How is paraffin wax price per tonne set? It tracks feedstock cost, refining grade, and freight lane, and buyers check it against independent assessments like Argus Global Waxes rather than one posted figure. Fob and delivered prices differ by freight and duty, so comparing a supplier quote to a market benchmark requires matching the unit, grade, and basis first.
How is paraffin wax price per tonne set? It moves with feedstock costs, refining grade, and freight lane, and it is tracked through independent assessments such as Argus Global Waxes rather than a single posted number. Buyers compare fob and delivered figures by grade and region before they quote a landed cost. This guide walks through what moves the number and what to check before you place an order.
Who this guide is for
This page serves four buyers who all ask some version of the same question, in different words.
- Candle and container-candle producers pricing economy/utility and slack-wax blends for the season ahead.
- Cosmetics and personal care formulators comparing wax cost against balm and cream input budgets.
- Import and procurement managers converting a fob quote into landed cost, HTS code included.
- Wax distributors and blenders benchmarking a supplier quote against an independent market assessment.
What actually moves the price
Paraffin wax price per tonne today reflects several separate inputs, not one figure. Feedstock crude and refinery output set the floor. Grade, origin, and freight lane set the spread above it.
Market assessments, not a single quoted price
According to Argus Media, Argus Global Waxes is a monthly market service that publishes independent price assessments for paraffin wax, liquid and slab wax, and feedstock slack wax across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. A published assessment is a reference point. It is not a quote a mill will automatically match.
Volatility is normal, not a red flag
According to STLE (2024), the global wax industry is experiencing pronounced volatility, driven by the current turbulent macroeconomic environment. Buyers who track price monthly, rather than react to one quote, price more calmly.
Reading a market assessment: an example
Published assessments illustrate the shape of the market, even when a buyer's own grade differs. In the sample Argus report, slab paraffin wax fob north China was assessed at $1,130.00/t on 03 Jan, versus $1,180.00/t on 06 Dec. Mid-melt paraffin delivered northwest Europe was assessed at $1,644.18/t in the same report (Argus Media, 2023). The gap between an fob China figure and a delivered Europe figure is freight, duty, and handling, not grade alone.
| Benchmark or standard | What it measures | Why a buyer checks it |
|---|---|---|
| Argus Global Waxes assessment | Independent monthly price by grade and region, fob or delivered | Gives a market reference point before negotiating a quote |
| ASTM D721 | Oil content of petroleum waxes | Oil content affects hardness, melting point, and scuff resistance — all cost-relevant to the finished product |
| ASTM D87 | Melting point (cooling curve) of petroleum wax | A standard wax suppliers and buyers both use to confirm the grade matches the application |
| HTS 2712.20.00 | Paraffin wax containing less than 0.75% oil by weight, for customs classification | Sets the duty rate applied on import, part of true landed cost |
Price per tonne vs. price per kg vs. price per pound
Paraffin wax price per kg, paraffin wax price per pound, and paraffin wax price per ton all describe the same market in a different unit. A per-tonne fob figure converts directly to a per-kg number by dividing by 1,000. Comparing a paraffin wax price per kg in India quote against a European per-tonne assessment only works once freight, duty, and unit are normalised to the same basis.
Comparison: fob vs. delivered pricing
An fob price reflects the mill gate, before freight. A delivered price adds freight, insurance, and often duty. When comparing a supplier's per-tonne quote to a published assessment, confirm which basis both figures use — otherwise the comparison is not like-for-like.
Landed cost: what customs adds to the price
According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, HTS subheading 2712.20.00 covers paraffin wax containing by weight less than 0.75 percent of oil, with a general rate of Free and a column 2 rate of 2.2¢/kg. According to the International Trade Administration, Harmonized System codes are used throughout the import and export process to classify goods. Confirming the HTS code before quoting a landed cost avoids a mismatch at customs.
Refined petroleum benchmarks in the US
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the EIA publishes refiner petroleum product prices by sales type, in dollars per gallon excluding taxes, by U.S. region and PADD. This is a useful cross-check for buyers tracking feedstock trends alongside a wax-specific assessment.
