In October 2026, the Odesa National Technological University of Ukraine released a procurement plan, Tender No. UA-2026-10-21-009394-a, for high-performance specialty chemicals, specifically Dowtherm RP Heat Transfer Fluid manufactured by Dow Chemical of the United States. The total procurement quantity is 208.63 kilograms. The estimated total value of the contract is 132,608.57 Ukrainian Hryvnia. The materials are intended for research and teaching experimental facilities at the university, and the procuring entity is based in Odesa city, Odesa Oblast.
Dowtherm RP, covered in this tender, is a high-purity synthetic organic liquid-phase diarylalkyl heat transfer fluid. It is primarily designed for non-pressurized liquid heat transfer systems. It serves heating and precise temperature control systems for petrochemical units, high-temperature heat medium circulation in the chemical fiber industry, efficient heat transfer and temperature regulation in caprolactam and phenol production, heat exchange during LNG storage, transportation and regasification, as well as heating and temperature control for harsh industrial environments such as offshore oil platforms.
Odesa National Technological University procures Dowtherm RP mainly for on-campus laboratory research, pilot-scale chemical thermodynamics platforms, circulating heating media for heat exchange experimental systems, and teaching purposes. Current demand for Dowtherm RP for research and teaching at Ukrainian universities remains steady, with no major demand growth expected in the education sector.
The key downstream applications of Dowtherm RP in Ukraine include oil refining and high-temperature reactions, plastic polymer processing, fertilizer production, gas storage and transportation, offshore oil and gas platforms and ports, and thermodynamic heat-exchange systems. The key upstream production feedstocks include styrene, phenylethyl chloride, tetrahydro-naphthalene, and naphthalene. In the Ukrainian domestic market, these four basic and fine chemical products-styrene, phenylethyl chloride, tetrahydro-naphthalene, and naphthalene-are overall in a state of "high scarcity" and "extreme dependence on imports." There is a severe shortage of production capacity and active facilities for these four products; consequently, the market relies entirely on imports and remains in a state of acute shortage.
China possesses substantial production capacity in the field of similar synthetic heat transfer oils, with styrene production capacity exceeding 23.5 million tons/year and total exports from January to September 2026 reaching 1,093,895,700 kilograms; industrial and refined naphthalene production capacity surpasses 2 million tons/year, with total exports from January to September 2026 amounting to 25,637,320 kilograms; the ten-million-ton scale hydrogenation capacity for tetrahydro-naphthalene and the multi-functional facilities in the phenylethyl chloride refined industrial park demonstrate a robust production scale and mature industrial chain, offering significant advantages in spot supply and export substitution. Synthetic heat transfer oils from regions such as the Yangtze River Delta and Shandong have achieved internationally leading levels in thermal stability, low coking tendency, and distillation range control. China holds a notable price advantage in the deep processing of aromatics and alkylation synthesis sectors; domestically produced high-performance similar-type diarylalkyl heat transfer oils typically offer a significant cost advantage of 30% to 50%, substantially reducing procurement budgets. China's mature specialized chemical logistics can efficiently connect to Central and Eastern Europe and Ukraine routes, providing cost-effective and stable wartime supply chain assurance.
Data and information sources:
Source of capacity data – Styrene (>23.5 million tonnes/year)
Data sources: Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics, the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), and the Huaon Industry Research Institute (Huaon Industry Research).
Industrial naphthalene and refined naphthalene (>2 million tonnes/year)
Data source: China Coking Industry Association (CCIA) and coal tar deep processing industry database.
Refined Unit for Tetrahydro and Phenylethyl Chloride
Data sources: industrial plans for the specialty and fine chemical industries in chemical industrial parks in provinces such as Zhejiang and Shandong; and special intermediates monitoring reports from BaiChuan Info and RongZhong Info.
Explanation of the source of price and cost advantages – 30%–50% cost/price advantage
Data sources: Subao/Sci99 synthetic heat-transfer oil market monitoring data, HC Chemical Network, and a comparative procurement quotation database for bulk specialty chemicals domestically and internationally.
Online Customs Statistical Data Query Platform: http://stats.customs.gov.cn/
Ukraine Prozorro Government Procurement Portal (Tender No.: UA-2026-10-21-009394-a)
Related Resources
- Exclusive Chemical Services for Ukraine
- About Shanghai Dingwujin Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Explore Shanghai Dingwujin Chemical Co., Ltd. polymers-specialty-oils products
Download Press Release
