Top 10 Companies in the Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Market (2025): Leading Suppliers Driving Petrochemical Industry Growth

In Business Insights
November 21, 2025


The Global Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Market is a critical segment within the petrochemical industry, serving as the primary feedstock for a vast array of products, most notably polyethylene. The market was valued at USD 109.8 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 142.5 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.2% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This steady growth is propelled by rising demand for plastics and polymers across packaging, construction, and automotive sectors, alongside advancements in production technologies like ethane cracking.

As the foundation of the modern chemicals supply chain, ethylene’s production and logistics are dominated by global petrochemical giants with extensive infrastructure and technological expertise. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Industry—a collection of integrated energy majors and specialized chemical producers shaping the future of this essential market.

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🔟 10. Axiall Lotte

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: Polymer Grade Ethylene, Chemical Grade Ethylene

Axiall Lotte, a joint venture between Lotte Chemical and Axiall Corporation (now part of Westlake Chemical), is a significant player in the Asian ethylene market. The company operates large-scale petrochemical complexes that produce ethylene refrigerated liquid primarily for captive use and regional supply, focusing on high-purity grades for downstream derivatives.

Market Initiatives:

  • Investment in debottlenecking projects to increase ethylene output

  • Strategic focus on strengthening the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) value chain

  • Expanding logistics capabilities for refrigerated ethylene transport in Southeast Asia


9️⃣ 9. Shintech

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Polymer Grade Ethylene (primarily for captive PVC production)

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical, Shintech is the largest producer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the United States. While a significant portion of its ethylene is used captively, it is a major consumer in the market and influences supply dynamics through its procurement strategies and integrated production facilities in Louisiana.

Market Initiatives:

  • Continuous expansion of its integrated PVC manufacturing complex

  • Long-term supply agreements with major ethylene producers to ensure feedstock security

  • Focus on cost-competitive production through vertical integration


8️⃣ 8. Chevron Philips

Headquarters: The Woodlands, Texas, USA
Key Offering: High-Purity Ethylene, Ethylene Derivatives

Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) is a leading global petrochemical producer, jointly owned by Chevron and Phillips 66. The company possesses world-scale ethylene crackers, particularly on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and is a key supplier of ethylene refrigerated liquid to both internal derivative units and the merchant market.

Market Initiatives:

  • Proprietary ethylene cracker technology for optimized production

  • Strategic joint ventures for global market penetration

  • Strong focus on olefins and polyolefins (OP) value chain integration


7️⃣ 7. Indorama

Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
Key Offering: Polymer Grade Ethylene, Oxides Derivatives

Indorama Ventures is a global chemical producer with a growing footprint in the ethylene chain, largely through acquisitions. The company uses ethylene refrigerated liquid as a key feedstock for its integrated PET, olefins, and oxides production facilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Market Initiatives:

  • Acquisition and optimization of existing ethylene and derivatives assets

  • Expansion into the U.S. market with significant ethylene consumption capacity

  • Focus on circular economy initiatives for plastics, influencing ethylene demand

Download FREE Sample Report:
Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 6. Shell

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid, Ethylene from various feedstocks

Shell’s Chemicals division is a major force in the global ethylene market. Its massive new ethane cracker in Monaca, Pennsylvania (Shell Pennsylvania Chemicals), has significantly boosted its production capacity, supplying ethylene to the North American market and supporting its downstream polyethylene operations.

Market Initiatives:

  • Start-up of one of the largest ethane crackers in North America

  • Integration with polyethylene units to create a fully integrated value chain

  • Investment in carbon capture and storage to reduce the carbon footprint of ethylene production


5️⃣ 5. Sasol

Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
Key Offering: Ethylene from Coal and Gas, Performance Chemicals

Sasol is unique as a leading producer of ethylene and other chemicals via coal gasification (in South Africa) and gas-to-liquids (GTL) processes. Its large-scale petrochemical complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, established it as a significant merchant supplier of ethylene refrigerated liquid in the Americas.

Market Initiatives:

  • Operation of a world-scale ethane cracker in the U.S.

  • Diversified feedstock strategy utilizing both gas and coal

  • Focus on debottlenecking and improving the reliability of its U.S. assets


4️⃣ 4. Eastman

Headquarters: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Key Offering: Chemical Grade Ethylene, Specialty Derivatives

Eastman Chemical Company is a global specialty materials producer that relies heavily on ethylene as a primary building block. While it produces some ethylene captively, it is also a major purchaser on the merchant market for its diverse range of products, including acetate fibers, plastics, and specialty chemicals.

Market Initiatives:

  • Strategic focus on high-value specialty chemicals derived from ethylene

  • Investment in circular economy technologies, including molecular recycling for plastic waste

  • Long-term ethylene supply contracts to ensure stable feedstock for its specialty segments


3️⃣ 3. ExxonMobil

Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Polymer Grade Ethylene, Linear Alpha Olefins

ExxonMobil is one of the world’s largest producers of ethylene, with a massive global manufacturing footprint. The company’s chemical division operates numerous steam crackers and is a leader in technology development for efficient ethylene production, supplying a significant volume of refrigerated liquid to the global market.

Market Initiatives:

  • Multi-billion dollar capacity expansions on the U.S. Gulf Coast

  • Pioneering advanced recycling technologies to create circular plastics

  • Integrated operations with refineries for optimized feedstock flexibility


2️⃣ 2. LyondellBasell

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Ethylene, Propylene, Polyolefins

LyondellBasell ranks as one of the largest plastics, chemicals, and refining companies globally. It is a top-tier producer of ethylene, with a vast network of crackers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The company’s proprietary olefins conversion technology allows for flexible production, making it a pivotal player in the ethylene refrigerated liquid market.

Market Initiatives:

  • Global leader in polyolefin and olefins technology licensing

  • Significant investments in circular and renewable solutions, including bio-based feedstocks

  • Strategic joint ventures to access growth markets in China and the Middle East


1️⃣ 1. Dow Chemicals

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: Polymer and Chemical Grade Ethylene, Full PE Portfolio

Dow Inc. is a premier materials science company and arguably the world’s largest consumer and producer of ethylene. Its operations are deeply integrated, with ethylene production primarily serving its massive downstream polyethylene (PE) and other derivatives businesses. Dow’s scale and global presence make it the dominant force in setting market trends for ethylene refrigerated liquid.

Market Initiatives:

  • Completion of world-scale ethylene and PE capacity additions on the U.S. Gulf Coast

  • Leadership in developing sustainable packaging solutions, influencing ethylene demand patterns

  • Commitment to decarbonize emissions and advance circular economy projects

Get Full Report Here:
Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Is Driven by Sustainability and Regional Shifts

The ethylene refrigerated liquid market is navigating a period of significant transformation. While traditional demand drivers remain robust, the industry is increasingly shaped by sustainability mandates, feedstock economics, and strategic realignments of global production capacity.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rising investments in ethane-based crackers in North America and the Middle East, leveraging cost-advantaged feedstocks

  • Accelerating development of chemical recycling technologies, creating a potential new source of circular ethylene

  • Growing demand for lightweight and sustainable plastics in packaging and automotive applications

  • Expansion of production capacity in Asia-Pacific to meet the region’s burgeoning demand for polymers

Get Full Report Here:
Ethylene Refrigerated Liquid Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying a foundational chemical—they are actively redefining the industry’s pathway towards greater efficiency and environmental stewardship.