Global Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate Market 2017-2021

Overview of the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market

Methyl ester sulfonate surfactants have many advantages over alkylbenzene surfactants in terms of production, sustainability, and toxic effects. Technavio’s market research report identifies that the rising preference for fatty methyl ester sulfonate over alkyl benzene surfactant will be one of the primary factors for the growth of the fatty methyl ester sulfonate market till 2021. Alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants are non-renewable unlike fatty methyl ester sulfonates, which are made from renewable resources, such as palm oil and coconut oil. The application of alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants causes toxic effects to the ecosystem and problems to the skin, respiratory diseases, and infections. This resulted in the adoption of eco-friendly methyl ester sulfonate that exhibits various properties such as biodegradability, toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. This in turn, will boost the application of fatty methyl ester sulfonate in the production of surfactants and detergents. Technavio’s market research analysts predict that the fatty methyl ester sulfonates (FMES) market will grow at a CAGR of close to 19% by 2021.

One of the key trends that will gain traction in the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market during the projected period is the rising demand for personal care products. Manufacturers produce shampoos, shower, soaps, shaving creams, hair oils, and lotions using fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate as an active ingredient. The demand for fatty methyl ester sulfonate will continue to increase in the personal care industry due to its high biodegradability and non-toxicity.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

The fatty methyl ester sulfonate market is moderately concentrated with the presence of a few regional vendors and multinational vendors. Competitors in this marketspace are encouraged to manufacture innovative and unique products and this is driving them to invest heavily in R&D activities. Owing to the growth opportunity in the fatty methyl ester sulfonates (FMES) market, the coming years will witness the entry of large players.

Key vendors in this market are -

• Chemithon
• Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad
• Lion
• Stepan
• Wilmar International

Other prominent vendors in the market include CHINA FACTORIES GROUP, China Petrochemical, Fenchem, Henan Surface Chemical Industry, Ronas Chemicals, and Zanyu Technology.

Segmentation by application and analysis of the fatty methyl ester sulfonate market

• Laundry detergents
• Personal care

Manufacturers extensively use anionic surfactants such as methyl ester sulfonate as an active ingredient in laundry detergents. It is highly preferred over other synthetic detergents because it has lower level of toxicity. In addition, methyl ester sulfonate is obtained from renewable resources. Furthermore, the fatty methyl ester sulfonate market will continue to witness growth in the detergents segment because the presence of small chain carbon atoms in fatty methyl ester sulfonate makes it highly biodegradable.

Segmentation by geography and analysis of the fatty methyl ester sulfonate market

• Americas
• APAC
• EMEA

The changing preference of consumers in EMEA is driving the demand for bio-based products. This in turn, will boost the adoption of fatty methyl ester sulfonate. Countries such as Germany, France, and the UK are the major contributors toward the fatty methyl ester sulfonate market. The consumption of fatty methyl ester sulfonate surfactant for laundry detergents is high in Germany. Furthermore, end-users are shifting towards the application of bio-based detergents over synthetic surfactant due to the ban imposed by the European Union.

Key questions answered in the report include

• What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2021?
• What are the key factors driving the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market?
• What are the trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA?
• What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global fatty methyl ester sulfonate market?

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