What is Surfactants?
Surfactants are chemical compounds that decrease the surface tension or interfacial tension between two liquids, a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid. Surfactants have many functions including, wetting agents, detergents, dispersants, emulsifiers, and foaming agents. Anionic, Non-ionic, Cationic, and Amphoteric are the types of surfactants used in various end-use industries like Agrochemical, Food processing, Personal care, Paints & Coatings, Construction, and others.
Here are the driving factors that increase the opportunity for the Surfactant market:
Rising demand for the cosmetics and personal care industry:
Personal hygiene is very important as it prevents us from getting infectious diseases. Consumers are now more conscious about their health after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Surfactants are widely used for thickening, foaming, emulsifying, solubilizing, cleansing, antimicrobial effects, and other special effect of personal care products. Sodium stearate, stearic acid, cetrimonium chloride, and others are surfactants used in various skincare products. According to Statista, In 2022, the global cosmetics market experienced growth of over 15 percent in comparison to the previous year. The growing cosmetic and personal care industry drives the growth of the Surfactant market
Growing demand from end-use industries:
Surfactants are widely used in various end-use industries. In the textile industry, surfactants act as cleaning and detergent agents for the preparation of wool and silk. Surfactants are used in the baking industry to strengthen and improve the texture, and shelf life of the dough used for the preparation of breads, cakes, cookies, biscuits, and others. Also, surfactants added to the detergents allow the detergents to mix with water and help cleaning agents to remove dirt from the surface. Hence, the wide application of surfactant in various end-use industries boosts the Surfactant Market Growth.
Here is a restraining factor that hinders the growth of the Surfactant market:
Volatile prices of raw materials:
The toxic effect of surfactant on environment affects the raw materials prices. The high price of the surfactant is attributed to fluctuating raw material costs and high development & production cost. Factors such as changes in crude oil prices, supply-demand imbalances, and geographical regulations can significantly impact raw material prices. Fluctuating raw material prices can put pressure on material prices, and increases the price of a surfactant. Hence volatile prices of raw materials is likely to hinder the Surfactant Market.
Conclusion:
Surfactants have many functions including, wetting agents, detergents, dispersants, emulsifiers, and foaming agents. Rising demand for the cosmetics and personal care industry and growing demand from end-use industries are the driving factors of the market. Volatile prices of raw materials are the restraining factor for the growth of the Surfactant Market.
Author's Detail:
Sonali Shinde /
LinkedIn
Working as a research analyst in the Chemical & Materials domain. I gained experience in formulating strategic insights, trend analysis, market estimations, competitive landscapes, M&A analysis, DRO, report writing, secondary research, and quantitative research. I also have experience in using a range of statistical and analytical tools to analyze data.
