2-Ethylhexanol

Summary

CCM Intel's CAPEX module records a 100 kt/y 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) plant on the US Gulf Coast using Davy and Dow LP Oxo technology, with a 2006 investment of USD 95.6 million. That equates to USD 0.956 million per kt of capacity, a 2006-vintage benchmark that is now 20 years old.

Key Highlights

›Total CAPEX: USD 95.6 million for the single reference project in the dataset.

›Capital intensity: USD 0.956 million per kt (about USD 956 per tonne of annual capacity).

›Scale: 100 kt/y nameplate capacity, a mid-sized world-scale oxo-alcohol unit.

›Technology and location: Davy and Dow LP Oxo (low-pressure oxo, rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation) at USGC, which benefits from integrated propylene and syngas supply.

›Time series: The dataset has only one data point (2006), so no CAGR or year-on-year change can be derived. The figure should be treated as a nominal, historical reference rather than a current cost estimate.

Drivers & Risks

›Driver: USGC feedstock integration (propylene, syngas) and mature LP Oxo technology support relatively low capital intensity.

›Risk: Applying 2006 nominal costs to 2026 projects would likely understate today's costs, given engineering, equipment, and labor cost inflation since then.

›Risk: A single-project benchmark limits statistical robustness. Site-specific factors such as scope, battery limits, and the degree of integration may distort comparisons.