by Brianna Crandall — May 2, 2014—The global market for biosurfactants, used in such applications as industrial and institutional cleaners, is expected to reach $2,308.8 million by 2020, according to a new study by market research and consulting company Grand View Research, Inc. Biosurfactants are environmentally preferable compounds used as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants. Escalating consumer preference towards the use of biobased products, particularly in Europe and North America, is expected to increase biosurfactant penetration. Stringent regulatory policies are further expected to augment the biosurfactant demand over the next six years.
For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research segmented the global biosurfactants market on the basis of application, product and region. The applications include: household detergents, personal care, industrial and institutional cleaners, food processing, oilfield chemicals, agricultural chemicals, textiles, and other markets.
According to the report, methyl ester sulfonate (MES) from palm and coconut is the largest consumed biosurfactant, accounting for 33.26% of the 344 kilo ton global market in 2013. Its superior properties in terms of foaming and stability as compared to other surfactants reportedly make it ideally suited for use in household detergents. Other key biosurfactants include alkyl polyglucosides (APG), sorbitan esters and sucrose esters, with combined demand estimated at 115 kilo tons in 2013. Alkyl polyglucosides are used to improve the lubricant qualities of water, and sorbitan esters and sucrose esters are nonionic surfactants that are used as emulsifying agents in food as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
Other biosurfactants are also covered in the report, including rhamnolipids, which are bacteria-derived glycolipidic biosurfactants with antimicrobial properties, and sophorolipids, which are biosurfactants or detergents derived from yeast that are used in household cleaning, personal care and cosmetics.
Further key findings from the study suggest:
- The global biosurfactant market is expected to reach 462 kilo tons by 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% from 2014 to 2020.
- Household detergent is the largest application segment, consuming 153.5 kilo tons of biosurfactants in 2013. Growing demand for sustainable products in cleaning applications is expected to boost the demand for biosurfactants over the forecast period.
- Personal care applications are expected to gain significant share owing to the growing market for these products in Asia Pacific.
- Europe is the largest regional market for biosurfactants, with consumption of 178.9 kilo tons in 2013. High consumer awareness and demand for biobased products is a key reason for the high penetration of biosurfactants. Asia Pacific was a relatively small market in 2013, but is expected to gain significant share over the next six years owing to the presence of large manufacturing industries in the region.
- The global biosurfactants market is consolidated, with the top five companies catering to nearly 90% of global demand. Key players in the market include BASF Cognis, Ecover, Urumqui Unite, Saraya and MG Intobio.
Global Biosurfactants Market by Product (Rhamnolipids, Sophorolipids, MES, APG, Sorbitan Esters, Sucrose Esters) Expected to Reach $2,308.8 Million by 2020 is available from the Grand View Research Web site.
