Petrochemicals are chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as maize, palm fruit, or sugar cane. The two most common petrochemical classes are olefins (including ethylene and propylene) and aromatics (including benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers) . Petrochemicals are made on a very large scale and are predominantly made in a few manufacturing locations around the world.

Petrochemicals are used to manufacture thousands of different products that people use daily, including plastics, medicines, cosmetics, furniture, appliances, electronics, solar power panels, and wind turbines. Different types of petrochemical products can be used in the food industry to create preservatives, and some ingredients found in candies and food colorings are also made from various types of petrochemical products to enhance their flavor and taste. Petrochemical products are also used to create a wide variety of household products such as perfumes, cosmetics, makeup products, aftershaves, shampoos, hair dyes, and wax for hair or beard.