Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Market size is forecast to reach $1.5 billion by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 6% during 2020-2025. Alkylphenol Ethoxylate is a non-ionic surfactant widely used as disinfectant and cleaning agent in Commercial, residential, and industrial sector. Surging demand for alkylphenol ethoxylate in the production of detergents and soaps are major factors driving the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate market size. The surging uses of Alkylphenol ethoxylate as scouring agents in textile industry for removing oily substances from textile fibers further drive the growth of this market. Increasing use of alkylphenol ethoxylate in paints and dyes also augments the growth of market. In addition, the toxic effect of alkylphenol ethoxylate on aquatic life is restraining the growth of Alkylphenol Ethoxylate market share during the forecast period.

The report: “Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Market – Forecast (2020-2025)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Industry.

By Type: Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Octylphenol Ethoxylates, Dodecylphenol Ethoxylate, and Others

By Application: Emulsion Polymerization, Detergents, Lubricants and Oil Additives, Surfactant, Industrial & Institutional Cleaning, Oil & Gas Recovery, Cosmetics, Pesticides, Paint & Dyes, Antistatic Agents, Corrosion Inhibitor, and Others

By End-Use Industry: Metal Working Industry, Construction, Agrochemical, Personal & Beauty Care, Textile, Paper & Pulp, Oil & Gas, and Others

By Geography: North America, South America, Europe, APAC, and RoW

Nonylphenol ethoxylate segment holds the largest share of more than 40% in the alkylphenol ethoxylate market in 2019. Nonylphenol ethoxylate are used as surfactants in cleaning chemical, and as dispersants or emulsifiers in pesticide formulations. Increase in food demand impel farmers to use pesticides for better agricultural output by the elimination of pests and weeds, substantially raising the demand of nonylphenol ethoxylate. According to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the demand for food will grow by 60% by 2050, thus aiding the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate. 

Based on the application, industrial & institutional cleaning segment holds the largest share of more than 30% in the alkylphenol ethoxylate in 2019. Alkylphenol ethoxylates are used as surfactants in detergents because they have a polar ethoxylate chain and long non-polar side chain that can congregate with other alkylphenol ethoxylates molecules to form micelles. Surfactant removes dirt and prevent them from settling back onto cleaned surface. Increasing concerns about health and hygiene has boosted the use of detergents, dish washer and other cleaning agents further augmenting the demand of alkylphenol ethoxylate. 

Based on the end use, textile segment is projected to grow with a substantial CAGR of 7% in the alkylphenol ethoxylate during the forecast period. Alkylphenol ethoxylate are used in textile processing due to its antistatic, emulsifying and lubricating properties. Surging demand for apparels has boosted the use of alkylphenol ethoxylate as a scouring, coating or waterproofing agents, in printing pastes and in dyeing. According to Trade Map, the total imported value of apparel and clothing accessories all around the globe increased by 8.6% and reached to $4.7 million in 2018. Thus, growing demand for colorful and printed apparels may boosts the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate market.

COVID-19 has badly impacted the alkylphenol ethoxylate market due to disruptive supply chain and declining demand from consumers worldwide. Many industries are shuttered due to lack of manpower. Whereas, the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has estimated that if no assistance comes from government either in terms of wage subsidy or revival packages there could be loss of almost 1 crore jobs in the entire textile chain. Moreover, decrease in purchasing capital has decreased the construction activities which in turn lowered the use of paint & dyes, subsequently impacting the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate market.

Asia Pacific has dominated the alkylphenol ethoxylate market with a share of 35% in 2019 followed by North America and Europe. Population growth coupled with rapid industrialization is driving the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate in developing nations. Surging demand for apparel and expansion of textile industries across the country is also aiding the growth of market. According to Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s textile and apparel exports accounted for US$ 38.70 billion in 2019 and is expected to increase to US$ 82.00 billion by 2021, further accelerating the use of nonylphenol ethoxylate for pre-scouring or bleaching process. Moreover, alkylphenol ethoxylate are also used as petroleum dispersants, antioxidants, and lubricating oil additives. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, China’s crude oil imports increased to an average of 10.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2019, substantially raising the demand of alkylphenol ethoxylate.

Increasing disposable income and adoption of western culture in emerging economic nations like China and India has boosted the growth of fashion industry. Alkylphenol Ethoxylate are used as emulsifier and wetting agents in cosmetics, printing inks, and hair products like shampoo and hair dyes. Surging demand for cosmetics and colorful apparels is augmenting the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate market. According to the China Luxury Report, Chinese consumers at home and abroad spent 115 billion on luxury fashion items in 2018 which equivalents to a third of the global spend. Thus, the huge spending of youth on apparel and fashion products also fuel the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate market. 

Alkylphenol Ethoxylate are widely used in paper and pulp industry for pitch control in paper pulp manufacture and removing printing ink from paper fibers. To overcome the environmental impacts of plastics, the demand of paper for packaging applications is increasing which further drives the growth of alkylphenol ethoxylate. According to the environmental paper network (EPN), paper use is steadily increasing year on year and exceeded to 400 million tons per year in 2018. Moreover, government regulations for minimizing the use of plastic also boost the growth of market. For instance, New York has restricted the use of plastics by passing Senate Bill 1508 in 2019. Also, in May 2019, Tanzania banned the importation, production, sale, and use of plastic bags.

Nonylphenol moderately bio accumulates and are extremely toxic to aquatic animals. Human exposure of nonylphenol and octylphenol may cause testicular damage, decreased testicular size, decreased sperm production and dysfunction of male reproduction system. In September 2014, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a Significant New Use Rule to review before a manufacturer starts or resumes use of 15 nonylphenol (NPs) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 2006 has launched the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) for the removal of nonylphenol ethoxylates from detergent and cleaning products. Whereas, the EPA also recommended list of eight safer alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates that includes sorbitan monostearate, sodium lauryl sulfate and benzene sulfonic acid. Thus, government regulations on the use of alkylphenol ethoxylate hamper the growth of market. In 2016, the European Union has banned nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), widely used in clothing, citing its harmful effect on aquatic ecosystem.

Technology launches, acquisitions and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the alkylphenol ethoxylate market report. In 2019, the market of alkylphenol ethoxylate has been consolidated by the top 10 company accounting for xx% of the share. Major players in the alkylphenol ethoxylate market are DOW Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, Stepan Company, India Glycols Ltd., SABIC, Solvay S.A., PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim, PCC Exol SA, AkzoNobel N.V., Clariant AG, among others.