Semi refined paraffin wax price moves with feedstock cost, oil content, melting point, and order volume — not a single published figure. Buyers use independent benchmarks like Argus Global Waxes alongside grade specs (HP3/M3/UL2) and tonnage to negotiate. BHD Group supplies semi-refined paraffin wax and slack wax for candle, blending, and packaging applications.
Semi refined paraffin wax price is not one published number. It is a quote built from feedstock cost, oil content, melting point, grade, and order volume. A CBP ruling describes semi-refined paraffin wax as having a melting point of 58-60C and an oil content of 0.5% to 1.5% (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, undated). That specification range is exactly what moves the price from one quote to the next.
Who this guide is for
This page is written for three buyers. The candle maker sourcing HP3, M3, or UL2 grade for container or economy candle runs. The wax blender or distributor buying slack wax for blending or repacking. And the procurement lead comparing supplier quotes before signing a contract. Each reads price differently, so each section below answers a different question in that buyer's own terms.
What actually moves the price
Five factors set a semi refined paraffin wax price quote. None of them is a single market number a buyer can look up and apply directly.
Feedstock and refining cost
Wax is a marketable petroleum-derived hydrocarbon with a congealing point between 100 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum oil content of 50 weight percent, by the EIA's definition (U.S. Energy Information Administration, undated). Feedstock cost tracks crude and refinery output, which shifts month to month.
Oil content and grade
A lower oil content generally commands a higher price than a higher-oil slack wax, because it suits more finished applications. Buyers should ask for the oil content figure on any quote, not assume it from the grade name alone.
Order volume and packing
Price is quoted per tonne, and volume changes the number. A semi refined paraffin wax price per kg for a 20-tonne order differs from a price built for a smaller, part-container lot, because freight and packing costs are spread differently. The same applies to a semi refined paraffin price per ton for economy candle making, where buyers routinely order in 20-tonne or 20-tonnes increments to fill a container.
Reading an independent price benchmark
Buyers rarely negotiate blind. According to Argus Media (undated), Argus Global Waxes is a monthly service providing independent price assessments for paraffin wax, liquid and slab wax, and feedstock slack wax across Asia, Europe and the Americas. The report — price assessments, customs data, news and analysis — is published on the first Tuesday of each month, with exceptions for some public holidays (Argus Media, 2022). A benchmark like this gives a buyer a reference point before accepting a supplier's number, rather than a price to expect verbatim.
Grade and standard reference table
| Standard or grade | What it measures or covers | Why a buyer checks it |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM D87 | Melting point of petroleum wax by cooling curve (ASTM International) | Confirms the wax matches the melting point stated on the quote |
| ISO oil-content standard | Test procedure for wax with congealing point 30°C or higher and up to 15% oil (ISO) | Oil content affects strength, hardness and flexibility of the finished product |
| HS code | Harmonized System classification used through import and export (International Trade Administration) | Needed for customs clearance and duty calculation on the shipment |
| CBP semi-refined description | Melting point 58-60C, oil content 0.5%-1.5% (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) | Sets buyer expectations for what "semi-refined" means on a bill of lading |
Applications this pricing question applies to
Candle making
The waxes family is used to make pillar candles (client-published evidence). Buyers working in economy or utility candles, and grave, church or mourning candle production, weigh price per kg against the melting point and oil content their mold and burn profile need, then confirm against a grade such as HP3, M3 or UL2.
Cosmetics and personal care
The waxes family is also used to make cosmetic creams and balms (client-published evidence). Formulators in this segment should confirm oil content and melting point against their formulation spec before comparing price, since a lower-oil grade suits a different use than a slack wax.
Blending and repacking
Distributors buying for slack-wax blending or packaging wax typically negotiate on tonnage. A semi refined paraffin wax price per kg for a 20-tonne order should be compared against the same volume from another supplier, not against a smaller lot's price per kg.
Comparison: quoting by grade versus quoting by volume
A grade-based quote fixes the specification — oil content, melting point, and intended use — and price follows from that spec. A volume-based quote fixes the tonnage, commonly 20 tonnes for a container load, and price is negotiated around freight and packing at that scale. Most real quotes combine both: a buyer states the grade needed, then negotiates volume to reach the best price per kg. Comparing two supplier quotes only works when both grade and volume are held constant.
What to check before you order
- Confirm the oil content figure stated on the quote, not just the grade name
- Confirm the melting point range against your application's burn or process needs
- Ask whether the price is per kg, per tonne, or per container load
- Check the HS code used for customs classification on the shipment
- Compare the quote against a current Argus Global Waxes assessment where available
- Confirm packing format — cakes, blocks, or bulk — and how it affects price
- Ask for the tonnage break point, since a 20-tonne order prices differently than a smaller lot
- Confirm delivery terms and lead time alongside the unit price
Quick facts
- Semi-refined paraffin wax typically has a melting point of 58-60C and an oil content of 0.5% to 1.5% (CBP ruling N134156)
- Argus Global Waxes publishes independent price assessments monthly, on the first Tuesday, for paraffin, liquid, slab, and slack wax
- ASTM D87 is the standard test for wax melting point by cooling curve
- HS codes classify wax shipments for import and export
- Price is typically quoted per kg or per tonne, with 20-tonne lots common for container orders
Working with BHD Group
BHD Group operates two divisions, BHD Chemical and BHD Sourcing, as one accountable house. Our range includes Paraffin Wax and Slack Wax, alongside Petroleum Jelly, Bitumen, and PE Wax, among other Turkish-origin products. When you ask about semi refined paraffin wax price, we quote against the grade and tonnage you specify, on spec and on time, and point you to independent benchmarks like Argus Global Waxes so you can check the number yourself.
Sources
- Argus Media (undated) — Argus Global Waxes
- Argus Media (2022) — Argus Global Waxes Methodology
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (undated) — Glossary: Wax
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) (undated) — Ruling N134156
- International Trade Administration (undated) — Harmonized System (HS) Codes
- ASTM International (undated) — ASTM D87
- ISO (undated) — ISO standard for petroleum wax oil content
Frequently asked questions
What is semi refined paraffin wax price?
Semi refined paraffin wax price is the delivered cost of paraffin wax with an oil content around 0.5% to 1.5% and a melting point near 58-60C, as described in a CBP ruling on the product (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, undated). It is not one fixed number — it varies by grade (HP3, M3, UL2), oil content, order size, and freight terms. Buyers typically benchmark it against an independent price service before agreeing terms.
How does semi refined paraffin wax price work?
Price is set per shipment, not from a public list. A seller quotes based on feedstock cost, the grade requested, and tonnage — often 20-tonne lots for container loads. Independent benchmarks such as Argus Global Waxes publish monthly assessments for paraffin, liquid and slab wax, and slack wax across Asia, Europe and the Americas (Argus Media, undated), which buyers use to sanity-check a quote. The buyer then confirms specification, packing, and delivery before price is finalized.
What are the benefits of semi refined paraffin wax price?
Knowing how semi refined paraffin wax price is built lets a buyer compare quotes on equal terms — grade for grade, tonnage for tonnage. It protects against paying for a higher oil-content or narrower-spec wax than the application needs. It also gives procurement a reference point, an independent benchmark, when a supplier's number looks out of line.
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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