Silicone Surfactants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Emulsifiers, Foaming Agents), By Type (Water-soluble, Oil-soluble), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global silicone surfactants market size was valued at USD 1.82 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to the increasing penetration of silicone surfactants in personal care products as emulsifiers. Additionally, the growing utilization of bio-based skin care products among consumers, along with the product’s capabilities such as lightweight formula, minimum pore clogging, and quick absorption, is likely to contribute to the product demand.

The market in North America is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the near future. This can be attributed to the increasing penetration of silicone surfactants in the personal care, paints and coatings, textile, and construction industries, predominantly in the U.S. The country is a lucrative market owing to new product development and manufacturing footprint across the region.

Growth in cosmetics and personal care manufacturing has surged the product demand from grooming, skincare, and hair care formulation applications. Natural products are a major trend in the cosmetics and personal care industry. High consumption of natural ingredient-based cosmetics and personal care products owing to improving lifestyle, increasing per capita income, and awareness regarding natural products has triggered the product demand. Moreover, natural surfactants in cosmetics and personal care products augment the performance of the formulations.

The market for silicone surfactants witnessed a significant drop during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a halt in production activities. However, following the pandemic, the market has grown due to the increased adoption of healthy living practices to preserve optimal health. Hygiene consciousness has led to an increase in demand for detergents and soaps and other house-cleaning products. For instance, Persil and Schwarzkopf recorded a nearly 60% increase in hand wash sales across the U.S. In the upcoming years, it is expected that the aforementioned trends will persist, supporting market expansion.

Application Insights

The emulsifiers segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 30.0% in 2022. This can be attributed to the increasing use of silicone surfactants in cosmetics and personal care, and home care products formulation such as lotions, shampoo, hand wash, soaps, and detergents. Emulsifiers are used to alleviate polyurethane foam, hence, the growth of PU foam is anticipated to trigger the growth of the emulsifiers segment.

The wetting agent segment is expected to witness notable growth during the forecast period. The penetration of wetting agents in the agriculture industry is growing due to their potential of improving crop quality and growth. They are also used to increase the volume and efficiency of crop production. The agriculture industry is highly dependent on the wetting agent as it allows water to spread evenly on the surface and for better penetration.

Also, the demand for dispersants is growing as they provide stability, protection from harmful UV rays, and coating strength. It helps in improving the workability of fluid. Due to such properties, it is widely used in the paint and coatings industry, which is anticipated to drive the market. In addition, the emulsifying and foaming properties of silicone surfactants have resulted in an increasing demand for these surfactants globally.

Type Insights

The water-soluble segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 60.0% in 2022. This can be attributed to the increasing product use in agriculture, cosmetics and personal care, food & beverage, textiles, and home care formulations. Growing utilization of the product in the agriculture industry in formulations of fertilizers is anticipated to trigger the growth of water-soluble surfactants.

The oil-soluble segment is expected to register a steady growth rate during the forecast period. The penetration of oil-soluble type in the drilling fluids is growing due to its potential of improving viscosity. The drilling fluid sector is highly dependent on the oil soluble type as it allows high surface tension and high stability.

Additionally, oil-soluble silicone surfactants make foam with smaller bubbles and slow down the rate at which water drains from the foam. After adsorption from aqueous solutions, oil-soluble surfactants can condense adsorption layers on the bubble surfaces. As oil-soluble products are not suitable for all skin types, they can restrict segment growth in the near future.

End-use Insights

The personal care segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 35.0% in 2022. This is attributed to the increasing use of silicone surfactants in the manufacturing of personal care products. These products need foaming agents to stimulate the product for better results.

Silicone surfactants also find widespread application in the paint and coating industry. The product enhances the workability of paints and coatings by providing longer retention and higher dispersion. Hence, the increasing demand for paints and coatings among industries such as construction, automotive, and wood is driving the market.

Silicone surfactants are also used in the textile, construction, and agricultural industries. Surfactants used in the agriculture industry are bio-based products used with water-based sprays as they emphasize dispersing, emulsifying, wetting, spreading, and other properties. Industrialization and investments in emerging economies of Asia Pacific are estimated to fuel the product demand in the aforementioned industries.

Regional Insights

The North America region dominated the market with a revenue share of over 30.0% in 2022. This growth is attributed to the increasing research and development activities in order to formulate novel personal care products and the adoption of natural cosmetics and personal care products in the region. Moreover, the presence of key end-use producers in the region is estimated to drive product demand in the near future.

The Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to key factors such as raw material availability and the presence of key end-use industry manufacturers, such as personal care and automotive. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for cosmetics and personal care products from developing countries including India and Japan, thus leading to market growth.

The Europe region is estimated to witness substantial growth during the forecast period. This is due to the rising demand for home care and personal care products as Europe is a popular region for luxurious cosmetics and personal care manufacturing. The use of silicone surfactants in the paints and coatings sector in the region is predicted to trigger market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Companies dominate the market with their continuous focus on manufacturing innovative products. Key players in the industry are involved in joint ventures, increasing production facilities, mergers, and acquisitions. For instance, in 2019, AB Specialty Silicones launched a production facility of the product in Waukegan to cater to the increasing demand.

Major market players are investing in various research & development activities, especially regarding the use of bio-based products in multiple industrial applications, owing to high demand from several end-use industries. Furthermore, due to the vast scope for development and aggressive industry competitiveness in the field of biotechnology, there have been greater attempts to attain product differentiation. Some prominent players in the global silicone surfactants market include:

• DOW Inc.

• Innospec

• Momentive

• Elkem Silicones

• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

• Evonik Industries AG

• Andisil

• Supreme Silicones

• Siltech Corporation

Silicone Surfactants Market Report Scope 

Global Silicone Surfactants Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at the global, regional, and country levels. It provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global silicone surfactants market report based on application, type, end-use, and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Emulsifiers

  • Foaming Agents

  • De-foaming Agents

  • Wetting Agents

  • Dispersants

  • Others

• Type Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Water-soluble

  • Oil-soluble

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Personal Care

  • Construction

  • Textile

  • Paints & Coatings

  • Agriculture

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Southeast Asia

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa