Paraffin Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Paraffin Market is projected to expand from USD 6.88 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.62 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 3.83%. Paraffin wax, a colorless and soft solid mixture of hydrocarbon molecules, is derived from petroleum, oil shale, or coal. The market's growth is largely driven by the candle manufacturing industry, which favors the material for its cost-effectiveness and excellent fragrance retention. Additional demand comes from the packaging sector, where the wax provides essential moisture barriers for paper and cardboard, and the cosmetics industry, which uses it as an emollient in personal care products. Highlighting this strong demand, the European Candle Manufacturers Association reported that candle consumption in the European Union rose to nearly 855,000 tons in 2024.

A major hurdle facing the market is the structural reduction in the supply of Group I base oils. As the global refining sector shifts its focus toward producing Group II and Group III base oils to satisfy modern performance requirements, the output of Group I base oils - of which paraffin wax is a byproduct - is naturally declining. This decrease in feedstock availability leads to supply limitations and price volatility, creating procurement difficulties for downstream manufacturers and potentially restricting the overall growth of the market.

Market Drivers

The rising demand for decorative and aromatic candles serves as a major catalyst for the global paraffin market, fueled by a consumer shift toward home fragrance products for stress relief and ambiance. Paraffin wax remains the material of choice for these applications because of its superior ability to carry high fragrance loads and maintain consistent burning profiles, technical qualities that natural waxes often fail to match efficiently at scale. This trend is especially strong in key manufacturing hubs serving international markets, where production has surged to meet seasonal and wellness-driven needs. For instance, Fushun Junda Wax Industry Co., Ltd. reported in August 2025 that a spike in international orders drove China’s paraffin candle exports to 38,400 metric tons in July, a significant 107% increase month-over-month.

Furthermore, the growth of the flexible food packaging industry strengthens market demand, as manufacturers rely on paraffin coatings to create essential gas and moisture barriers that prolong product shelf life. This function is vital for confectionery, dairy products, and processed foods, ensuring freshness is maintained throughout complex logistics and storage chains. The substantial economic impact of this sector emphasizes its dependence on effective coating materials; the Flexible Packaging Association noted that in November 2025, the U.S. flexible packaging manufacturing sector generated $51.5 billion in direct output. To meet these industrial needs, supply dynamics are adapting, with the World Bank reporting that China solidified its position as a primary supplier in 2024 by exporting approximately 666,899 metric tons of fully refined paraffin wax globally.

Market Challenges

A formidable obstacle to the expansion of the global paraffin market is the structural decline in the supply of Group I base oils. As the refining industry prioritizes the production of cleaner, higher-performance Group II and Group III base oils to comply with modern regulatory standards, the output of Group I base oils is systematically decreasing. Since paraffin wax is produced exclusively as a byproduct of Group I processing, this transition is critical. The permanent closure of older refining facilities that traditionally supplied this feedstock creates an irreversible gap in the supply chain, forcing manufacturers to deal with volatile availability and rising raw material costs.

This reduction in manufacturing infrastructure directly limits the industry's capacity to satisfy steady demand from key sectors such as candles and packaging. According to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the 2025 closure of the LyondellBasell Houston refinery contributed to a significant drop in U.S. operable refining capacity, removing approximately 263,776 barrels per calendar day. Such contractions in core refining capacity worsen the scarcity of the specific heavy distillate streams needed for wax production, thereby physically constraining the volume of product available to the market.

Market Trends

The global market is undergoing a structural shift in feedstock choices as manufacturers actively replace Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) with Medium-Chain (MCCPs) and Long-Chain (LCCPs) variants to comply with evolving regulations. While international restrictions on SCCPs have necessitated industry-wide reformulation, the regulatory environment for MCCPs remains favorable in key economic regions, establishing them as the primary compliance option for metalworking fluids and industrial plasticizers. This strategic reliance was affirmed when the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) reported in December 2024 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declined to designate MCCPs as high-priority substances for risk evaluation, ensuring their continued availability and validating the transition toward these chemistries in North America.

concurrently, the industry is leveraging the thermal storage properties of high-purity paraffin wax to develop advanced Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for the green construction and textile sectors. This trend involves integrating microencapsulated wax into smart fabrics and building envelopes, creating materials that autonomously regulate temperature to improve energy efficiency and comfort. The commercial potential of these wax-based solutions is driving rapid adoption; in March 2025, Outlast Technologies announced that new validation testing showed their proprietary phase change technology increased textile effusivity by up to 60%, delivering a measurable improvement in heat management that is accelerating uptake in the performance apparel and bedding industries.

Key Players Profiled in the Paraffin Market

• ExxonMobil
• Shell
• Sasol
• Sinopec
• Petronas Chemicals
• Phillips 66
• Chevron Phillips Chemical
• Ineos
• BP
• LyondellBasell

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Paraffin Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Paraffin Market, by Type:

• Paraffin Wax
• Liquid Paraffin
• Kerosene
• Petroleum Jelly
• Others

Paraffin Market, by Application:

• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Paperboard & Packaging
• Fuel
• Rubber
• Lubricants
• Others

Paraffin Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Paraffin Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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