Natural Surfactants Market Share

Asia Pacific Market Insights

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to capture a 42% share of the global market by 2035, fueled by rising consumer interest in sustainable products and favorable government policies. Countries like China and India are making significant investments in clean technologies and initiatives related to green chemistry. This movement is further enhanced by the increasing use of plant-based surfactants across personal care, household, and industrial sectors.

By the year 2035, Indonesia's capacity to produce biodiesel and oleochemicals has expanded significantly over the last ten years. In 2025, the country's biodiesel production capacity is expected to increase by 1.5 billion liters over its current capacity of 19.7 billion liters. According to Indonesia's biodiesel producers’ association, Indonesia will require an additional 4 billion liters of production capacity to be able to meet Indonesia's next blending mandate target of B50. As for the oleochemical industry, some new oleochemical plants, that together have a capacity of 900,000 MT, are expected to come online this year in East Java, North Sumatra, and Batam.

Europe Market Insights

By the year 2035, it is expected that Europe will contribute 27% to the global revenue generated from the natural surfactants market. This growth is primarily fueled by rigorous environmental regulations, the emphasis on sustainability outlined in the European Green Deal, and a rising demand for bio-based chemicals in sectors such as cosmetics, personal care, and industrial applications. Additionally, investments in green technologies and initiatives aimed at promoting a circular economy are further propelling market growth. The area benefits from strong policy support, encompassing financial assistance from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), both of which encourage innovation and advocate for safer chemical manufacturing.

In the U.K., the natural surfactants market is expanding, driven by rising demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products. Crude palm oil remains a key raw material, widely used in the production of surfactants such as fatty acid esters and alkyl polyglucosides. Increasing imports of palm oil support domestic manufacturing, while government initiatives encourage renewable, low-impact surfactant production.

Crude Palm Oil Exports in 2023

Source: WITS

North America Market Insights

By the year 2035, it is expected that North America will contribute 23% to the global revenue generated from the natural surfactants market. The market is primarily driven by increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products, particularly in the personal care and household cleaning sectors. Synthetic surfactants currently dominate the market, but biobased surfactants are experiencing the fastest growth due to their renewable nature and biodegradability.

The natural surfactants market in the U.S. is expected to grow due to a growing consumer preference for natural ingredients in personal care and household products, as well as stricter regulations promoting biodegradable surfactants. Biofuel production increased to 3.1 billion gallons in 2022, which has subsequently raised demand for vegetable oil. The majority of USA imports are food imports, including canola ($3.6B, 96% from Canada), palm ($2.2B, 82% from Indonesia), and olive oil ($1.7B, 78% from the EU).