Oxea has announced three price increase notices in five days, covering n-octylamine, carboxylic acids, specialty esters and oxo intermediates. The latest increases add to a series of price adjustments announced by the manufacturer this year.
Oxea, formerly known as OQ Chemicals, cited significant and sustained increases in raw-material, energy and supply-chain costs, along with continuing supply-and-demand volatility, in its September notices. The company’s products are used in the production of lubricant additives, synthetic base fluids, corrosion inhibitors and other chemicals used in lubricant formulations.
On Sept. 14, Oxea announced an increase of €800 per metric ton for n-octylamine in Europe and $800/t in the rest of the world, effective Oct. 1 or as contracts allow. North American and Mexican prices will rise by $0.42 per pound, equivalent to about $925/t.
The Sept. 15 announcement covers eight carboxylic acids and three specialty esters. European increases range from €100 to €150/t, while increases in the rest of the world range from $115 to $170/t. N-butyric acid, isobutyric acid and 2-ethylhexanoic acid will each increase by €150/mt in Europe, while isononanoic acid will rise by €100/t.
OXSOFT 3G8, OXFILM 351 and OXLUBE L9-TMP will each increase by €130/mt in Europe, $0.07/lb in North America and $150/t in the rest of the world.
In a Sept. 18 notice, Oxea announced increases for six oxo intermediates effective Oct. 1. North American increases range from $0.03 to $0.05/lb, while increases in the rest of the world range from $130 to $300/t. N-propanol and n-butanol will rise by $300/t in the rest of the world, isobutanol by $250/t, and n-propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate by $130/t.
The September moves follow a much broader round of increases in March and April. Oxea issued eight price increase notifications across five product categories in less than four weeks, with cumulative increases on key lubricant raw materials reaching as much as $700/mt.
Among those increases, 2-ethylhexanoic acid rose by a cumulative €660/mt in Europe and $765/t in the rest of the world. Isononanoic acid increased by a cumulative €510/t in Europe, while European prices for some amines rose by as much as €270t.
The latest increases come as lubricant manufacturers continue to face tight base-oil markets, particularly for Group III grades. European Group III availability remained constrained in September, with ICIS reporting that most European buyers had been on allocations since April or May and that supply was unlikely to improve significantly before the end of 2026.