Background, importance and production volumes

The importance of the fatty acid industry today is reflected by the estimated 1978 production in the U.S. of 956 M lbs., exclusive of tall oil fatty acids. The 1978 U.S. production of various fatty acids as reported monthly and annually by the FAPC of SDA, is broken down into 9 saturated categories, and 5 unsaturated categories, as follows: (1) stearic and 127.2 M lbs. (13.3%); (2) hydrogenated animal and vegetable acids (2a) 97.3 M lbs. (10.2%), (2b) 158 M lbs. (16.5%), (2c) 32 M lbs. (3.4%); (3) high palmitic, 14.6 M lbs. (1.5%); (4) hydrogenated fish, 6.5 M lbs. (0.7%); (5) lauric acid types, 88.8 M lbs. (9.3%); (6) fractionated fatty acids, (6a) C 10 or lower, 18.5 M lbs. (1.9%), (6b) C 12 and C 14 55% 17 M lbs. (1.9%); (7) oleic acid, 158.3 M lbs. (16.6%); (8) animal fatty acids other than oleic, 156.3 M lbs. (16.3%); (9) vegetable or marine fatty acids, 0.1 M lbs. (less than 1%); (10) unsaturated fatty acids, 57 M lbs. (6.0%); (11) unsaturated fatty acids I.V. over 130, 24.2 M lbs (2.5%). Reported 1977 fatty acid derivative production from fatty acids (not fats and oils) is 1,980 M lbs. The average price of fatty acids has increased from 23¢/lb.. to 60¢/lb. within the last 5 years.