PUBLISHER: Markets & Data | PRODUCT CODE: 1559200
PUBLISHER: Markets & Data | PRODUCT CODE: 1559200
Agricultural Surfactants Market Assessment, By Type, By Substrate, By Crop Type, By Application, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Global agricultural surfactants market is projected to witness a CAGR of 6.86% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 1.75 billion in 2023 to USD 2.97 billion in 2031. The market is expected to grow due to ever-increasing needs for eco-friendly farming methods and advanced crop protection systems. Agrochemical applications are mainly supplemented with agricultural surfactants to enhance their spreading, wetting, and emulsifying characteristics, thus boosting their effectiveness in herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Places with little arable land available or food security challenges use these substances for higher yields from crops grown and more efficient pest control practices.
Reasons for the growth of the market include rising food demand due to increased population and a shift towards sustainable agriculture. In addition, environmentally friendly bio-based surfactants have been gaining momentum as they are derived from renewable sources. Nevertheless, the market may face some challenges in its expansion due to environmental concerns associated with chemical surfactants and regulatory constraints.
Major players are persistently investing in research and development projects to develop surfactant products that are both efficient and sustainable. The market is forecasted to record a high growth rate, especially in Asia-Pacific and North America, during the forecast years, with firms setting up new production units in foreign nations, localizing their work, saving expenses, and serving better market needs. For instance, in May 2024, holding a good customer-base in Slovakia, Evonik Industries AG officially opened its new sustainable biosurfactant facility in the country. It is the first facility worldwide to manufacture rhamnolipid biosurfactants on an industrial scale. Applications, including agriculture, hold great opportunities for sustainable biosurfactants, leading to market growth.
Growing Emphasis on Sustainable Agricultural Practices Catalyzes Market Expansion
A major driver for the growth of the agricultural surfactants market is the shift toward sustainable farming. With rising environmental concerns, farmers are more frequently turning toward eco-friendly practices to reduce the negative impacts of conventional farming on ecosystems. This shift is motivated by the desire for minimized chemical runoff, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. Consequently, bio-based surfactants from renewable sources, including plant oils and sugars, have become popular.
The synthetic methods for the production of surfactants are more harmful than biodegradable methods due to mild toxicity towards the environment and similar or better capabilities than their synthetic counterparts. This connects well with the global approaches that seek to enforce environmentally friendly agricultural practices through projects, such as the European Green Deal or sustainable development goals (SDGs) aimed at minimizing unsafe farming inputs. Consequently, leading corporations, such as BASF SE and Bayer AG, are channeling funds into bio-based surfactants development so as to address these demands, ultimately influencing the market growth.
Apart from the ecological advantages, sustainable agricultural practices enhance the long-term fertility of soils and the resilience of crops, thereby positioning biosurfactants as essential instruments in contemporary farming.
In January 2024, Bionema Group launched Soil-Jet BSP100, a biodegradable surfactant for the agricultural sector. The product features the patented Polyether-Modified Polysiloxane technology and maximizes the use of water and nutrients, fights soil water resistance, and produces the perfect atmosphere for healthy plant growth by utilizing the power of biodegradable surfactants.
Reduction in Available Arable Land Fuel the Market Growth
Loss of arable land is one of the key components for pushing the growth of the agricultural surfactants market. In fact, in some countries with fast urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructural development, the amount of land used for farming purposes has reduced drastically, especially in Asia and North America. For instance, China recorded a decrease of more than 5% in its arable land between 2013 and 2019. Therefore, farmers are under strong pressure to enhance their yield on small parts of land.
Agricultural surfactants play a pivotal role in meeting this challenge by increasing the efficacy of agrochemicals such as herbicides and fertilizers. They increase the absorption, spreading, and penetration of these chemicals, thereby enabling farmers to realize higher yields with minimal resource input. Consequently, surfactants help to enhance crop production on small land sizes, hence they are essential in contemporary agricultural practices.
The use of surfactants and other crop enhancing technologies is being promoted by governments as well as agricultural organizations to increase land productivity, especially in countries where food security is precarious. Capitalizing on the opportunity, in January 2024, Nouryon launched its latest surfactant, Berol Nexus, which is a multifunctional hydrotrope. It is easily formed into a range of cleaning applications due to its low color and viscosity profile. It is available as an aqueous liquid at 70% concentration.
Application to Herbicides Significantly Attributes to the Market Growth
Herbicides employ agricultural surfactants, playing a significant role in propelling the market growth. They are widely used to control weeds that compete with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight. The effectiveness of herbicides is enhanced by surfactants through improved spreading, sticking, and penetration properties. Enhanced herbicide retention on crop surfaces ensures uniform coverage and better absorption into plant tissues resulting in efficient weed control.
However, nonionic surfactants are mostly used in herbicides as they do not interact with water and still remain active over different environmental circumstances. The need for high performance herbicides with supporting surfactants has risen due to mounting pressure on farmers to increase plant production capacity on available cultivable land.
The rising popularity of precise agriculture practices aimed at maximizing the use of inputs, such as herbicides, has influenced the use of surfactants. These substances aid in better application of herbicides thereby minimizing wastage as well as environmental pollution. As a result, surfactants have become very important in modern farming, enhancing the market growth.
Table of Contents
1. Project Scope and Definitions
2. Research Methodology
3. Executive Summary
4. Voice of Customer
- 4.1. Demographics (Age/Cohort Analysis - Baby Boomers and Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z; Gender; Income - Low, Mid and High; Geography; Nationality; etc.)
- 4.2. Market Awareness and Product Information
- 4.3. Brand Awareness and Loyalty
- 4.4. Factors Considered in Purchase Decision
- 4.4.1. Effectiveness
- 4.4.2. Compatibility
- 4.4.3. Cost
5. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F
6. North America Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F*
7. Europe Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F
8. Asia-Pacific Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F
9. South America Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F
10. Middle East and Africa Agricultural Surfactants Market Outlook, 2017-2031F
11. Demand Supply Analysis
12. Value Chain Analysis
13. Porter's Five Forces Analysis
14. PESTLE Analysis
15. Macro-economic Indicators
16. Pricing Analysis
17. Profit Margin Analysis
18. Market Dynamics
19. Market Trends and Developments
20. Case Studies
21. Competitive Landscape
22. Strategic Recommendations
23. About Us and Disclaimer
List of Tables
- Table 1. Pricing Analysis of Products from Key Players
- Table 2. Competition Matrix of Top 5 Market Leaders
- Table 3. Mergers & Acquisitions/ Joint Ventures (If Applicable)
- Table 4. About Us - Regions and Countries Where We Have Executed Client Projects
List of Figures
- Figure 1. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market, By Value, In USD Billion, 2017-2031F
- Figure 2. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market Share (%), By Type, 2017-2031F
- Figure 3. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market Share (%), By Substrate, 2017-2031F
- Figure 4. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market Share (%), By Crop Type, 2017-2031F
- Figure 5. Global Agricultural Surfactants Market Share (%), By Application, 2017-2031F
