- The real cost of a textile chemical is Rs per kg of fabric, not Rs per kg of chemical
- Cost per kg of fabric = price per kg / 1000 x dose (g/L) x liquor ratio
- A product that costs 30% more per kg can cost 22% less per kg of fabric if the dose is lower (worked example below)
- Every figure here is an illustrative input, not a Seamens price
Two chemical quotes arrive on your desk. One is Rs 500 per kilogram, the other Rs 650. The cheaper one wins, until you ask how much of each is needed for a batch. This guide gives you the method, a worked example and a free calculator so you can compare any two textile chemical quotes on the number that matters: the cost per kilogram of fabric.
Why is price per kilogram a misleading way to compare textile chemicals?
Price per kilogram ignores dose. A product that costs more per kilogram but works at a lower dose in grams per litre can cost less per batch. The dose and the liquor ratio of your machine decide how many grams of chemical every kilogram of fabric actually receives.
How do you calculate textile chemical cost per kg of fabric?
Cost per kilogram of fabric equals the price per kilogram divided by 1,000, multiplied by the dose in grams per litre, multiplied by the liquor ratio. The liquor ratio converts a concentration (g/L) into grams per kilogram of fabric.
Formula: grams per kg fabric = dose (g/L) x liquor ratio; cost per kg fabric = price (Rs/kg) / 1,000 x grams per kg fabric.
What does a worked example look like?
The figures below are illustrative inputs for a 500 kg batch at a 10:1 liquor ratio. They are not Seamens prices.
| Step | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kg of chemical | Rs 500 | Rs 650 |
| Dose from your trial | 2.0 g/L | 1.2 g/L |
| Grams per kg of fabric (dose x 10) | 20 g | 12 g |
| Cost per kg of fabric | Rs 10.0 | Rs 7.8 |
| Cost for a 500 kg batch | Rs 5,000 | Rs 3,900 |
Quote B costs 30% more per kilogram of chemical but 22% less per kilogram of fabric, a saving of Rs 1,100 on this batch. Use the calculator below to run your own numbers.
How much does the liquor ratio change the cost?
The liquor ratio multiplies the cost directly. The same dose and price cost three times as much per kilogram of fabric at 15:1 as it does at 5:1, which is why machine type matters when comparing a recipe between a jet, a jigger and a beam.
| Liquor ratio | Grams per kg fabric (at 2.0 g/L) | Cost per kg fabric (at Rs 500/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 : 1 | 12 g | Rs 6.0 |
| 10 : 1 | 20 g | Rs 10.0 |
| 15 : 1 | 30 g | Rs 15.0 |
Confirm the real liquor ratio of each machine before you calculate. See our g/L and liquor ratio dosing calculator to turn a recipe into kilograms for a batch.
Where should the dose come from?
The dose should come from your own trial on your own fabric and machine, not from a brochure. A lab-dip gives a starting dose, and a bulk trial confirms it. Keep the g/L concentration constant when scaling from lab to production.
- Run a lab-dip with your fabric, water and current recipe as the control.
- Record the dose that reaches your quality target.
- Confirm it in a bulk batch on one machine.
- Enter the confirmed dose in the calculator, not the brochure dose.
What else belongs in a fair cost comparison?
- Reprocessing: a lower-cost recipe that raises reprocessing costs more overall.
- Technical support: who adjusts the recipe when the fabric or water changes.
- Pack size and lead time: stock held in Pakistan avoids production stops.
- Documents: data sheet, safety data sheet and any buyer-required compliance documents.
Seamens Enterprises formulates and manufactures its 17-product ECO-Series in Pakistan using imported premium raw materials, and offers free trial samples evaluated on your own machine. Read how to choose a textile chemical supplier and see the ECO-Series range.