Grade selection for candle and blending applications
Wax is a class of organic compounds, solid at ambient temperature, melting between 40–90°C (104–194°F), insoluble in water yet soluble in organic and nonpolar solvents (ExxonMobil). Within that range, grade selection matters more than price alone.
Economy and container candles
The waxes family is used to make pillar candles, serving the candle industry. Buyers producing economy/utility, grave/church/mourning, or container candles typically shop paraffin HP3/M3/UL2 tiers and slack-wax blends, weighing melt point and oil content against the finished candle's burn profile.
Cosmetics and personal care
The waxes family is also used to make cosmetic creams and balms, serving the cosmetics and personal care industry. Formulators in this segment look at Petroleum Jelly tiers such as PJ "Ultra Snow White" (BP-2017, 0.5Y), and buyers in this space commonly search White, Snow White, and Super Snow White tiers when specifying a grade for balm or cream work.
What to check before you order
- Confirm whether the quoted price is fob or delivered, and to which port or terminal.
- Ask which grade tier the quote covers — HP3/M3/UL2, or a slack-wax blend.
- Check the melting point against ASTM D87 for your application.
- Check oil content against ASTM D721 if hardness or scuff resistance matters to your product.
- Confirm the HTS code (2712.20.00 for paraffin wax under 0.75% oil) before estimating duty.
- Compare the quote against a recent Argus Global Waxes assessment for the same region.
- Convert per-kg, per-pound, and per-tonne figures to one unit before comparing suppliers.
- Confirm packaging (drum, block, or bulk) since it affects landed cost separately from the wax price.
Working with BHD Group
BHD Group operates through two divisions, BHD Chemical and BHD Sourcing — one accountable house behind both. On the wax side, the catalogue includes Paraffin Wax, Petroleum Jelly, and Slack Wax, the headline range this business leads with. Quotes are stated on spec and on time, with origin and grade named plainly rather than left to a vague estimate. Buyers weighing how is paraffin wax price per tonne today against a supplier quote are welcome to request a current figure by grade and destination.
Sources
- Argus Media — Argus Global Waxes, https://www.argusmedia.com/en/solutions/products/argus-global-waxes
- Argus Media (2023) — Argus Global Waxes (sample report), https://www.argusmedia.com/-/media/project/argusmedia/mainsite/english/documents-and-files/sample-reports/argus-global-waxes.pdf
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Refiner Petroleum Product Prices by Sales Type, https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_refoth_dcu_nus_m.htm
- U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule, Chapter 27, https://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/archive/9210/921c270.pdf
- International Trade Administration — Harmonized System (HS) Codes, https://www.trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes
- STLE — Tribology & Lubrication Technology (2024) — Market Trends: State of the global wax industry, https://www.stle.org/files/TLTArchives/2024/01_January/Market_Trends.aspx
- ASTM International — ASTM D721, Oil Content of Petroleum Waxes, https://www.astm.org/Standards/D721.htm
- ASTM International — ASTM D87, Melting Point of Petroleum Wax, https://www.astm.org/Standards/D87.htm
- ExxonMobil — Wax Application, Product & Operation FAQ, https://www.exxonmobil.com/en/wax/faq
Frequently asked questions
What is how is paraffin wax price per tonne?
It is the fob or delivered market value of paraffin wax, quoted per metric tonne, tracked by independent services such as Argus Global Waxes across Asia, Europe, and the Americas (Argus Media).
How does how is paraffin wax price per tonne work?
The price reflects feedstock cost, grade, and freight lane. A fob figure covers the mill gate; a delivered figure adds freight, insurance, and duty (as classified under HTS 2712.20.00 for paraffin under 0.75% oil), so buyers compare like-for-like basis before quoting a landed cost.
What are the benefits of how is paraffin wax price per tonne?
Tracking the per-tonne benchmark against a supplier's quote lets a buyer catch mismatched grade, unit, or basis before ordering, and gives a reference point for negotiating rather than accepting a single quote at face value.
Why buyers work with BHD Group
Two divisions operate under a single accountable house. There is no handoff between a trading desk and a sourcing desk that leaves a buyer chasing an answer — one team owns the order from enquiry to delivery.
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