Optical Brightener Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Optical Brightener Market is segmented By Chemical Type (Triazine-Stilbenes, Coumarins, Imidazolines, Diazoles, Benzoxazolines, Others), By Application (Laundry Detergent, Plastic, Paint, Paper, Cosmetics, Others), By End-User (Textiles & Apparel, Consumer Products, Packaging, Security & Safety, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2030

Optical Brightener Market Overview

The Global Optical Brightener Market is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Optical brighteners, also known as fluorescent brightening agents (FBAs), are chemical compounds that give a whitening effect to the fabric. They absorb light in the ultraviolet and violet region and re-emit the light in the blue region. The blue light reduces the yellow colour of the substrate and gives a brightened look. Unlike bleaching, optical brighteners do not leave a yellowish tinge and provide a pleasing whiter-than-white appearance. These additives are used to enhance the color of fabric and paper and are thus widely used in industries such as textiles, paper, plastics and others. Moreover, they are also used to detect wastewater leakage, help with medical diagnostic procedures and kill agricultural pests.

Increasing demand from fabrics, papers, detergents & soap, plastics, packaging, and other applications is expected to boost the optical brightener market over the forecast period.

Optical Brightener Market Scope

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Optical Brightener Market Dynamics and Trends

Increasing Demand for optical brighteners in laundry detergent is expected to boost the market

Optical brighteners are synthetic chemical additives added to liquid and powder laundry detergents to enhance clothes' appearance by making them appear whiter and brighter, and thus cleaner. Optical brighteners can resist heat and even chemicals like bleach. Optical brighteners are the modern-day replacement for the decades-old practice of bluing, which adds small amounts of blue dye to fabric to make it appear whiter.

Moreover, as per the Statista study, in 2019, the global laundry detergent market was valued at around 120 billion U.S. dollars and is projected to keep growing with each consecutive year, reaching about 180 billion U.S. dollars by 2026. Hence, the increasing laundry market is expected to drive the optical brighteners over the forecast period.

Environmental and health concern is expected to hinder the optical brightener market

Optical brighteners are not readily biodegradable and may bioaccumulate. Hence, optical brighteners may be potentially toxic to humans and Amino triazine- or stilbene-based whiteners may cause developmental and reproductive effects. Moreover, according to the European Ecolabel Commission report on laundry detergents' criteria, optical brighteners undergo photodegradation, producing numerous metabolites that are not yet identified. Hence, the actual potential impacts cannot be evaluated and could be much worse.

However, today the EPA's DFE program invites laundry formulators to partner with them to act as environmental stewards by making more eco-friendly products. For optical brighteners, the program encourages manufacturers to use low toxicity parent chemicals and degradation by-products.

Optical Brightener Market Segmentation Analysis

On the basis of application, the optical brightener market is segmented into laundry detergent, paper, plastic, paint, cosmetics and others.

Laundry detergent is expected to dominate the optical brightener market

Laundry detergent dominates the application segment of the global optical brighteners market. Optical brighteners are added to detergents to enhance the colour and brightness as detergent manufacturers use brightness as a key promotional strategy. Hence, the rise in demand for laundry care products due to the increase in the standard of living and per capita income of people worldwide is a significant factor anticipated to drive the demand for global optical brighteners. Moreover, Optical brighteners are also used in color-correcting or brightening additives in cosmetics, such as shampoos, conditioners, and eye makeup products.

As per the Statista study, in 2019, the global laundry detergent market was valued at around 120 billion U.S. dollars and is expected to reach about 180 billion U.S. dollars by 2026. Hence, the increasing laundry market is expected to drive the optical brighteners over the forecast period.

Global Optical Brightener Market Geographical Share

Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. The rising demand for laundry detergent with the growing population in countries like China and India is expected to drive optical brighteners to demand in the region. China is the leading manufacturing hub for finished products such as plastics, cosmetics, and laundry care products, where optical brighteners are prominently used. For instance, as per the Statista study, China was the world’s largest plastic producer in 2018, accounting for nearly one-third of the global plastics production.

Moreover, adopting a healthier lifestyle, coupled with the increasing concern for hygiene, is majorly driving the laundry detergent market in the Asia Pacific region, increasing the demand for optical brighteners in this region.

Optical Brightener Market Companies and Competitive Landscape

The optical brightener market is moderately competitive with the presence of local as well as global companies. Some of the key players which are contributing to the growth of the market include BASF SE, Huntsman International LLC, RPM International Inc, Eastman Chemical Company, 3V Sigma S.p.A, Teh Fong Min International, Akzo Nobel N.V., Archroma, Dayglo Color Corp, Meghmani Group, among others. The major players are adopting several growth strategies such as product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations, which are contributing to the growth of the optical brightener market globally.

BASF SE

Overview: BASF SE is a German multinational chemical company, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. It is the largest chemical producer in the world. It comprises subsidiaries and joint ventures in more than 80 countries. Also, the company operates six integrated production sites and 390 other production sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Africa.

Product Portfolio: BASF SE serves optical brightener in its “performance and formulation additives” segment. The company offers the Tinopal optical brightener solutions for water- and solvent-based systems. These fluorescent whitening agents brighten or mask yellowing.

Key Development:

On January 31, 2020, BASF SE closed the acquisition of Solvay’s polyamide business DOMO Chemicals, Leuna, Germany. It enhances the company’s access to growth markets in Asia as well as in North and South America.

Why Purchase the Report?

• Visualize the composition of the optical brightener market segmentation by chemical type, application, end-user and region highlighting the key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the optical brightener market by analyzing trends and co-development deals.
• Excel data sheet with thousands of data points of optical brightener market-level 4/5 segmentation.
• PDF report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping in excel for the key product of all major market players

The global optical brightener market report would provide access to an approx. 69 market data table, 66 figures and 180 pages.

Target Audience

• Service Providers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
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• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies
• Manufacturers