Internal Olefins Global Market Report 2026

Internal olefins are hydrocarbons characterized by a double bond positioned between two internal carbon atoms rather than at the terminal end of the carbon chain. Due to their stability and reactivity, they are widely used as intermediates in the production of surfactants, lubricants, and specialty chemicals.

The primary types of internal olefins include linear internal olefins, alpha-olefins, and others. Linear internal olefins are straight-chain hydrocarbons with double bonds located within the chain, commonly utilized in the production of high-performance surfactants, specialty chemicals, and lubricants. These olefins are produced through various processes such as steam cracking, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, thermal cracking, and metathesis. Their applications span across oil drilling, surfactants, lubricants, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and more. They are distributed via multiple channels, including direct sales, distributors, online retail, and wholesale, and serve a range of end-user industries such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, aerospace, electronics, and healthcare.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have impacted the internal olefins market by raising costs of cross border hydrocarbon intermediates and downstream chemical processing inputs. These effects are most visible in surfactant, lubricant, and oilfield chemical segments, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific. Higher tariffs have affected pricing and trade flows of specialty olefin grades. At the same time, tariffs have encouraged domestic petrochemical investments. This has strengthened regional supply chains and production capacity.

The internal olefins market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides internal olefins market statistics, including internal olefins industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a internal olefins market share, detailed internal olefins market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the internal olefins industry. This internal olefins market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The internal olefins market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.97 billion in 2025 to $2.08 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to petrochemical industry growth, surfactant demand expansion, lubricant formulation needs, industrial chemical applications, hydrocarbon processing capacity.

The internal olefins market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.58 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to specialty surfactant demand, synthetic lubricant growth, oilfield chemical usage, advanced cracking technologies, sustainable chemical intermediates. Major trends in the forecast period include rising use in surfactant manufacturing, growing demand from lubricant applications, expansion of specialty chemical production, increased adoption in oil and gas drilling, focus on high purity internal olefin grades.

The growing oil and gas industry is expected to drive the expansion of the internal olefins market in the coming years. The oil and gas sector encompasses the exploration, production, processing, and transportation of petroleum and natural gas resources. This industry is experiencing growth due to expanding infrastructure in emerging economies, where countries are investing in pipelines, refineries, and storage facilities to support economic progress, address rising energy needs, and attract international investment. Internal olefins play a vital role in the oil and gas sector as essential intermediates used in the formulation of drilling fluids, lubricants, and surfactants, which help boost operational efficiency and enhance environmental performance. For instance, in June 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA), a France-based intergovernmental organization, reported that global oil demand is projected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2028, reaching 105.7 million barrels per day. Additionally, global upstream investments in oil and gas exploration, extraction, and production are expected to increase by 11% year-on-year, hitting a record USD 528 billion in 2023. Therefore, the expansion of the oil and gas industry is fueling the growth of the internal olefins market.

Major companies operating in the internal olefins market are increasingly engaging in strategic partnerships to develop innovative bio-based surfactant intermediates derived from internal olefins. Strategic collaborations within the internal olefins market are facilitating the development of sustainable, high-performance alternatives to traditional petrochemical-based products, allowing companies to broaden their product portfolios while advancing environmentally responsible solutions. For instance, in January 2025, Pilot Chemical Company, a US-based specialty chemical manufacturer, entered into a partnership with Kao Corporation, a Japan-based chemical and consumer products company, to introduce Bio-IOS surfactant technology to the North American market. Under this collaboration, the objective is to manufacture biodegradable, high-foaming surfactants from internally positioned olefins suitable for personal care, household, and industrial applications. The technology focuses on the use of renewable feedstocks, high purity, and an environmentally friendly profile, supporting sustainability initiatives while improving product performance and addressing the rising demand for green chemistry solutions.

In May 2025, Pilot Chemical Company, a US-based chemical manufacturer, partnered with Novvi LLC to promote sustainable chemical solutions through collaborative innovation. This partnership integrates Novvi's renewable feedstock platform with Pilot's sulfonation technology to deliver high-performance, sulfate-alternative surfactants that support sustainability in various applications. Novvi LLC is a US-based company specializing in renewable, high-performance linear alpha olefins.

Major companies operating in the internal olefins market are Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), LyondellBasell Industries N.V., INEOS Group Limited, Sasol Limited, Dow Inc., Braskem S.A., Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Westlake Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Clariant AG, Chevron Corporation, TotalEnergies SE, ENI S.p.A., BASF SE

North America was the largest region in the internal olefins market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the internal olefins market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the internal olefins market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The internal olefins market consists of sales of cyclic olefins, iso-olefins and vinylidene olefins. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Internal Olefins Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses internal olefins market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for internal olefins ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The internal olefins market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Linear Internal Olefins; Branched Internal Olefins; Specialty Internal Olefins
• 2) By Production Process: Steam Cracking; Metathesis
• 3) By Distribution Channel: Direct Sales; Distributors
• 4) By Application: Oil Drilling; Surfactants; Lubricants; Agrochemicals; Other Applications
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Linear Internal Olefins: C6-C10 Linear Internal Olefins; C11-C15 Linear Internal Olefins; C16-C20 Linear Internal Olefins; C21+ Linear Internal Olefins
• 2) By Branched Internal Olefins: Light Branched Internal Olefins (<= C10); Medium Branched Internal Olefins (C11-C15); Heavy Branched Internal Olefins (C16+)
• 3) By Specialty Internal Olefins: High-Purity Internal Olefins; Functionalized Internal Olefins; Customized Chain-Length Internal Olefins
• Companies Mentioned: Shell plc; Exxon Mobil Corporation; Chevron Phillips Chemical Company; Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC); LyondellBasell Industries N.V.; INEOS Group Limited; Sasol Limited; Dow Inc.; Braskem S.A.; Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO); NOVA Chemicals Corporation; Westlake Corporation; Formosa Plastics Corporation; Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.; Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.; Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.; Evonik Industries AG; Clariant AG; Chevron Corporation; TotalEnergies SE; ENI S.p.A.; BASF SE
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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