Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Overview

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] market size is forecast to reach US$2.2 billion by 2027, after growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during 2022-2027. The Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate SLES has a good biodegradation property, with good solvency, extensive compatibility, resistance to hard water, and more, owing to which it is widely used in anionic detergents, cosmetic products as a foaming agent, and cleansing agent. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate is a chemical surfactant made of a hydrocarbon chain (palm kernel oil, coconut oil, or petrol). Consumer emphasis on personal hygiene and cleanliness is growing, as is the commercialization of personal care products like soaps, shampoos, and body and face cleansers. The advantages of residential and institutional cleanliness in terms of health are some of the major factors driving the market growth.

COVID-19 Impact

The coronavirus impact was unprecedented on the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market. As a result of the epidemic, every economy worldwide implemented various lockdown protocols and restrictions that affected all industries, including sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES]. Specifically, these lockdowns resulted in - operation shut-offs, supply chain issues, manufacturing shut-offs, reduction in raw material availability, distribution prevention, import-export hindrance, the closing of retail stores, and more. All of which concluded in a demand decrease for end products, thus sluggish the market growth in 2020. However, during the pandemic the demand for medical-related products was on an upsurge, due to which the demand for sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] was still active from the medical & healthcare sector, thereby partially affecting the sodium lauryl ether sulfate market growth during the pandemic.

Report Coverage

The report: “Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Report – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Industry.

By Form: Dry, and Liquid
By Application: Lubricant, Dyeing Agent, Cleansing Agent, Foaming Agent, Degreasing Agent, Food Additive, and Others
By End-Use Industry: Cosmetics & Personal Care (Soaps, Detergents, Body Care, Face Care, Hair Care, Oral Care, and Others), Home & Industrial Cleaning (Laundry Detergents, Dish Detergents, and Others), Printing & Dyeing, Petroleum & Leather, Food & Beverages, and Others
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa)

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominates the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market. Consumer demand for personal care products such as cosmetics and hair care products, as well as detergents and cleaners, primarily laundry detergents, has increased, resulting in a significant share of the market.
• Sodium lauryl ether sulfate is a strong amphiphilic anionic surfactant that is compatible with both fat and water. The product is widely available and effective at removing stains, making it a popular ingredient among detergent manufacturers.
• SLES has become one of the most popular primary surfactants for liquid detergents due to its unique properties, ease of formulation and production, and compatibility with all other types of surfactants.
• Even though sodium lauryl ether sulfate is inexpensive and readily available, as well as having good foaming properties, certain factors are likely to limit the market growth. One of these factors is sodium lauryl ether sulfate's long-term toxicity.

Figure: Asia-Pacific Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Segment Analysis – By Application

The cleansing agent segment held the largest share in the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market in 2021 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2022-2027. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] lowers the surface tension between ingredients, which is the major reason it is used as a cleansing agent. As part of the Human and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA) initiative on ingredients in European household cleaning products, sodium lauryl ether sulfate was evaluated. The Human and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA) is a non-profit organization that provides objective, transparent, and scientifically validated safety information. HERA concluded that they are safe for consumer use and are not a cause for concern. Such assessments are aiding the use of sodium lauryl ether sulfate as a cleaning agent in detergents, thereby flourishing the use of sodium lauryl ether sulfate as a cleaning agent during the forecast period.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Segment Analysis – By End-Use Industry

