Low Foam Surfactants Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2025-2034)

The low foam surfactants market attained a value of USD 18.77 Billion as of 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. Growing demand for environmentally friendly, biodegradable surfactants, fueled by intense environmental regulations and consumer attitudes, is driving market growth as industries migrate toward sustainable, low-foam systems. The market is thus expected to reach a value of nearly USD 32.67 Billion by 2034.

Low Foam Surfactants Market Growth

Low foam surfactants market is growing robustly with rising demand for eco-friendly solutions and growing uses in industrial cleaning.

One of the key drivers is the increasing demand for biodegradable and eco-friendly surfactants. Due to strict environmental laws and heightened consumer consciousness, industries are making a transition to bio-based substitutes to minimize their carbon footprint, thus boosting the growth of low foam surfactants market. Firms have seized the opportunity by launching innovative bio-based surfactants. For example, Clariant has introduced its Vita range, which is a 100% bio-based surfactant portfolio, cutting fossil carbon consumption and CO₂ emissions by as much as 85%. Such developments contribute to sustainability targets while improving competitiveness in the market.

Another major driver is the increasing demand in industrial and institutional cleaning. Demand for low foam surfactants in mechanical cleaning systems like CIP and industrial dishwashing has increased exponentially because of the effectiveness of their ability to suppress foam formation, conserve water, and save energy. Evonik and BASF have each broadened nonionic surfactant offerings in response to meeting these demands by providing superior cleanliness performance in high-speed equipment, thus boosting the low foam surfactants demand.

These drivers have enabled firms to grow their market footprint, innovate new solutions, and fortify collaborations with industries seeking high-performance but sustainable surfactants, leading to sustainable business growth.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

The market is growing due to eco-friendly demand, advanced formulations, industrial cleaning, and agrochemical adoption, thus shaping the low foam surfactants market dynamics and trends.

October 2024

Evonik is reorganizing Coating & Adhesive Resins and Health Care to focus on core growth areas. Non-core businesses generating €350 million in sales will be sold, partnered, or discontinued, ensuring strategic alignment.

March 2024

Croda and AAHI signed a partnership to develop innovative adjuvant formulations, enhancing global vaccine accessibility. Combining expertise, they aim to advance robust, durable vaccines for infectious and neglected diseases identified by the WHO.

October 2023

Dow and Sasol launched eco-friendly surfactants at SEPAWA 2023, partnering with LanzaTech and Holiferm for sustainable production. Their biodegradable solutions enhance cleaning, foaming, and emulsification, promoting greener alternatives for home and personal care applications.

February 2022

Clariant launched Vita, a 100% bio-based surfactants and PEGs range, reducing fossil carbon use and CO₂ emissions by up to 85%. Designed for sustainability, these products offer high performance across industrial and consumer applications.

Growing Demand for Eco-Friendly Solutions

The market is experiencing a boom in bio-based low foam surfactants from renewable feedstocks. Environmental regulations and consumer demand for eco-friendly products are promoting the use of biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives with less environmental footprint while ensuring performance in industrial and domestic cleaning applications, thus pushing the growth of the low foam surfactants market.

Expansion in Industrial and Institutional Cleaning

Low foam surfactants are being more and more employed in industrial and institutional cleaning applications for greater efficiency in automated systems. They have the capability of delivering efficient soil removal with minimal foam, and thus they find application in high-speed equipment for food processing, healthcare, and manufacturing industries with optimized performance while minimizing water and energy usage.

Advancements in Formulation Technology

Surfactant chemistry innovations are resulting in multifunctional materials having better wetting, dispersing, and emulsifying abilities. Next-generation nonionic and amphoteric surfactants are being designed with controlled foam properties, increased solubility, and compatibility with a wide range of applications including agrochemicals, personal care, and industrial degreasing, thereby helping to create new trends in the low foam surfactants market.

Rising Adoption in Agrochemicals

Low foam surfactants are being used more and more in pesticide and herbicide products to improve spray coverage and penetration. Their capacity to enhance the effectiveness of active ingredients while reducing foam-related operational problems in agricultural spraying equipment is propelling demand, providing improved crop protection and increased agricultural productivity.

Low Foam Surfactants Market Trends

Low foam surfactants market is undergoing rapid growth on account of escalating demand for environment-friendly and high-performance cleaning chemicals. Growing ecological concerns have boosted the trend of bio-based surfactants, which are used as raw material from renewable feedstocks, curbing ecological footprints. Applications in home care, industrial and institutional cleaning, and agrochemicals industries are using low foam surfactants to provide better efficiency to automated and high-speed processes, thus shaping new trends in the low foam surfactants market. Formulation technological innovations are also improving their wetting, dispersing, and emulsifying capabilities to meet different applications. For instance, rhamnolipid biosurfactants have brought biodegradable, high-performing replacements for industrial cleaning applications. Other nonionic surfactants with controllable foam levels are being added to dishwasher detergents in order to increase rinse efficiency without wasting water.

Low Foam Surfactants Industry Segmentation

The report titled “Low Foam Surfactants Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Non-Ionic
• Cationic
• Amphoteric

Market Breakup by Application

• Home & Personal Care
• Agrochemicals
• Oil Field Chemicals
• Textiles
• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Low Foam Surfactants Market Share

Non-ionic, cationic, and amphoteric low foam surfactants are increasingly becoming popular in the global market because of their wide-ranging applications and better performance. As per low foam surfactants market analysis, non-ionic surfactants are of special demand for industrial cleaning agents and cosmetic products because they exhibit superior wetting and emulsification abilities with stability over a wide pH range. Their biodegradable nature and low toxicity increase their acceptability in environmentally friendly products. Cationic surfactants are experiencing expansion in fabric softeners, disinfectants, and antimicrobial uses because they can decrease static and offer conditioning properties. Increased hygiene and sanitation concerns have driven their use in healthcare and home cleaning products. According to low foam surfactants industry analysis, amphoteric surfactants, being mild and versatile, are increasingly being used in personal care, agriculture, and oilfield applications. Their suitability for use in both alkaline and acidic conditions ensures that they are suitable for multifunctional products, adding to their growing applications in industries worldwide.

Competitive Landscape

Key low foam surfactants market players are concentrating on sustainability through the creation of bio-based and eco-friendly products to minimize dependence on fossil carbon. There is a high focus on enhancing product performance, with advancements in nonionic surfactant blends that provide better wetting, rinsing, and degreasing capabilities for industrial and institutional use. To address growing demand, low foam surfactants companies are increasing production capacities and purchasing specialized companies to enhance market share. Biotechnology advances are also taking a prominent role, making it possible to produce high-performance, environmentally friendly surfactants with greater efficiency for use in a wide array of industries.

Clariant International Ltd

Clariant International Ltd, founded in 1995, having its headquarters in Muttenz, Switzerland, manufactures high-performance low foam surfactants for industrial use.

Evonik Industries AG

Evonik Industries AG, founded in 2007, with its headquarters in Essen, Germany, manufactures a wide portfolio of low foam surfactants with excellent performance for various industrial applications.

Croda International PLC

Croda International PLC, founded in 1925, with its head office in Snaith, UK, deals in high-performance low foam surfactants that are designed to fulfill the particular requirements of industries with efficient cleaning and wetting capacity.

Stepan Company

Stepan Company, founded in 1932, headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, USA, produces specialty chemicals, such as low foam surfactants, to achieve maximum performance in industrial processing and cleaning operations.

Other key players in the low foam surfactants market report include Huntsman International LLC, and KAO Corporation, among others.