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Global triethanolamine production capacity in 2025 is estimated at approximately 0.87 to 0.90 million tonnes, reflecting a mature yet steadily expanding segment of the ethanolamines value chain. Supply growth tracks ethylene oxide availability, integrated oxirane derivatives capacity and rising demand from detergents, personal care formulations, cement additives and gas treatment chemicals. Market conditions balance stable industrial demand with periodic tightness driven by ethylene oxide operating rates, maintenance cycles and feedstock disruptions.
The global picture shows moderate year-on-year growth supported by urbanisation, infrastructure development and hygiene-related consumption. Pricing remains closely linked to ethylene oxide feedstock dynamics, energy costs and plant utilisation rates. Periods of EO tightness or unplanned outages translate quickly into firmer TEA pricing, while new capacity additions and integrated production mitigate longer-term volatility.
Production leadership remains concentrated in regions with strong petrochemical integration. Asia Pacific leads global capacity, followed by North America and Europe. The Middle East continues to expand export-oriented TEA supply through large-scale integrated ethylene oxide complexes, while Latin America and Africa remain largely import dependent.
Higher-purity grades capture premium pricing due to tighter specifications, colour control and regulatory compliance requirements, while 85 percent grades dominate bulk industrial volumes linked to construction and cement markets.
Key Questions Answered
Integrated ethylene oxide-ethanolamine plants define cost leadership and supply reliability. Process control determines TEA yield relative to mono- and di-ethanolamines and directly influences plant profitability and flexibility.
Key Questions Answered
Detergents and personal care remain the largest consumption segments, providing structurally stable demand. Construction chemicals introduce cyclical demand linked to infrastructure and cement production activity.
Key Questions Answered
Asia Pacific leads global TEA production and consumption due to large detergent, personal care and construction markets. China and India anchor capacity growth, supported by expanding ethylene oxide infrastructure.
North America maintains stable integrated capacity serving domestic detergents, gas treatment applications and export markets. Capacity additions are largely limited to debottlenecking and efficiency upgrades.
Europe operates mature TEA capacity under strict environmental and product safety regulation, with emphasis on high-purity and specialty grades rather than volume expansion.
Latin America relies heavily on imports, with limited local production linked to ethylene oxide availability and detergent manufacturing hubs.
The Middle East continues to expand export-oriented TEA capacity through large-scale integrated petrochemical complexes, while Africa remains predominantly import dependent.
Key Questions Answered
TEA supply begins with ethylene and ammonia sourcing, followed by ethylene oxide production, ethanolamine synthesis, separation and distribution. Downstream buyers include detergent formulators, cement producers, cosmetic manufacturers and industrial chemical blenders.
Key cost drivers include ethylene and EO pricing, energy costs, plant utilisation and logistics. Trade flows move largely from Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East into import-dependent regions such as Latin America, Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.
Key Questions Answered
The TEA ecosystem includes ethylene producers, EO manufacturers, ethanolamine plants, detergent and cosmetic formulators, construction chemical companies and industrial distributors. Integrated petrochemical producers exert the strongest influence on global supply dynamics.
Strategic themes include feedstock integration, purity upgrades, capacity debottlenecking, sustainability compliance and formulation-driven demand growth.
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View ReportsTriethanolamine (TEA) Global Production Capacity and Growth Outlook
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