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The natural surfactants market size is forecast to increase by USD 3.20 billion, at a CAGR of 4.84% between 2022 and 2027. The market's expansion hinges on multiple factors, notably the escalating volume of industrial waste generation, heightened consumer preference for eco-conscious products, and the enforcement of stringent environmental regulations. As industries produce larger amounts of waste, the imperative for sustainable waste management solutions grows, propelling the demand for eco-friendly alternatives. Concurrently, consumer awareness and environmental concerns are driving the market towards products with reduced ecological footprints. In response to regulatory measures aimed at curbing pollution and promoting sustainability, industries are compelled to adopt eco-friendly practices and products. This confluence of factors underscores the pivotal role of environmental sustainability in shaping market dynamics and influencing industry strategies. Furthermore, the report includes historic market data from 2017 to 2021.
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This report extensively covers market segmentation by type (synthetic surfactants and bio-based surfactants), application (detergents, personal care, industrial cleaning, oilfield chemicals, and others), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). It also includes an in-depth analysis of drivers, trends, and challenges.
The market is driven by stringent regulations promoting green and bio-based products. Key drivers include Fatty acid esters, Fatty acid esters of sugars, and Amines of amino acids. Advancements in petroleum biotechnology and renewable technologies have fueled the demand for Anionic surfactants like Alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS). However, challenges persist, such as the transition from conventional surfactants to environmentally friendly and biodegradable products. Meeting environmental concerns while maintaining efficacy across household detergents, carpet cleaners, and dishwasher detergents remains a priority for businesses. Our researchers analyzed the data with 2022 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
The increasing generation of industrial waste is notably driving the market. Industrial activities lead to the generation of a large amount of waste. According to the World Bank Group, at the current level, without critical action, global industrial waste will increase by 70% by 2050. The continuous increase in industrial waste generation globally increases the need for natural emulsifiers, as industrial waste is a source of raw materials for the manufacturing of natural emulsifiers and is considered a renewable feedstock.
Moreover, natural emulsifiers are produced from environment-friendly substrates such as agro-industrial waste products, crop residues, and waste generated by the oil processing and food processing industries. Thus, the high rate of generation of industrial waste is expected to increase the production of natural emulsifiers during the forecast period, which will fuel the markets during the forecast period.
The use of natural surfactants in cancer treatment is a key trend influencing market growth. Natural surfactants have high growth potential in the pharmaceutical industry. They are considered surface-active agents. Cancer is a major health risk globally. Continuous R&D activities are underway to identify new biomarkers, drugs, and treatments for this disease. Natural emulsifiers have a high potential to act as anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Attributes of natural emulsifiers, such as low toxicity, high level of efficiency, and biodegradability, have increased their adoption in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Moreover, Nanoparticles produced using natural emulsifiers, such as collagen, albumin, or gluten, and polysaccharides, such as chitosan, hyaluronate, cellulose, carrageenans, alginate, or starch, have led to the successful delivery of different types of drugs used in the treatment of cancer. For instance, emulsifiers extracted from the Acinetobacter M6 strain exhibit antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-biofilm properties. Thus, the increasing number of cancer patients and the need for safe and non-toxic cancer therapies can significantly promote the growth of the global market during the forecast period.
The high cost of natural surfactants compared to synthetic surfactants may impede market growth. Natural emulsifiers cost more than their synthetic counterparts due to the high cost of production, storage, and maintenance. The cost of extraction and the complexities involved further increase the cost of the product. In addition, due to the perishable nature of the product, proper storage conditions should be met during various stages, such as production, processing, distribution, and storage. This can significantly increase the cost of manufacturing natural emulsifiers.
Substantial investments are required to make the product available at the industry level. However, there are no proper downstream processes to extract pure natural emulsifiers without incurring high costs. Thus, synthetic emulsifiers possess cost advantages over natural emulsifiers, which is expected to impede market growth during the forecast period.
The report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies.
Global Market Customer Landscape
Market players are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.
The report also includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about 15 market market players, including:
Qualitative and quantitative market growth analysis of market players has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize market players as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize market players as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.
