Global Surfactant Market, By Type (Anionic Surfactants, Non-Ionic Surfactants, Cationic Surfactants, Amphoteric Surfactants, Silicone Surfactants, and Others), Substrate (Synthetic Surfactants and Bio-Based Surfactants), Application (Household Soaps and Detergents, Personal Care, Textile Processing, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning, Mining, Pharmaceuticals, Paints & Coatings, Oilfield Chemicals, Food Processing, Agricultural Chemicals, Pulp & Paper, Leather Manufacturing, Emulsion Polymerization, Foaming Agents, Lubricants and Fuel Additives, Plastics and Elastomers, Adhesives, Electroplating, and Others) - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2031.
Surfactant Market Analysis and Size
The rapidly increasing food and beverage industry is boosting the demand for surfactants as they are used during the production of various food and beverage products such as salad dressings, mayonnaise, and desserts, and in bakeries and breweries is driving the market growth. Bio-surfactant industrial use is limited due to high processing costs. Refinement of processes and better experimental setups are needed to meet commercial production demands, potentially restraining the market growth. Compliance with regulations is crucial to ensure legal and responsible operations and maintain market access while meeting the expectations of consumers and regulatory authorities which is expected to challenge the market growth.
Data Bridge Market Research analyzes that the global surfactant market is expected to reach USD 85.59 billion by 2031 from USD 60.70 billion in 2023, growing with a CAGR of 4.4% in the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.
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Report Metric
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Details
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Forecast Period
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2024 to 2031
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Base Year
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2023
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Historic Years
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2022 (Customizable to 2016-2021)
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Quantitative Units
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Revenue in USD Billion and Volume in Kilo Tons
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Segments Covered
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Type (Anionic Surfactants, Non-Ionic Surfactants, Cationic Surfactants, Amphoteric Surfactants, Silicone Surfactants, and Others), Substrate (Synthetic Surfactants and Bio-Based Surfactants), Application (Household Soaps and Detergents, Personal Care, Textile Processing, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning, Mining, Pharmaceuticals, Paints & Coatings, Oilfield Chemicals, Food Processing, Agricultural Chemicals, Pulp & Paper, Leather Manufacturing, Emulsion Polymerization, Foaming Agents, Lubricants and Fuel Additives, Plastics and Elastomers, Adhesives, Electroplating, and Others)
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Countries Covered
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U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, U.K., Italy, France, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, U.A.E., Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Rest of Middle East and Africa
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Market Players Covered
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Dow, BASF SE, Sasol Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, KLK OLEO, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Kao Corporation, Reliance Industries Limited, Arkema, Godrej Industries Limited, Cargill, Incorporated, CLARIANT, China Petrochemical Corporation, Stepan Company, Lion Corporation, Aarti Industries Ltd., ADEKA CORPORATION, Nouryon, The Lubrizol Corporation, Lonza, SABIC, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Cepsa, Bayer AG, SANYO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., Croda International Plc, Zanyu Technology Group, Ashland, GALAXY, EOC Group, Lankem, DKS Co. Ltd., STOCKMEIER Group, Vantage Leuna GmbH, TAIWAN NJC CORPORATION, SulfaTrade SA, 3M, Pilot Chemical Corp., GEO, FoglaGroup, Goulston, Syensqo, TENSAC, ABITEC, and Matangi Industries among others
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Market Definition
Surfactants are molecules that exhibit both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties. These compounds play a crucial role in reducing surface tension between liquids and solids or liquids and gases. In various industries, surfactants are employed to stabilize emulsions, enhance the wetting and spreading of liquids, and facilitate the removal of dirt or oil from surfaces. Their ability to alter interfacial properties makes surfactants integral in applications ranging from household cleaning products to pharmaceutical formulations and industrial processes. Overall, surfactants contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of diverse liquid systems by modifying their surface and interfacial characteristics.
