Cumene Market Report 2026

The cumene market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $28 billion in 2025 to $29.75 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of phenol consumption, expansion of plastics industry, availability of benzene feedstock, rising acetone demand, development of cumene production processes.

The cumene market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $39.68 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for lightweight plastics, growth of automotive manufacturing, expansion of electronics applications, innovation in catalyst technologies, rising construction activities. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for phenol and acetone, expansion of chemical intermediate production, increasing use in resin manufacturing, growth of automotive and plastics applications, focus on process efficiency improvements.

The expanding automotive industry is expected to drive the growth of the cumene market in the coming years. The automotive sector encompasses a broad range of companies and organizations involved in various aspects of motor vehicle production and services. Cumene is primarily used as a raw material for producing phenol and acetone, which have widespread applications in the automotive industry. For example, in March 2025, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, a Belgium-based lobbying and standards organization, reported that South American car production increased by 1.7% in 2024 compared to 2023, led by Brazil with a 6.3% rise, producing approximately 1.9 million vehicles. Therefore, the growth of the automotive industry is contributing to the expansion of the cumene market.

Major companies in the cumene market are forming strategic partnerships to strengthen their market position. These collaborations help companies access new customers, enter new markets, and expand their business footprint. For instance, cumene plants are implementing advanced technologies and process optimizations to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. In December 2023, Ineos Phenol, a Germany-based global manufacturing company, inaugurated Europe’s largest cumene plant in Marl, with an annual production capacity of 750,000 metric tons. This facility is notable not only for its scale but also for its sustainability, achieving a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through innovative heat integration technology. Strategically located with connections to existing production sites and pipelines, the plant enhances operational efficiency and reinforces Ineos’ position as a leading global producer of phenol and acetone. This initiative represents a significant step toward environmentally responsible manufacturing in the chemical industry while meeting growing market demand.

In January 2025, Lummus Technology LLC, a US-based process technology licensor providing technology and licensing for cumene production, entered into a strategic partnership with Versalis S.p.A. to expand its technology portfolio in the phenolics value chain and commercialize processes from cumene to cyclohexanone oxime. Under this partnership, Lummus becomes the exclusive licensor for Versalis’ phenolics technologies, covering the entire production chain from cumene to cyclohexanone oxime. The collaboration strengthens Lummus’ technology offerings and expands Versalis’ market reach by leveraging Lummus’ global licensing network, enabling wider deployment of phenolics technologies and potential integration into new or existing chemical plants. Versalis S.p.A. is an Italian chemicals company.

Major companies operating in the cumene market are Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP plc (British Petroleum plc), Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, BASF SE (Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik Societas Europaea), The Dow Chemical Company, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), INEOS Group Limited, Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U. (CEPSA), Chang Chun Group, Braskem S.A., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petrochemical Development Corporation, Koch Industries, Inc., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Eni S.p.A., TotalEnergies SE, Borealis AG, Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc., Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, LG Chem Ltd., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., PTT Phenol Company Limited, CEPSA Química, S.A., Reliance Industries Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the cumene market in 2025. Middle East was the second-largest region in the global cumene market. The regions covered in the cumene market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cumene market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The cumene market consists of the sales of cumene used in the production of iron, steel, rubber, pulp, and paper. 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.

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