Alkanolamide Market Report 2026

The alkanolamide market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $0.69 billion in 2025 to $0.71 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for household detergents, growth of personal care and cosmetics industry, expansion of textile processing activities, rising industrial cleaning requirements, increasing use of surfactant-based formulations.

The alkanolamide market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $0.78 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for high-performance surfactants, expansion of emerging economies in personal care consumption, increasing innovation in formulation chemistry, rising demand for multifunctional additives, growing substitution of conventional surfactants with alkanolamide derivatives. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for foam boosting agents in detergent formulations, growing use of alkanolamides in viscosity enhancement for personal care products, rising preference for mild surfactant systems in shampoo formulations, expansion of industrial and institutional cleaning applications, growing optimization of emulsification performance in textile processing.

The rising demand for personal care and cosmetic products is expected to propel the growth of the alkanolamide market going forward. Personal care and cosmetic products comprise formulations such as skincare, haircare, cleansing, and beauty products developed for hygiene, grooming, and aesthetic enhancement. The growing demand for personal care and cosmetic products is driven by increased consumer expenditure on everyday grooming and hygiene items, supported by rising awareness regarding appearance, product efficacy, and structured personal care routines, particularly among urban populations. Alkanolamides contribute to supporting this demand by improving foam generation, regulating viscosity, enhancing emulsification, and strengthening cleansing performance in products such as shampoos, facial cleansers, body washes, liquid soaps, and creams, thereby enabling manufacturers to deliver stable formulations, enhanced texture, and an improved sensory experience. For instance, in June 2024, according to Cosmetics Europe, a Belgium-based trade association, European cosmetics and personal care retail sales reached $121 billion (€104 billion) in 2024, compared to $114 billion (€95 billion) in 2023, with skincare accounting for $35.1 billion (€30.1 billion). Therefore, the rising demand for personal care and cosmetic products is driving the growth of the alkanolamide market.

Leading companies operating in the alkanolamides market are adopting strategic investments, such as advanced chemical production facilities, to strengthen raw material supply, enhance production efficiency, and support the growing demand for surfactants in personal care and cleaning applications. Advanced chemical production facilities are modern manufacturing units equipped with integrated technologies to ensure high efficiency, scalability, and consistent quality of chemical intermediates used in downstream formulations. For example, in September 2024, BASF SE, a Germany-based chemical company, inaugurated a new alkyl ethanolamines production plant at its Antwerp Verbund site in Belgium. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to expand the production capacity of key intermediates such as monoethanolamine (MEA) and diethanolamine (DEA), which are essential raw materials used in the synthesis of fatty acid alkanolamides, including cocamide MEA and cocamide DEA. By leveraging advanced process integration within the Verbund system, the plant enhances operational efficiency, ensures reliable supply of critical inputs, and supports the development of high-performance surfactants used across personal care, home care, and industrial cleaning applications.

In December 2023, Samyang Holdings, a South Korea-based provider of specialty chemicals, food ingredients, engineering plastics, and industrial materials, acquired Verdant Specialty Solutions for $250 million. Through this acquisition, Samyang aims to establish its first manufacturing and commercial presence in the Americas and accelerate its strategy to expand as a global supplier in surfactants and related high-value chemical segments. Verdant Specialty Solutions is a US-based manufacturer that produces a wide range of alkanolamides under the MACKAMIDE brand.

Major companies operating in the alkanolamide market are Kao Corporation, Syensqo SA, Lubrizol Corporation, Clariant AG, Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V., Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Stepan Company, Croda International Plc, Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd., Aarti Industries Limited, Galaxy Surfactants Limited, Sichuan Flowers Song Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., Mace Polymers & Additives Inc., Colonial Chemical Inc., KCI Limited, Zhejiang Zanyu Technology Co. Ltd., Swash Nonionics Private Limited, Dadia Chemical Industries Private Limited, Mohini Organics Private Limited, Unilex Colours and Chemicals Limited.

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

The alkanolamide market consists of sales of vegetable oil-derived alkanolamides, surfactant-grade alkanolamide compounds, long-chain fatty acid ethanolamides, bio-based alkanolamide derivatives, and specialty fatty amide 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.

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