The home & industrial cleaning segment held the largest share in the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market in 2021 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during 2022-2027, owing to increased demand for sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] from the detergents manufacturing industry. SLES functions in cleaning products as a surfactant, wetting surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil so that they can be rinsed away. This ingredient contributes foaming properties to cleaning products such as detergents. In addition, sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] often helps in breaking water tension and attracting dirt and grime away from the material it is intended to clean. The detergent industry is growing in the various region which is further accelerating the SLES market growth. For instance, according to the Verband der Chemischen Industrie e. V., the production of heavy-duty and universal detergent in Germany increased from 2,20,447 metric tons in 2017 to 3,33,159 metric tons in 2020. The growing demand from the home & industrial cleaning sector coupled with the growing detergent industry is propelling the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market in 2021 up to 36%, owing to spiraling demand for sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] from the flourishing home & industrial cleaning and cosmetics & personal care industry in the region. For instance, according to the Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance 2020 report released by the Government of India, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, the manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes, and toilet preparations increased from 75,071 crores (US$11.2 billion) in 2016-2017 to 81,478 crores (US$12.5 billion) in 2017-2018. According to the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the total market size in value terms for Home Care Products in Vietnam was estimated at US$1.2 billion (VND 27,255 billion) in 2018 and by 2023 it is expected to reach a total of US$1.6 billion. According to Shop Association, the sales value of the Australian cosmetic sector is forecasted to increase from 1,387.7 in 2017 to 1,840.1 in 2022 and the sales value of the Australian skincare sector is forecasted to increase from 1,868.5 in 2017 to 2,645.1 in 2022. Thus, it is evident from the above statistics that the home & industrial cleaning, and cosmetics & personal care industry is flourishing in the region, which is accelerating the demand for cleansing and a foaming agent such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] in Asia-Pacific region.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Drivers

Flourishing Personal Care and Cosmetics Industry

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] are used extensively in a variety of products such as shaving cream, lip balm, hand sanitizer, nail treatments, makeup remover, foundation, facial cleansers, exfoliants, liquid hand soaps, Shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, dandruff treatment, styling gel, and more. The personal care and cosmetics industry is growing globally. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual expenditure on personal care products and services in the United States increased from US$762 in 2017 to US$768 in 2018, to finally reach US$786 in 2019, an increase of 0.8%, and 2.3% respectively. According to the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), the toiletries, soaps, cleaning, and personal hygiene products recorded an advance in March 2020, accruing gains of 4.3% According to Shop Association, the sales value of Spain cosmetic sector is forecasted to increase from 1,076.6 in 2017 to 1,220.1 in 2022 and the sales value of Spanish skincare sector is forecasted to increase from 1,677.6 in 2017 to 1,807.5 in 2022. With the increasing personal care and cosmetics industry, the demand for sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] will significantly rise, thereby driving market growth. 

Flourishing Cleaning Product Sector

Sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] is often used in cleaning products such as soaps, detergents, and more owing to its cleansing and foaming properties. The cleaning product industry is growing in various countries. For instance, according to the Belgian statistical office (STATBEL), the value of industrial production according to the main activity of the establishment of soaps, detergents, and cleaning products was €72,161,041 in December 2019 and in December 2020 the value was €79,078,559. According to the European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry (EFCI) cleaning industry in Europe report 2020, in 2018 the Italian Cleaning industry turnover reached Euro 14.49 billion (US$17.1 billion), an absolute increase of 0.6%. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), the toiletries, soaps, cleaning, and personal hygiene products recorded an advance in March 2020, accruing gains of 4.3%. There is an increasing demand for sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] with the flourishing cleaning product industry. Hence, the flourishing cleaning product sector is expected to be a significant driver for the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market during the forecast period.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Market Challenges

Long-term Side Effect and Controversies on Palm Oil

Petroleum and plant sources such as coconut and palm oil are used to make sodium lauryl ether sulfate. Because of their origin, sulfates derived from petroleum are frequently contentious. The most serious concern is sulfate production's long-term effects. Greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and pollution are all linked to petroleum products. Some plant products contain sulfates as well. Long-term use of sodium lauryl ether sulfate can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate may contain a substance called 1,4-dioxane, which has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. During the manufacturing process, contamination occurs. The destruction of tropical rainforests for palm tree plantations has made palm oil controversial. Sulfate-containing products that are washed down the drain could be toxic to aquatic animals. Many people and businesses are opting for more environmentally friendly options. Thus, such controversies related to petroleum and palm oil derivatives may act as a stumbling block to the market's expansion.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate [SLES] Industry Outlook

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] market. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate [SLES] top 10 companies include:

1. Huntsman International LLC
2. BASF SE
3. Solvay
4. Kao Corporation
5. Stepan Company
6. Evonik Industries AG
7. Taiwan NJC CORPORATION
8. Quimicos del Cauca S.A.S.
9. Clariant
10. Croda International Plc

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