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Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Market – Insights

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant widely used in formulation of all ranges of domestic detergents powder, cake & dish wash cleaners. The biodegradable and cost-effective substance offers high solubility, emulsifying, moistening, foaming, and dispersing properties with other additives. It also acts as an emulsifying, refining, and coupling and emulsifier in rubber, textile, and agricultural herbicides industry, respectively. Moreover, it is used in emulsion polymerization and as an industrial wetting agent.

The increasing demand for cleaning and sanitization products such as liquid dishwashing soaps and detergents, owing to effective surfactant properties of LAS is major factor driving growth of the LAS market. Furthermore, rising demand for cleaning and janitorial services such as window cleaning and vacuuming in residential and commercial sectors is fuelling growth of the LAS market. For instance, according to the International Association for Soaps, Detergents, and Maintenance Products, the expenditure on professional cleaning, hygiene products, and services accounted for US$ 8.18 billion in 2015, which increased to US$ 8.41 billion in 2016, in Europe. However, availability of substitutes such as alcohol ether sulfates is one of the challenge faced by the LAS market.

Household detergents and cleaners are the largest application in the global LAS market. Demand for LAS surfactants is significantly increasing due to its growing application in laundry care, surface care, and other household detergents and cleaners, owing to its biodegradable and cost-effective nature. According to the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, laundry care products in Europe was valued at US$ 16 billion in 2016, which increased by 0.8% from 2015 in the household care sector. Also, surface care products increased by 0.6% from 2015 to US$ 7.11 billion in 2016, in Europe. The rising demand for laundry care and surface care products in the household care sector is in turn, propelling growth of the LAS market.

Asia Pacific holds the dominant position in the LAS market, owing to increasing demand for household cleaning and sanitization products in the region. Growing demand for industrial detergents and cleaning products in various industries such as food and dairy processing has further augmented growth of the LAS market in the region. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation, the food processing market in India is estimated to reach US$ 482 billion by 2020. Also, Union Budget of 2017-2018 has set up a fund of US$ 1.2 billion for dairy processing in India.

North America experiences significant demand for LAS. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21CFR173.315, LAS can be used to wash or assist lye peeling of vegetables and fruits. Europe is a lucrative market for LAS due to increasing demand for its application in detergents and cleaning products in the household care, professional cleaning, and hygiene sector. For instance, according to the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, household care, professional cleaning, and hygiene sector was valued at US$ 41.72 billion in Europe, in 2015, which increased to US$ 42.19 billion in 2016.

The global LAS market was valued at US$ 5,142.4 million in 2016 and is projected to register a CAGR of 5.5% in terms of revenue, over the forecast period (2017 – 2025).

Global LAS Market Share, by Region, 2016

Source: Coherent Market Insights (2018)

Asia Pacific accounted for the highest market share of 42.36% in 2016 and is expected to hold a dominant position over the forecast period.

Key market players operating in the LAS market include BASF SE, Clariant Corporation, Croda International Plc, DowDuPont Inc., Evonik Corporation, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Huntsman Corporation, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., Stepan Company, and Solvay S.A.