PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1926028
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1926028
Detergent chemicals are amphipathic compounds characterized by polar or charged hydrophilic groups attached to the ends of lipophilic hydrocarbon groups. These chemicals have the ability to align at both aqueous and non-aqueous interfaces, leading to lower surface tension, increased miscibility, and stabilization of emulsions.
The main products within the category of detergent chemicals include surfactants, builders & fillers, enzymes, fragrances, and bleaching agents. Surfactants, or surface-active agents, consist of a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head. They enhance activity on the surface being cleaned, effectively trapping and removing dirt. Surfactants are available in various forms, including solid and liquid detergents, and find application in laundry cleaning products, household and commercial cleaning products, personal cleaning products, dishwashing products, fuel additives, as well as biological reagents.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are impacting the detergent chemicals market by increasing costs of imported surfactants, enzymes, bleaching agents, and specialty fragrance chemicals used in formulation processes. Manufacturers in North America and Europe are particularly affected due to reliance on imported specialty ingredients, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on export-oriented detergent production. These tariffs are raising formulation costs and affecting pricing strategies for consumer products. However, they are also encouraging local sourcing of raw materials, regional chemical manufacturing expansion, and innovation in cost-efficient detergent formulations.
The detergent chemicals market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides detergent chemicals market statistics, including detergent chemicals industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a detergent chemicals market share, detailed detergent chemicals market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the detergent chemicals industry. This detergent chemicals market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The detergent chemicals market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $71.4 billion in 2025 to $76.6 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in household cleaning product consumption, expansion of urban populations, rising hygiene awareness, increased availability of synthetic surfactants, scale-up of detergent manufacturing capacity.
The detergent chemicals market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $102.41 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly detergents, increasing penetration of liquid detergent formats, expansion of institutional and commercial cleaning markets, growing use of specialty enzymes, increasing focus on low-temperature washing formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of bio-based surfactants, rising demand for high-efficiency enzyme formulations, growing use of concentrated detergent solutions, expansion of phosphate-free builder systems, enhanced focus on multi-functional cleaning formulations.
The growth of the textile industry is expected to propel the detergent chemicals market. The textile sector involves the research, design, production, and distribution of textiles, fabrics, and clothing. Textile detergents are used for scouring, removing sizing agents and oils from fabrics, and washing textile materials. Additionally, rapid urbanization and rising disposable incomes have increased consumer awareness of personal hygiene, further boosting demand for detergent chemicals. For instance, in November 2023, according to the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), a UK-based trade organization, the UK fashion and textile industry contributed $81 billion (£62 billion) to the UK GDP, supported 1.3 million jobs, and generated over $30 billion (£23 billion) in tax revenues. Therefore, the growth of the textile industry is driving the detergent chemicals market.
Major companies in the detergent chemicals market are focusing on sustainable and advanced additives, such as BioNat Detergent Additives, to enhance performance and market competitiveness. Sustainable additives are high-performance, eco-friendly ingredients designed for use in liquid laundry detergents, pre-spotters, and manual dish formulations. For instance, in March 2023, Barentz, a US-based distributor of life science and specialty performance ingredients, launched BioNat Performance Detergent Additives. These fully biodegradable additives are made from renewable raw materials and offer enhanced stability, formulation flexibility, fabric care, and cleaning performance. They can be easily integrated into existing formulations and are compatible with a wide range of detergent components.
In December 2023, Samyang Holdings, a South Korea-based specialty chemicals company, acquired Verdant Specialty Solutions for approximately USD 250 million. Through this acquisition, Samyang aims to strengthen its presence in the detergent chemicals market by integrating Verdant's portfolio of amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants used in detergents, cleaning products, and personal care formulations. Verdant Specialty Solutions is a US-based chemical company providing specialty surfactants for detergent, home care, hygiene, and industrial cleaning applications.
Major companies operating in the detergent chemicals market are BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Stepan Company, Nouryon Chemicals International B.V., Dow Inc., Solvay S.A., Clariant AG, Huntsman Corporation, Akzo Nobel N.V., Kao Corporation, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., Sasol Limited, Arkema S.A., Lonza Group AG, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., INEOS Group Limited, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Oxiteno S.A., GlycoSurf Inc., Biophelion GmbH, Sironix Renewables, AmphiStar
North America was the largest region in the detergent chemicals market in 2025. The regions covered in the detergent chemicals market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa
The countries covered in the detergent chemicals market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain
The detergent chemicals market consists of sales of sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, polyoxyethylene moieties, dodecyldimethyldiamine oxide, and amidosulphobetaines. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Detergent Chemicals Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses detergent chemicals market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for detergent chemicals ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The detergent chemicals market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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