Global Surfactant Market Dynamics
This section deals with understanding the market drivers, opportunities, challenges, and restraints. All of this is discussed in detail below:
Drivers
- Positive Outlook Towards the Consumption in Food and Beverages Industry
Surfactants provide multifunctional properties for food additives in the form of emulsifiers, dispersants, and wetting agents and help in solubilizing foods that contain fats and oils such as baked goods, dairy foods, salad dressings, shortenings, and margarine. Dairy products such as ice cream, whipped cream, and margarine also use surfactants to form stable emulsions containing fats and oils. Other major uses include shortenings, salad dressings, making peanut butter, cake mixes, toppings, and bread. The rapidly increasing food and beverage industry is boosting the demand for surfactants as they are used during the production of various food and beverage products such as salad dressings, mayonnaise, desserts, and in bakeries and breweries. Thus, the positive outlook towards the consumption in food and beverage industry is driving the market growth.
- Rising Demand for Surfactants in Personal Care and Hygienic Products
The development and commercialization of new surfactants are prevalent in the personal care area aimed primarily at skin and hair care. The new products introduced by various players in the market include naturally derived surfactants based on oat triglycerides that have a composition close to that of the skin. Some other newly developed products are vegetable-derived non-ionic surfactant used to solubilize essential oils and fragrances, and the use of sulfonated methyl esters to formulate a surfactant in a soap bar that reduces dryness of the skin.
The increasing application of surfactants in-home care is expected to impact the market positively. The increasing consumer consciousness toward hygiene owing to the spread of various diseases and viruses has aided the expansion of the market with products in home care, which includes sanitizers, detergents, cleaning products, shampoo, hand wash, and others. The heavy demand for such products is expected to support the development of the market. Thus, the rising demand for surfactants is driving market growth.
Opportunity
- Increasing Demand for Bio-Based Surfactant Products
The surfactant industry is actively using residues and leftovers from agriculture and oil industries among many others in the production of green and bio-based surfactants. These residues include sugars, molasses, plant oils, oil wastes, starchy substances, lactic whey; distillery wastes, and animal fat among others. Various cheaper substrates such as soybean oil act as nutrients for microbial growth and as an important source for the isolation of potential bio-based surfactants producing microorganisms. Rhamnolipids (RHL) are one of the common nip-based surfactants produced from soybean oil soap stock, spent soybean oil, or chicken fat. Improvements in fermentation technology, strain selection, and use of cheaper, renewable substrates have played an important role in enhancing the production processes of green and environment-friendly surfactants. Moreover, surfactants produced from plants are less harmful to the environment and are good at preserving the quality of cosmetic products. Therefore, manufacturers are continually involved in the production of green and bio-based surfactants.
Restraint/Challenge
- Difficulties in Determining the Ultimate Pricing of a Product or Service
In recent times, the supply of raw materials for natural and synthetic surfactants has been under increasing pressure due to hurdles in the most important raw material sources for surfactant synthesis. Kernel oil, which is one of the major raw materials of natural surfactants, saw a shortage owing to its high demand, lockdowns during COVID-19, and disruptions in the supply chain. Similarly, basic chemicals from the refinery process, which are important for surfactant production, such as alkanes, alkylbenzenes, or olefins, are in short supply due to the reduced output of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The same situation is with the petrochemicals such as glycols, glycol ethers, or methanol. Similarly, the shortage of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid affects the production of surfactants on a large scale. Raw materials, which account for 65% of manufacturing costs, are facing supply pressure due to high demand, lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions. Key sources include kernel oil, basic chemicals, and sulfuric and phosphoric acid shortages, impacting surfactant product prices. Therefore, the difficulties in determining the ultimate pricing of a product or service are restraining the market.
Recent Development
- In January 2024, Evonik Industries AG won the European Responsible Care Award for their sustainable glycolipid biosurfactants. Evonik received the "Safe and Sustainable Chemicals" award for its revolutionary glycolipid technology. Evonik offers a well-established range of glycolipid biosurfactants and was the first to respond to the growing market need for commercial quantities of sustainable, high-performance rhamnolipid biosurfactants
- In January 2022, Dow was recognized by the Business Intelligence Group with multiple 2022 BIG Innovation Awards. This honor is awarded to organizations and people who bring new ideas, big or small, to life. Dow also received three awards from the same organization in 2021
- In October 2023, Sasol Chemicals, a business unit of Sasol Ltd., announced the launch of CARINEX and LIVINEX, two brands that will broaden Sasol's sustainable product portfolio. CARINEX SL and LIVINEX SL, both biosurfactants, are the first products available under these new trademarks
- In October 2023, Ashland introduced the Easy-Wet substrate wetting agents, a new class of silicone-free, high-performance oligomeric alkyl polyether polyols designed for premium industrial coating applications. This enables the firm to produce game-changing innovations for the coating sector
- In January 2023, Holiferm Limited and Sasol Chemicals, a commercial company of Sasol Ltd, established a cooperation to develop and market rhamnolipids and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). This agreement builds on the partnership established by the two firms in March 2022 to develop and commercialize another biosurfactant product, sophorolipids. Sasol and Holiferm will create and commercialise formulations and uses for the novel compounds
Global Surfactant Market Scope
The global surfactant market is segmented into three notable segments based on type, substrate, and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze major growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to make strategic decisions to identify core market applications.
