Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market is segmented By Application (Personal care products, Household care, Industrial cleaners, Others (Leather and paper industry, printing and dyeing)), By Type (Branched alkyl benzene sulfonates, Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031.

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Overview

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market is estimated to grow at around 5.0 % CAGR in the forecast period (2024-2031).

Alkylbenzene sulfonate (ABS) refers to a family of branched-chain organic chemical compounds that were used as detergents. They are regarded as "hard" detergents due to their resistance to biological degradation. These are a class of anionic surfactants, consisting of a hydrophilic sulfonate head-group and a hydrophobic alkylbenzene tail-group. They are one of the oldest and most widely used synthetic detergents and found in numerous personal-care products like soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc. and household-care products such as laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, spray cleaner, etc. 

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Summary

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Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Dynamics and Trends

Increasing demand for detergents and cleaners and rising awareness regarding hygiene and personal health are the major drivers impacting the growth of the market. Alkylbenzene sulfonate is majorly used in detergents and cleaners, owing to its reasonable characteristics like outstanding foam generation, cleansing, and emulsifying capabilities. The usage of detergents and cleaners has been gradually increasing by the people to maintain healthiness and cleanliness. The gradual growth of the food and beverage industry globally is also estimated to boost the demand for dishwashing liquids which leads to the growth of the market. Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate, widely used in daily chemical washing, textile auxiliaries, industrial cleaning, printing and dyeing, electroplating, leather, and paper industry, etc. Alkylbenzene in small proportions is employed in the manufacture of ink, agricultural herbicides, paint industry, wetting agents, electric cable oil, and so on.

Unstable prices of raw materials are the key restraint hindering the growth of the market worldwide.

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Segmentation and Share

By type, the alkylbenzene sulfonate market is segmented into branched alkyl benzene sulfonates and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) are prepared industrially by the sulfonation of linear alkyl benzenes (LABs), which can themselves be prepared in several ways. LAS has excellent surfactant power, which has made them suitable for detergents, emulsifiers, and dispersing, wetting, and foaming agents. It is very stable in hard water as well as in low acidic and alkaline media. Following environmental concerns, branched alkylbenzene sulfonates were replaced with linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in the 1960s. Subsequently, production has been increased significantly from about 1 million tons in 1980, to around 3.5 million tons in 2016, making them the most produced anionic surfactant after soaps.

By application, the Alkylbenzene Sulfonate market is segmented into personal care products, household care, and industrial cleaners.

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market Geographical Share

The Europe alkylbenzene sulfonate market size was worth USD YY million in 2018 and is estimated to reach USD YY million by 2026, at a CAGR of YY% during the forecast period. The demand for cleaners and household detergents is increasing and as well as for dishwashing cleaners over the last few years in Europe and will remain to be one of most profitable regional worldwide in the forecast period. Furthermore, major personal care manufacturers have established their plants in Germany, UK, and France, thereby driving the regional demand for the alkylbenzene sulfonate industry, especially for linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. For instance, in June 2019, Spanish petrochemicals producer CEPSA has announced that it is upgrading its chemical plant in Puente Mayorga (Cadiz, Spain), making it the first linear alkylbenzene (LAB) facility in the world.

The Asia Pacific alkylbenzene sulfonate market size was worth USD YY million in 2018 and is estimated to reach USD YY million by 2026, at a CAGR of YY% during the forecast period. It is expected to hold the major market share owing to the huge population in economies like India and China and improved livelihood will stimulate regional growth. The increasing per capita earnings are also expected to rise the demand for products like personal care goods and household detergents. Adding to this, strict regulations regarding hygiene and health alongside speedy industrialization will boost the regional alkylbenzene sulfonate industry growth particularly for the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate segment. 

Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Companies and Competitive Landscape

The alkylbenzene sulfonate market is moderately consolidated with a few big players occupying a major share of the market. 

Some of the major players include Kao Corporation, Pilot Chemical Corp., BASF SE, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Huntsman Performance Products, Jin Tung Petrochemicals, Reliance Industries Limited, CEPSA Quimica, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd, and Croda International Plc.

The key players are adopting various key strategies such as product launches, collaborations, and expanding their business operations which are contributing to the growth of the alkylbenzene sulfonate Market.

For instance, in June 2019, Spanish petrochemicals producer CEPSA has announced that it is upgrading its chemical plant in Puente Mayorga (Cadiz, Spain), making it the first linear alkylbenzene (LAB) facility in the world.

In July 2017, Honeywell has announced that Saudi Arabia-based Farabi Petrochemicals Company will use Honeywell UOP technologies for a new complex in Yanbu to expand its production of biodegradable detergents. It includes a Unionfining hydrotreating unit, a Molex unit to produce the linear alkylbenzene (LAB) feedstock necessary for making biodegradable detergents.