Sugar-based Surfactants Market Report 2026

The sugar-based surfactants market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.32 billion in 2025 to $6.76 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of natural personal care products, increasing consumer preference for green ingredients, expansion of homecare product formulations, availability of sugar-based raw materials, rising pharmaceutical excipient usage.

The sugar-based surfactants market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.66 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing regulatory support for bio-based chemicals, rising adoption in sustainable agriculture formulations, expansion of biotech processing applications, increasing demand for low-irritation surfactants, growing investments in renewable surfactant production. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for plant-derived surfactants, rising adoption in mild personal care formulations, growing use in eco-friendly cleaning products, expansion of pharmaceutical and biotech applications, enhanced focus on biodegradability.

The increased spending on cosmetics and personal care products is expected to drive the growth of the sugar-based surfactant market going forward. Personal care products include any items applied to the human body for washing, beautifying, enhancing attractiveness, or altering appearance. Sugar-based surfactants are commonly used in personal care products such as shampoos, shower gels, and hand soaps, where they create a thick, creamy foam that helps cleanse skin and hair by removing oil and dirt. Growing awareness of personal hygiene has further encouraged higher expenditure on cosmetics and personal care items. For instance, in October 2023, Global Cosmetic Industry, a US-based media company, reported that 95% of surveyed beauty enthusiasts planned to maintain or increase their spending on beauty products in 2024 compared to 2023. Therefore, rising demand in personal care is boosting the sugar-based surfactant market.

Increasing demand from the pharmaceutical industry is also expected to propel the sugar-based surfactants market. The pharmaceutical sector focuses on the research, development, production, and marketing of drugs and medications for preventing, treating, and curing diseases. Sugar-based surfactants are valued in pharmaceuticals for their environmental sustainability, safety, biocompatibility, stability, solubility, and versatility in formulation, making them important for a variety of applications. For example, in January 2024, IQVIA Inc., a US-based healthcare and life sciences analytics company, reported that global medicine use grew by 14% over the past five years, with an additional 12% growth expected through 2028, reaching 3.8 trillion defined daily doses annually. Therefore, rising pharmaceutical demand is driving growth in the sugar-based surfactant market.

In December 2023, Innospec Inc., a US-based specialty chemicals company specializing in surfactants and performance chemicals, acquired QGP Química Geral S/A for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Innospec aims to expand its performance chemicals business in South America by integrating QGP’s surfactant and specialty chemical manufacturing capabilities, strengthening its regional manufacturing and product development base. QGP Química Geral S/A is a Brazil-based specialty chemicals company producing surfactants, detergents, and other specialty chemical products.

Major companies operating in the sugar-based surfactants market are BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Croda International Plc, Clariant AG, Kao Corporation, Stepan Company, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., Oxiteno SA, Wilmar International Limited, Sasol Limited, Emery Oleochemicals, KLK OLEO, Innospec Inc., Seppic SA, Nouryon, Lonza Group, Arkema SA, Solvay SA, Huntsman Corporation, Vantage Specialty Chemicals.

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

The sugar-based surfactants market consists of sales of nano-emulsions, micelles, nonionic surfactants, surface active agents, and anionic surfactants. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.