Type
- Anionic Surfactants
- Non-Ionic Surfactants
- Cationic Surfactants
- Amphoteric Surfactants
- Silicone Surfactants
- Others
On the basis of type, the global surfactant market is segmented into anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, silicone surfactants, and others.
Substrate
- Synthetic Surfactants
- Bio-Based Surfactants
On the basis of substrate, the global surfactant market is segmented into synthetic surfactants and bio-based surfactants.
Application
- Household Soaps and Detergents
- Personal Care
- Textile Processing
- Industrial and Institutional Cleaning
- Mining
- Pharmaceuticals
- Paints & Coatings
- Oilfield Chemicals
- Food Processing
- Agricultural Chemicals
- Pulp & Paper
- Leather Manufacturing
- Emulsion Polymerization
- Foaming Agents
- Lubricants and Fuel Additives
- Plastics and Elastomers
- Adhesives
- Electroplating
- Others
On the basis of application, the global surfactant market is segmented into household soaps and detergents, personal care, textile processing, industrial and institutional cleaning, mining, pharmaceuticals, paints & coatings, oilfield chemicals, food processing, agricultural chemicals, pulp & paper, leather manufacturing, emulsion polymerization, foaming agents, lubricants and fuel additives, plastics and elastomers, adhesives, electroplating, and others.
Global Surfactant Market Regional Analysis/Insights
The global surfactant market is segmented into three notable segments based on type, substrate, and application.
The countries covered in the global surfactant market are U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, U.K., Italy, France, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, rest of Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, rest of South America, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, U.A.E., Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and rest of Middle East and Africa.
Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global surfactant market due to the rising demand for surfactants in personal care and hygienic products in the region. China is expected to dominate the Asia-Pacific region due to its competitive advantage in production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The U.S. is expected to dominate the North America region due to its strong industrial and consumer sectors driving significant demand for cleaning and personal care products. Germany is expected to dominate the Europe region as German based companies lead in producing high-quality surfactants used in various industries, including personal care and detergents.
The country section of the report also provides individual market-impacting factors and changes in market regulation that impact the current and future trends of the market. Data point downstream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends porter's five forces analysis, and case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, the impact of domestic tariffs, and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.
Global Surfactant Market Competitive Landscape and Share Analysis
The global surfactant market competitive landscape provides details by competitors. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, production sites and facilities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product trials pipelines, product approvals, patents, product width and breadth, application dominance, technology lifeline curve. The above data points provided are only related to the companies’ focus related to the global surfactant market.
Some of the major companies operating in the global surfactant market are Dow, BASF SE, Sasol Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, KLK OLEO, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Kao Corporation, Reliance Industries Limited, Arkema, Godrej Industries Limited, Cargill, Incorporated, CLARIANT, China Petrochemical Corporation, Stepan Company, Lion Corporation, Aarti Industries Ltd., ADEKA CORPORATION, Nouryon, The Lubrizol Corporation, Lonza, SABIC, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Cepsa, Bayer AG, SANYO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., Croda International Plc, Zanyu Technology Group, Ashland, GALAXY, EOC Group, Lankem, DKS Co. Ltd., STOCKMEIER Group, Vantage Leuna GmbH, TAIWAN NJC CORPORATION, SulfaTrade SA, 3M, Pilot Chemical Corp., GEO, FoglaGroup, Goulston, Syensqo, TENSAC, ABITEC, and Matangi Industries among others.
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