Alcohol Ethoxylates Market Report 2026

The alcohol ethoxylates market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.9 billion in 2025 to $7.31 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of industrial cleaning applications, growth of agrochemical formulation demand, rising use in textile and paper processing, availability of synthetic ethoxylates, increasing demand for emulsifiers.

The alcohol ethoxylates market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing shift toward sustainable surfactants, rising adoption in specialty chemical formulations, expansion of agrochemical demand in emerging markets, growing focus on low-toxicity ingredients, increasing investment in green chemistry. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for low-foaming nonionic surfactants, increasing use in agrochemical and industrial applications, rising adoption of bio-based alcohol ethoxylates, expansion of high-performance detergent formulations, enhanced focus on process efficiency.

The rising demand for personal care products is expected to drive the growth of the alcohol ethoxylates market. Personal care products include consumer goods for hygiene and grooming, such as skincare, haircare, and oral care items. Alcohol ethoxylates serve as effective surfactants in these products, helping to create stable emulsions in creams, lotions, and shampoos, and acting as foaming agents in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers. For example, in December 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a US-based government agency, U.S. household spending on personal care products and services increased by 9.7% in 2023, following a 12.3% rise in 2022, reflecting sustained growth in demand. Consequently, the increasing demand for personal care products is fueling the alcohol ethoxylates market.

Leading companies in the alcohol ethoxylates market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as biodegradable polymers and natural emulsifiers, to enhance cleaning efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and improve formulation performance. Biodegradable polymers, for instance, enable high-performance automatic dishwashing detergents that remove tough stains from glassware, dishes, and cutlery while remaining eco-friendly. In October 2023, BASF SE, a Germany-based chemical company, launched new alcohol ethoxylate solutions from its innovation pipeline, including Sokalan Ecopure C and Emulgade Verde 10 MS. These solutions support sustainability goals, improve emulsification, reduce chemical residues, and enable environmentally friendly detergent formulations.

In July 2024, Godrej Industries Ltd. (Chemicals), an India-based chemical manufacturer, acquired Shree Vallabh Chemicals’ Ethoxylation Unit II for approximately $5.03 million (₹45 crore). This acquisition allows Godrej Industries to expand its alcohol ethoxylates and specialty chemical portfolio by integrating Shree Vallabh’s ethoxylation technology, facilitating the development of new ethoxylated surfactants and accelerating product innovation. Shree Vallabh Chemicals, also based in India, manufactures alcohol ethoxylates and other ethoxylate-based products.

Major companies operating in the alcohol ethoxylates market are Shell PLC, Sasol Limited, Clariant AG, BASF SE, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, India Glycols Limited, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Solvay SA, Stepan Company, Venus Ethoxyethers Pvt. Ltd., Oxiteno SA, Nouryon BV, INEOS Group Limited, Procter & Gamble Co., Saibaba Surfactants Pvt. Ltd., Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad Group, Kao Corporation, Croda International PLC, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., Unger Fabrikker AS, Lion Corporation, PCC Chemax Inc., Sasol Germany GmbH, Unilever plc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the alcohol ethoxylates market in 2025, and is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the alcohol ethoxylates market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the alcohol ethoxylates market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The alcohol ethoxylates market consists of sales of cetostearyl alcohol ethoxylates, behenyl alcohol ethoxylates, and oleyl cetyl alcohol ethoxylates. 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.

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