Emulsifiers Global Market Report 2024

The emulsifiers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.39 billion in 2023 to $6.91 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The expansion observed in the historical period can be ascribed to robust economic growth in emerging markets, a rise in the global population, and an uptick in the demand for natural food products.

The emulsifiers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.5 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. Forecasted growth is linked to global population increase, urbanization, booming e-commerce, higher demand for packaged food, and initiatives promoting food security. Key trends include global population growth, urbanization, e-commerce acceleration, increased reliance on packaged food, and a focus on food security initiatives.

The increasing demand for emulsifiers in the global food industry, particularly in packaged and convenience foods, is a significant driver for the growth of the emulsifiers market. Emulsifiers play a crucial role in preventing microbial spoilage in such food products. The rising preference for packaged and ready-to-eat foods, fueled by factors such as busy lifestyles, evolving eating habits, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a surge in demand for food emulsifiers. Notably, in May 2022, Northeastern University reported that 73 percent of the food supply in the U.S. is ultra-processed. Moreover, sales of salty snacks reached $28.4 billion in 2022, witnessing a notable 15.6% increase from the previous year, according to Food Dive in May 2023. This robust demand for emulsifiers in the food industry is expected to be a key driver propelling the growth of the emulsifiers market.

The global population's continuous growth is anticipated to further drive the demand for emulsifiers in the foreseeable future. The increasing population leads to higher demand for various food and beverage products, as well as other goods requiring emulsifiers. Projections from the United Nations indicate that the world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. The ongoing trend of urbanization is also poised to contribute significantly to market growth. The United Nations estimates that by 2050, approximately 68% of the total world population will reside in urban areas, up from the current 55%. The rapid pace of urbanization, particularly in developing economies, is expected to result in heightened demand for emulsifiers in various applications, underpinning the growth of the emulsifiers market.

The introduction of new products stands out as a prominent trend in the emulsifiers market, providing manufacturers with an avenue to expand their product portfolios and increase market share. A notable example is the November 2021 launch by Solvay, a Belgium-based science company, which unveiled a reactive waterborne emulsifier tailored for solid epoxy resins. This emulsifier for solid epoxy resins is characterized by being non-ionic, reactive, and free of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE), making it particularly suitable for applications in industrial coatings, paints, and binders.

The burgeoning demand for e-commerce is anticipated to be a driving force behind the growth of the emulsifiers market. E-commerce, involving online buying and selling of products and services, provides emulsifier producers with a global platform for effective marketing and sales. E-commerce not only offers convenience and cost savings but also provides valuable insights into market dynamics. For instance, as of September 2022, consumer e-commerce constitutes 30% of the UK's overall retail industry, a significant increase from 20% in 2020, contributing to over $120 billion in annual sales, according to the International Trade Administration, a US-based government agency. The prevalence of online purchases in the UK reached 82% in 2021. Consequently, the growing demand for e-commerce emerges as a catalyst driving the expansion of the emulsifiers market.

In August 2021, UK-based specialty chemical company Infineum sealed a deal to acquire the ISCA UK emulsifiers business unit for an undisclosed sum. The agreement includes the acquisition of ISCA UK's formulation expertise and the ISCAMUL emulsifier brand. This strategic move marks Infineum's reentry into the emulsion explosives industry, leveraging its existing capabilities to enhance services for both existing and potential customers. ISCA UK, the target of this acquisition, is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals based in the UK.

Major companies operating in the emulsifiers market report are Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Kerry Group PLC, Dow Inc., Palsgaard A/S, Evonik Industries AG, Ingredion Incorporated, Koninklijke DSM N.V, Stepan Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Estelle Chemicals Pvt Ltd., Fine Organic Industries, Savannah Surfactants Limited, Riken Vitamin Co. Ltd., Foodchem International Corporation, Jeevika Yugchem Pvt. Ltd., Global Specialty Ingredients, Qingdao Haixingyuan Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Sisterna, Puratos Group, LECICO GmbH, Avril Group, Lasenor Emul, Tate & Lyle, Lonza Group AG, Corbion N.V., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Tyson Foods, Bunge Limited, Royal DSM, Frutarom, Eshbal Functional Food, Future Meat Technologies, Vitachem NG, ChemSystems, Fourchem.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the emulsifiers market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the emulsifiers market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the emulsifiers market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

Key emulsifier products include lecithin, mono and di-glycerides, stearyl lactylates, sorbitan esters, polyglycerol esters, and others. Lecithin, with its molecular structure, serves as a versatile emulsifier in food applications, acting as a viscosity modifier, lubricant, dispersant, and aerating agent. Emulsifiers with diverse chemical structures, encompassing natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic variants, find applications not only in the food industry but also in cosmetics, personal care products, oilfield chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other sectors.

The emulsifiers market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides emulsifiers market statistics, including emulsifiers industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an emulsifiers market share, detailed emulsifiers market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the emulsifiers industry. This emulsifiers market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The emulsifiers market consists of sales of emulsifying agents including polymers and sodium lauryl sulfate. 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.