The LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE (LAB) MARKET REPORT is designed to bring together in one concise publication all the news of interest to LAB market participants. It has been published every other month since 2001. It offers current information on the entire LAB value chain from raw materials to detergents and other end uses.

Suppliers and customers in the detergent alkylate market need up-to-date
market information and analysis to support successful business strategies, and
Colin A. Houston & Associates (CAHA) has developed a product to meet this
need. The LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE (LAB) MARKET REPORT AND DATABASE is available to subscribers on
an Internet website accessible via password, or in print.

Each issue includes:

• Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) and normal paraffin prices by region, and announcements of price changes
• Market news, including the latest developments involving producers, sulfonators, feedstocks, technology, formulations, environmental issues, and end markets
• LAB and normal paraffin capacity updates
• Feature articles offering in-depth coverage of significant issues and developments
• LAB market analysis providing up-to-date supply and demand data and a perspective on developments for one region in each issue.

CAHA is a recognized authority on detergent alkylates (linear alkylbenzene and
branched alkylbenzene), having provided market research and consulting in this
area for over 20 years. CAHA has published numerous multi-client studies of the
global detergent alkylate market, and many regional surfactant studies, in
addition to its proprietary work in surfactant intermediates, surfactants and
detergents. CAHA’s most recent multi-client study, Detergent Alkylates -
World Markets, 2000 to 2016, was published in November 2007.

The LAB MARKET REPORT relies on CAHA's worldwide network of contacts
among LAB market participants, and includes news and insights that are not
available from trade publications and other sources. The DATABASE
consists of profiles of LAB producers, including a description of their
business, important developments, and the full details of their capacities and
expansion plans, process technology and feedstocks used. Over the years, CAHA
has expanded the DATABASE to cover an array of aspects in the market.

The LAB MARKET REPORT AND DATABASE has been developed in response to
the need of our clients for information and analysis on a timely basis and at a
reasonable cost. The annual subscription including six issues and access to the
Internet database. Details of this new report and database
are explained below. For subscription information, please contact us via our Contact page.

The report will be structured as follows:

Prices

• LAB prices in North America,
  West Europe and Asia reported in each issue
• n-Paraffin prices in the above regions and Latin America reported as available
• Kerosene jet fuel pricing in the North America, West Europe and Asia regions will be reported in each issue as a benchmark. The latest prices, rather than an average will be used.

Price Announcements

This section alerts the market of price increases on LAB and raw materials
in North America and West Europe primarily, but also covers Latin
America and Asia/Pacific when applicable.

Market News

• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) activities, divestitures, joint ventures, partnerships
• Formulation Watch - covering changes in household and non-household detergent formulations due to novel technology, price and availability of competing raw materials, environmental concerns, etc.
• Sulfonator news - including new plants, closures, upgrades and expansions, M&A activities, alliances, etc.
• Country or region specific market news - such as population growth, trends in disposable income, per capita consumption of detergents, washing practices, etc.
• Technology - covering breaking news about new technology that may impact LAB, LABS/LAS (linear alkylbenzene sulfolnate) or raw materials such as n-paraffin.
• Environmental and Regulatory issues - latest news involving environmental concerns, studies, or legislation involving LAB or competing materials such as APE which may impact consumption of LAB in a specific country or region. CAHA's approach to this area will be to report on key developments.

Regional LAB Market Analysis

Each issue provides an analysis of the LAB market in a specific region.
It provides in-depth coverage of the following topics:

• Supply - Review LAB producers with location, technology, and current capacity in the region with comments on plant expansions, closures, new projects or change in technology.
• Supply/Demand Balance - This table provides a snapshot of current demand, production, net exports (net imports), and industry operating rates in the region. In addition, a concise analysis of key demand drivers, and factors that may affect the future supply/demand balance are included.
• Demand by Country - In some regions, CAHA may provide selected breakdown of LAB demand by country. Or it may provide LAB demand for selected countries within a region.
• Year End Review of BAB (Branched Alkylbenzene) supply and demand, as well as producers update.

Regional analysis is done for North America, Latin America (includes Mexico), West Europe, Asia/Pacific, East Europe and Africa/Middle East.

Feature Articles

Each issue includes several feature articles. Each one offers a timely and
concise review of the subject, and without entering into excruciating
historical detail, provides sufficient content and coverage so that readers
walk away with a clear picture.

Materials focus - Analysis of the market for one important material
such as: normal paraffin, internal and alpha-olefins, BAB.

Country profiles - An occasional in-depth analysis of a specific
country’s alkylate market. Countries such as India, China, Russia, Iran and Turkey
are under consideration. For each country, an analysis incorporating
population, GDP, washing practices, LAB and BAB demand and growth in consumption will be offered. More detailed breakdown of household vs. non-household, trends, supply of LAB, imports/exports, sulfonation capacity and other relevant information will be an integral part, as well as market shares of Lever, P&G and other participants, and competing technologies such as alcohols, AOS, etc.

Customer profiles - A detailed profile of a sulfonator.

Technology focus - Each technology is first introduced into its most
basic elements and/or form. References to a patent or technical paper presented
at various conferences are included. Then a more market-oriented discussion on
the potential impact of the analyzed technology on a particular regional market
or application is offered. The analysis includes barriers to entry due to
formulation issues, environmental issues, feedstock prices and availability,
industry structure and other relevant factors.

Special topics - An analysis of a topic related to the LAB market,
such as gas-to-liquids projects and the potential for n-paraffin recovery.

LAB Capacity Update

News briefs about changes in LAB capacity, detailed by country and producer,
as well as the status of new projects.

Normal Paraffin Capacity Update

News briefs about changes in n-paraffin capacity and the status of new
projects.

SUMMARY OF FEATURE SCHEDULE

The following table summarizes the tentative schedule of feature articles
for the first year of the LAB MARKET REPORT.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SAMPLE ISSUE