Isononanoic acid is an organic compound with the structural formula CH3C (CH3) 2CH2CH (CH3) CH2COOH and the molecular formula C9H18O2. Isononanoic acid is usually a colorless liquid with an irritating odor, soluble in water and ethanol, as well as in organic solvents such as acetone, benzene, and dichloromethane.

Isononanoic acid has various industrial applications, such as serving as an intermediate in paint and coating drying agents, producing esters as lubricants and plasticizers, and producing peroxides as polymerization catalysts. Meanwhile, it is also widely used as a food additive. In the field of cosmetics, isononanoic acid is often used as an emulsifier, surfactant, and preservative due to its good permeability and lubricity. It is widely used in skincare products, shampoo, shower gel, and other products, mainly to increase the moisturizing and lubricating properties of products, and improve the texture and user experience of products.

Overview of Market Development

According to our research data, the total global production of isononanoic acid in 2024 is estimated to be 139.7k tons, with total sales volume estimated to be 134.8k tons and market revenue expected to reach $673 million, an increase of 6.32% compared to 2023.

In the coming years, it is expected that the global market for isononanoic acid will maintain a stable growth trend. With the recovery of the global economy and the acceleration of industrialization, isononanoic acid, as an important chemical raw material, is widely used in various fields such as medicine, coatings, plastics, etc. Its demand will continue to grow. At the same time, with the continuous progress of technology and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the production process and the quality of isononanoic acid will also be further improved, thereby promoting the expansion of market scale. It is expected that by 2029, the total global sales volume of isononanoic acid will reach 215.9k tons, and the market revenue is expected to increase to $1084 million.

Competitive Landscape Analysis

From the perspective of market competition, the concentration of the global market for isononanoic acid is extremely high. The data shows that the total sales volume of isononanoic acid by the top 3 companies in 2024 is estimated to be 114.7k tons, which is expected to account for 85.09% of the global total sales. The top three companies were OQ Chemicals, KH Neochem, and BASF. In 2024, their estimated sales volume proportion of isononanoic acid among the global total sales volume is 37.54%, 25.07%, and 22.48%, respectively.

Source: www.globalmarketmonitor.com

Segmented Market Analysis

From the perspective of product types, according to the different purities, isononanoic acid can usually be divided into two categories: purity ≥ 95% and purity<95%. Among them, isononanoic acid with a purity of ≥ 95% dominates the market, and its market share is expected to reach 80.09% in 2024.

From the perspective of downstream applications, the application of isononanoic acid involves multiple fields such as metal soaps & metalworking fluids, lubricants, alkyd resins, and cosmetics. Among them, the lubricant field is the largest downstream application market, with an estimated application share of 71.17% in 2024.

Global Isononanoic Acid Segment Market Revenue and Market Share Forecast in 2024

	Market Revenue (Million USD)	Market Share
Segmented by Type
Purity≥95%	539	80.09%
Purity < 95%	134	19.91%
Segmented by Application
Metal Soaps & Metalworking Fluids	54	8.02%
Lubricants	481	71.17%
Alkyd Resins	60	8.92%
Cosmetics	53	7.88%
Others	25	3.71%