg drums, 1,000 kg IBCs or bulk ISO tanks, and the higher-EO pastes may need heating to pump. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers fatty alcohol ethoxylates against the producer's certificate of analysis per lot (EO number, hydroxyl value, cloud point, water, pH, colour), safety data sheet, certificate of origin, REACH registration for EU imports and a halal certificate where the producer holds one, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Price is per MT on grade and pack; minimum orders are confirmed per product and pack. Send the EO grade, natural or synthetic basis, packing, tonnage and discharge port, and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.