Biosurfactants Market

Biosurfactants Market Size (2023-2028)

The Biosurfactants Market size exceeded USD 1.82 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6.32% between (2023-2028)

Surfactants are generally amphiphilic organic compounds that contain both hydrophobic (tail) and hydrophilic (head) groups. Bio-surfactants are surfactants that have at least one of the two groups (hydrophilic or hydrophobic) and are obtained from plants and, therefore, are not necessarily 100% of plant origin. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of liquids, allowing chemicals to mix more easily. Biosurfactants are produced from oleochemical (bio-based) raw materials which include vegetable oils such as coconut and palm oil, vegetable carbohydrates such as sorbitol, sucrose, and glucose, or fats animals such as tallow.

Bio-surfactants are being replaced due to various health risks from the use of synthetic chemicals. Biosurfactants, due to their properties such as emulsification, foaming, dispersion, wetting, penetration, thickener, microbial growth stimulator, and antimicrobials, are used in a large number of applications in the agricultural sector. Biosurfactants are generally produced by bacteria, yeasts, and fungi and act as green surfactants. Due to their less toxic and environmentally friendly nature, they are used in agricultural applications. Bio-surfactants are used to improve soil quality through soil remediation. They act as mobilizing agents and improve the solubility of chemical compounds presenting a biological hazard. In addition, they are also used for the hydrophilization of heavy soils, in order to achieve good wettability and also in the uniform distribution of fertilizers in the soil. They also prevent fertilizers from sticking together during storage. The Asia-Pacific region dominates the agricultural sect all over the world due to the increase in agricultural activity in countries like China and India. As the rapid growth of agricultural chemicals due to population growth and a decrease in arable land, to feed the resulting population is expected to affect the demand for bio-surfactants in the coming years.

Biosurfactants Market Drivers:

The growing demand for biosurfactants in various applications, including soaps and detergents, personal care, and industrial cleaning, is expected to boost the outlook for the industry. Increased consumer awareness of green alternatives in personal care and cosmetic products will boost industry demand during the forecast period. The industry is booming due to its ecological, non-toxic, and biodegradable properties. Several microeconomic and macroeconomic factors are responsible for the growth of the global biosurfactants market. One of the main drivers of market development is its growing demand from the textile industry.

This growing demand for biosurfactants from the textile industry is due to the fact that they have the ability to penetrate into fabrics. Biosurfactants can form micelles which can then interact with water and oil. This interaction helps to remove hard and deep stains from the fabric caused by chocolates, tea, waxes, oils, etc. fabric. In addition to this, the global biosurfactants market is also helped by the growing demand for household soaps and detergents around the world as people prefer to opt for a healthier lifestyle. These emulsions contain essential oils and natural antioxidants which make them more suitable for organic cosmetics. Bio-surfactants are increasingly preferred over synthetic surfactants due to their non-hazardous, non-toxic, and biodegradable nature. With the growing demand for organic cosmetics, it is naturally reflected in a positive way in the overall development of the global biosurfactants market.

Biosurfactants Market Restraints:

One of the major factors negatively impacting the growth of the Biosurfactants market is the high production costs borne by the manufacturers of Biosurfactants. Industrial-scale manufacture of biosurfactants has not been carried out due to the high investment cost. Environmental factors are important in the production and characteristics of the biosurfactants produced. Low availability and the high price of raw materials are likely to hamper the growth of the market. The major factor limiting the growth of the global biosurfactants market is the high production cost compared to conventional chemical surfactants and bio-based surfactants.

Opportunities in the Biosurfactants Market

The development of cost-effective production techniques is likely to show growth opportunities for the biosurfactants market during the forecast period.

Challenges in the Biosurfactants Market:

The current higher cost associated with the production of biosurfactants as compared to conventional chemical surfactants acts as a major challenge for the market.

BIOSURFACTANTS MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Biosurfactants Market Segmentation

 By Type

• Glycolipids

• Lipopeptides

• Phospholipids

• Polymeric Biosurfactants

Sophorolipids accounted for the majority of the global biosurfactant market in 2020. This large share is mainly attributed to the high demand from the home care industry, especially detergents. There is a strong demand for low-cost and environmentally friendly biosurfactants from various end-use industries to reduce environmental pollution levels around the world.

By Application 

• Detergents

• Personal Care

• Agricultural Chemicals

• Food Processing

The detergents segment is expected to dominate the market between 2021 and 2026. Biosurfactants are widely used in the home care industry, especially for detergents as a better alternative to environmentally toxic chemical surfactants. Biosurfactants generally offer improved properties over conventional surfactants in terms of oil, stain removal and biodegradability. The strong demand for biosurfactants from the home care industry is expected to drive the biosurfactants market between 2021 and 2026.

By Region

1. North America 

2. Europe 

3. Asia Pacific

4. Latin America 

5. Middle East & Africa 

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market and is also expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Globally, Europe is considered the main consumer of biosurfactants, followed by North America. Household detergents and oilfield chemicals are the major end-use industries where the demand for biosurfactants is high. APAC is the fastest-growing market with an abundant supply of raw materials. In APAC, China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia are the main producers of biosurfactants. Due to the growing awareness of hygiene and the development of liquid soap, the market of the synthetic soap, laundry, and detergent industry in China has grown at an average annual rate of about 12.2 % in the last five years. In 2020, the retail sales of liquid detergents and liquid tablet detergents in China were valued at USD 3.889 million and USD 74 million respectively, which is likely to increase over the forecast period, thus boosting the growth of the bio-market for surfactants. Due to the increasing population and increasing regulation of healthy food, the food processing industry is expected to develop at a lucrative rate in China. Hence, the aforementioned factors are expected to have a significant impact on the market in the coming years.

Europe was the largest biosurfactants market in 2020 and is expected to dominate the biosurfactants market during the forecast period. The European biosurfactant market is largely driven by the growing awareness of consumers to protect the environment from toxic chemicals. This is mainly due to the strict laws enforced by regulatory bodies, largely overseen by REACH.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Biosurfactants Market:

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the imposition of a travel ban and the closure of manufacturing units, offices, and markets by governments around the world, causing disruption in the value chain around the world. This had a negative impact on the supply of raw materials for the production of biosurfactants. This pandemic has led to a global lockdown of agricultural chemicals, chemicals from oilfields, textile manufacturing plants, and transportation, which may reduce the use of biosurfactants. But there has been a sky-high demand for products for applications such as household detergents, personal care products, and industrial cleaners in the wake of the pandemic. The demand for this product is mainly due to the increasing trend of sanitation in residential and commercial spaces to contain the epidemic of the virus.

Biosurfactants Market Key Players:

1. AGAE Technologies

2. BASF Cognis

3. Biotensidon

4. Ecover

5. Evonik

6. Jeneil Biotech

7. Logos Technologies

8. Saraya Co.

9. Soliance

10. Urumqi UniteUniversal Cable (M) Berhad