Azelaic acid: With the breakthrough of domestic production technology and the gradual release of production capacity, we are moving towards large-scale industrial applications.

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In March 2026, Liaocheng University published the patent for "Catalytic Synthesis of Azelaic Acid with Loaded Cr₂O₃ Porous Materials", which is currently being scaled up on a small scale in Shandong to pave the way for subsequent domestic industrial-level production expansion. Azelaic acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid, which appears as white flaky crystals at room temperature. It has core properties such as amorphousness, high flexibility, and strong resistance to hydrolysis. It is a multifunctional intermediate in the fields of coatings, medicine, plastics, etc. In the coatings industry, its comprehensive performance is better than that of adipic acid and sebacic acid. However, it has been underestimated by the industry for a long time due to its high price and unstable supply. Now, with the breakthrough of domestic production technology and the gradual release of production capacity, it is moving towards large-scale industrial applications. 1. Application: 1. In the field of coatings, azelaic acid is mainly used in anti-corrosion coatings and powder coatings. The polyester polyol prepared from azelaic acid has high decomposition temperature, low acid value and better viscosity, which meets the stringent requirements of high-end coatings. Azelaic acid-based polyester coating can achieve 2000 hours without blistering. 2. Powder coating, its amorphous structure can reduce the glass transition temperature of the system, achieve thick film coating without cracking, and reduce the curing temperature by 10-20°C, which is in line with the development trend of energy saving and customization of powder coatings. 3. In pharmaceutical and personal care, azelaic acid has mature application as a core ingredient in the treatment of acne and rosacea. About 65% of the global demand for azelaic acid is driven by dermatological uses. 4. It can also be used to synthesize plasticizers, lubricants, and polyamide resins, and can be extended to electronic materials, capacitor electrolytes and other fields. 2. Production process 1. The current production process of azelaic acid is mainly based on chemical synthesis. The ozone oxidation method of oleic acid is the most mature. It uses oleic acid derived from vegetable oil as raw material, and generates azelaic acid and by-product pelargonic acid through ozone oxidation and cracking. It has high purity but has shortcomings of high pollution and high energy consumption. 2. Important breakthroughs were made in biosynthesis methods. The microbial fermentation method uses n-alkane as the substrate and can be fermented and oxidized by Candida tropicalis to generate azelaic acid. It has the advantages of renewable raw materials, low pollution and high purity. Croda Xipu Chemical and Chongqing University jointly developed research and development to increase the effective conversion rate of oleic acid from 80% to 96%, reduce process energy consumption by 30%, and build the only 3,000 tons/year azelaic acid production line in China. 3. Main manufacturers and production capacity structure 1. In 2024, global azelaic acid production will be approximately 15,000 tons, and the global average market price will be approximately US$9,852/ton. In 2025, global sales of industrial-grade azelaic acid were 9,521 tons, with an average selling price of US$10.8/kg. Global sales of ultrafine powdered azelaic acid reached 12,000 tons, with an average selling price of US$10,953/ton. 2. Major companies include Emery Oleochemicals (USA), Matrica SpA (Italy), BASF (Germany), etc. In terms of the domestic market, Hedaxipu Chemical (Sichuan) is the largest azelaic acid production company in China. It has built the first large-scale azelaic acid production line in China, ranking first in the country in terms of market share and third in the world. Other domestic companies include Wufeng Chicheng Biotech, Zhejiang Boju New Materials, Nantong Hengxing Electronic Materials, Jiangsu Senxuan Pharmaceutical, etc. 4. Product profit and market supply and demand 1. The average gross profit margin of the industry varies significantly among different grades of products.: The gross profit margin of industrial grade is about 15%-20%, and the gross profit margin of cosmetic grade is about 20%-30%. Cosmetics and pharmaceutical-grade products can usually achieve gross profit margins of 15%-20%, and some micronized products can exceed 20% if the brand has strong stickiness. 1. According to application, plastics is the largest market segment. The current market growth points are mainly the demand for cosmeceuticals and dermatology, the development of sustainable materials, and industrial lubricants. 5. Industry trends 1. About 52% of azelaic acid demand is shifting to bio-based production methods, and 55% of new investments are directly used to produce bio-based azelaic acid using microbial fermentation. 2. Demand in the downstream pharmaceutical and electronic fields has escalated, and demand for high-purity azelaic acid has increased. Supramolecular modification technology solves the pain points of traditional azelaic acid such as poor water solubility and high irritation, and promotes the technological leap forward in domestic supramolecular azelaic acid raw materials. 3. The application of azelaic acid in emerging scenarios such as medical and art repair and oily skin care has grown rapidly due to its "sensitive skin-friendly" nature. The market has significantly expanded from "problem skin treatment" to "daily skin quality management". 3. Although the price of azelaic acid is high, its comprehensive performance is better than that of adipic acid, and it has irreplaceable technical advantages in the fields of anti-corrosion coatings and powder coatings. With the accelerated release of domestic biotechnology production capacity, declining import dependence, and coordinated growth in demand from downstream pharmaceuticals, electronics and other fields, azelaic acid is standing at an industry turning point.