The market is experiencing a surge in demand due to stringent regulations favoring green and bio-based products. Key components like Fatty acid esters, Fatty acid esters of sugars, and Amines of amino acids are gaining traction thanks to advancements in petroleum biotechnology and renewable technologies. Anionic emulsifiers such as Alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS) are particularly sought after due to their environmentally friendly and biodegradable properties. Businesses across sectors, from household detergents to carpet cleaners and dishwasher detergents, are embracing these natural emulsifiers to address growing environmental concerns and comply with strict regulations.
The market share growth by the synthetic surfactants segment will be significant during the forecast period. Synthetic emulsifiers are mainly derived from downstream crude oil products.
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The synthetic surfactants segment showed a gradual increase in the market share of USD 7.18 billion in 2017 and continued to grow by 2021. These emulsifiers cost less due to the high economies of scale, which contributes to the growth of the segment. The easy availability of raw materials and improved production facilities are expected to increase the demand for synthetic emulsifiers. Hence, such factors are fuelling the growth of this segment which in turn drives the market during the forecast period.
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North America is estimated to account for 33% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.
Europe will also witness significant market growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for natural emulsifiers in applications such as household detergents and cleaning agents, owing to consumer preference for natural liquid detergents over synthetic powder-based detergents, driving the market growth in the region. Moreover, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has laid down strict regulations related to the use of synthetic and environmentally damaging products, which can promote the growth of the market. These factors are expected to drive the growth rate of the market in Europe during the forecast period.
The report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional, and country levels and provides a market research and growth analysis of the latest market trends and growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027.
The market is witnessing significant growth driven by stringent regulations promoting green and bio-based products. Key categories such as fatty acid esters, amines of amino acids, and anionic surfactants like Alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS) and Linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) are gaining traction due to their renewable technologies and environmentally friendly properties.
Moreover, these surfactants find applications in various sectors including personal care products, laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, and oilfield detergents. Rising environmental concerns and the shift towards sustainable anionic surfactants like alcohol ether sulfate (AES) derived from palm and coconut oil are reshaping the market landscape. These anionic and nonionic surfactants are widely used in dishwashing and washing machines, particularly in developing nations where factories are adopting more sustainable practices. The industry is also witnessing significant investments in research and development to expand product lines and enhance performance materials like polymers, resins, and additives used in various sectors including paper and printing, metal and oil products, electrical and electronics, food and animal feed, and plastics and rubber.
However, challenges persist in overcoming the harmful effects of chemical surfactants and ensuring compliance with enforcement of regulations in formulations across cosmetics, industrial & institutional, and consumer product segments. The market is witnessing notable contributions from companies like Locus Performance Ingredients with innovations in sophorolipid biosurfactants and fermentation techniques, paving the way for sustainable solutions in agriculture, alternative energy, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. The market is witnessing robust growth driven by the increasing demand for Fatty acid esters and Fatty acid esters of sugars derived from petroleum biotechnology. Key surfactants such as Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), Alcohol ether sulfates (AES), and Methyl ester sulfonate (MES) are gaining prominence due to their effectiveness in carpet cleaners and oilfield detergents. As environmental concerns rise, the market is shifting towards oleochemical-based surfactants that are safer for consumers and the environment.
Market Scope |
|
Report Coverage |
Details |
Page number |
173 |
Base year |
2022 |
Historic period |
2017-2021 |
Forecast period |
2023-2027 |
Growth momentum & CAGR |
Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.84% |
Market growth 2023-2027 |
USD 3.20 billion |
Market structure |
Fragmented |
YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) |
4.6 |
Regional analysis |
Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa |
Performing market contribution |
North America at 33% |
Key countries |
US, China, Germany, UK, and France |
Competitive landscape |
Leading market players, Market Positioning of market players, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
Key companies profiled |
Abitec, Arkema Group, BASF SE, Clariant AG, Croda International Plc, Evonik Industries AG, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd., Innospec Inc., Jiangsu WanQi Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Kao Corp., Kensing LLC, KLK Oleo, NutraSkin USA, Pacmoore Products Inc., PCC Rokita SA, Sirius International BV, Solvay SA, Stepan Co., and Veda Oils |
Market dynamics |
Parent market analysis, Market forecasting, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. |
Customization purview |
If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. |
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1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation by Type
7 Market Segmentation by Application
8 Customer Landscape
9 Geographic Landscape
10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
11 Vendor Landscape
12 Vendor Analysis
13 Appendix
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