Natural Surfactants Market Expected to Reach $35.2 Billion by 2032—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Natural Surfactants Market," The natural surfactants market was valued at $21.9 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $35.2 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5% from 2023 to 2032. 

A natural surfactant, also known as a bio-based or plant-derived surfactant, is a type of surface-active agent that is derived from renewable and naturally occurring sources. Surfactants are molecules that have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, which allow them to lower the surface tension between liquids and solids or between different liquids. This property makes surfactants valuable in a wide range of applications, including cleaning, personal care, agriculture, and industrial processes.

Natural surfactants are distinct from synthetic surfactants, which are chemically synthesized from petrochemical sources. Natural surfactants are obtained from plant-based materials, such as oils, fats, sugars, and proteins. They are often favored for their biodegradability, reduced environmental impact, and potential to be more sustainable alternatives to synthetic surfactants.   

Consumer awareness and concern about environmental sustainability have led to an increased demand for products made from natural and biodegradable ingredients, including surfactants. Natural surfactants are often derived from renewable resources and tend to have lower environmental impacts compared to their synthetic counterparts. This factor has contributed to the growth of the natural surfactant market during the forecast period. 

However, natural ingredients, including those used in natural surfactants, still trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. Some natural surfactants are more challenging to process and formulate compared to synthetic ones. This  requires specialized equipment and processes, which add to production costs. These factors together are expected to restrain the market growth during the forecast period.

The use of natural surfactants extends beyond personal care and cleaning products. They are utilized in various industrial applications, such as in the agriculture sector for crop protection and in the oil & gas industry for enhanced oil recovery. As industries look for more sustainable options, natural surfactants have gained attention in these sectors as well.

These factors together are projected to create remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the natural surfactant market during the forecast period. The natural surfactant market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region.  

By product, the market is segregated into anionic, nonionic, cationic, and amphoteric. On the basis of application, the market is classified into personal care & cosmetics, agriculture chemicals, pharmaceutical drug, and others. Region-wise, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. 

The anionic segment dominated the global market in terms of revenue in 2022, with 42% of the total share. companies that prioritize sustainability and use natural ingredients in their products often enjoy a positive brand image and enhanced marketing appeal. Utilizing anionic-based natural surfactants allows these companies to highlight their commitment to environmental responsibility. These factors altogether projected to boost the market growth; thus, offering most lucrative opportunities during the forecast period. 

By application, the global natural surfactant market is segregated into personal care & cosmetics, agriculture chemicals, pharmaceutical drug, and others.  The agriculture chemicals application dominated the global market in terms of revenue in 2022, with 35% of the total share. According to a report published by India Brand Equity Foundation in January 2021, the government plans to introduce a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of agrochemicals. These initiatives will promote natural surfactant-based agrochemical production and will be expected to enhance overall demand for market.

Furthermore, natural surfactants are added into emulsifiable and suspension formulations for increasing crop productivity. These factors are projected to increase the overall demand for natural surfactants; thus, creating the most lucrative opportunities for the market.   

Region-wise, the natural surfactant market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The Asia-Pacific natural surfactant market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the fact that, the exponential increase in the world's population that leads to a rise in the proliferating demand for food and increasing its contribution to the world food trade has led to the growth of the overall agriculture sector.

For instance, according to a report published by India-China Trade Brief in the year 2018-19, India’s total export of agricultural and allied commodities to China was of the order of $1999 million, approximately 117% higher than the previous year. Natural surfactant is mainly used as bio-based pesticide and soil conditioning agent. This factor is anticipated to increase in the potential sales of natural surfactant in the agriculture sector.

The global natural surfactant market profiles leading players that include BASF, Croda International, Indorama Corporation, Kao Corporation, Clariant AG, Innospec, Dora Agri-Tech, Lankem, Sanchi Organics Private Limited, and Kensing, LLC.  The global natural surfactant market report provides an in-depth competitive analysis as well as profiles of these major players.

Key Findings: 

• On the basis of product, the anionic segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7%, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period. 
• On the basis of application, the agriculture chemicals segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0%, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period. 
• Region wise, Asia-Pacific garnered more than 40% in 2022 in terms of revenue. 
• North America garnered a share of 18% in 2022 in terms of revenue.