Clariant AG(CLN)
HQ CH25% share
Specialty chemicals; cosmetic preservatives and active ingredients.
chemical · input
Cold Flow Improver Additives
Polymer additives (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyacrylates) added to heating oil to lower the pour point and cold filter plugging point for cold climates. Critical for New England markets where temperatures regularly fall below -20°C.
9
Source countries
6
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
Goods that need this input
1 essential American goods rely on cold flow improver additives somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Source countries
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| DEGermany (Federal Republic of Germany) | 38% |
| INIndia | 33% |
| GBUnited Kingdom | 11% |
| CACanada | 5% |
| MXMexico | 4% |
| FRFrance | 2% |
| JPJapan | 2% |
| ITItaly | 1% |
| NLNetherlands | 1% |
Who makes it
Supplier companies
6 companies produce cold flow improver additives.
Infineum International Ltd
HQ GB20% share
One of the four global lubricant-additive majors (ExxonMobil + Shell joint venture); supplies the DI/VII additive packages that define engine-oil performance.
Afton Chemical (NewMarket Corporation)(NEU)
HQ US
Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond, Virginia; subsidiary of NewMarket Corporation; NYSE: NEU; ~$3B revenue) is a major global petroleum additive company producing fuel additives, lubricant additives, and specialty chemicals. Afton produces corrosion inhibitor products for petroleum fuels. In aviation, Afton has a minor CI market presence — its primary strength is lubricant additive packages and gasoline/diesel additives. Afton also has manufacturing at Ellesmere Port, UK, in the same industrial complex as Innospec, creating geographic clustering of aviation fuel additive production.
BASF SE(BAS)
HQ DE
World's largest chemical company by revenue; dominant Western producer of food-grade sodium nitrite. BASF expanded sodium nitrite production capacity in Germany specifically to meet growing demand for high-purity pharmaceutical and food applications. Primary production at Ludwigshafen (world's largest contiguous chemical complex). Also produces sodium nitrite catalysts, sulfuric acid, and intermediates for pharmaceutical synthesis. BASF sells food-grade sodium nitrite to meat processors globally through distribution networks and third-party channels.
Evonik Industries AG(EVK)
HQ DE
Evonik Industries AG (XETRA: EVK; Essen Germany; MDAX listed); world's largest DL-methionine producer under the MetAMINO brand. Total DL-methionine capacity exceeds 700,000 MT/year across three continental hubs: Jurong Island Singapore (~340,000 MT/year — world's largest single methionine complex, expanded +40k MT August 2024), Theodore Mobile County Alabama USA (~245,000 MT/year), and Antwerp Belgium (~120,000 MT/year). The Wesseling Germany DL-Met line closed Q1 2021 as Evonik consolidated production to the three-hub network. Evonik first commercialized DL-methionine synthesis in the 1950s under predecessor Degussa. MetAMINO is Evonik's largest single product. ~30-32% global market share. In February 2022 Evonik announced a $176.5M investment in a new methyl mercaptan (MMP intermediate feedstock) plant at the Alabama site.
Innospec Inc.
HQ US
Innospec Inc. (Englewood CO; NASDAQ: IOSP; ~$2.1B revenue 2023) is a specialty chemicals company whose Fuel Specialties segment includes natural gas odorants. Innospec sells odorant blends under the Gasodor® brand — including Gasodor S-Free (a non-TBM blend for underground storage applications) and THT-based odorants for European gas networks. Innospec sources mercaptan active ingredients from Arkema and CPChem and formulates/distributes to gas utilities. Innospec's Fuel Specialties segment also includes fuel additive packages, lubricity additives, and flow improvers for petroleum fuels. Innospec (formerly Associated Octel) has a UK operating base in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.