Silicone Surfactants Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Application (Emulsifiers, Foaming Agents, Solubilizers, and Others), By End-Use (Refrigeration, Construction, Paints & Coatings, Personal Care, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2022-2029

The global silicone surfactants market size was valued at USD 2.04 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 2.13 billion in 2022 to USD 2.99 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a decline of 1.5% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

Silicone surfactants, also known as silicone polyethers, are water-miscible emulsifying polymers containing hydrophobic siloxane and hydrophilic polyether characteristics. These surfactants are used in several industries as solubilizers, foaming agents, emulsifiers, and softeners. They improvise the functionality of end-products such as detergents, cleaning liquid, soap, shampoo, and body wash. Moreover, rising demand from the paints & coatings industry, where they add leveling, slip, and mar resistance properties to coating formulations, will create growth opportunities for the market. Additionally, the rising trend among consumers for quality hygiene and a high-end lifestyle is propelling the market.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Disturbances in Import/Export Due to COVID-19 Affected the Product Demand

The COVID-19 pandemic has harshly affected the supply chain of raw materials for silicone manufacturers, thereby leading to dwindling product demand. Further, disruption in construction activities affected the market, where the product is used as additives in polyurethane foam that offers insulation to the structures. This shutdown and halt in construction activities led to a dip in polyurethane foam consumption that resulted in declining usage of silicone surfactants in this industry. 

However, rising detergents and the soap industry also led to the silicone surfactants market growth, as consumers took preventive measures to keep their house's interior immaculate during the lockdown. This increased the consumption of cleaning products, thereby surging silicone polyethers demand. Also, the consumption of polyurethane foam for insulation has boosted the healthcare industry to meet the transportation demand for vaccination storage, medical devices, syringes & injections, diagnostic care, and pharmaceutical equipment.

LATEST TRENDS

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Rising Demand for Surfactants from Several New Applications is Creating Market Opportunities

Strong demand from paints & coatings, construction, agriculture, refrigeration, and other industries is anticipated to boost the growth of the market. Silicone surfactants enhance the performance of paints & coatings by changing properties such as dispersing, solubilizing, foaming/defoaming, leveling, and photo-stabilizing. Further, these surfactants are used as an additive during polyurethane foam manufacturing. This polyurethane foam is used in the insulation of buildings, industrial construction, and vehicles. The increasing use of polyurethane foam in cooling systems or refrigeration will surge product demand during the forecast period.

In addition, the product offers a superior wetting property that enhances the activity of ingredients in agrochemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, and foliar nutrients. The rising demand for the product from the above-mentioned industries is expected to provide market growth opportunities.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increase in Demand from Personal Care Product Manufacturers to Drive the Market

The rising personal care product manufacturing is increasing the product demand for hair care, grooming, and skincare formulations. Natural products are a major trend in the personal care industry. Cosmetics and personal care products enhance skin condition and give a healthier-looking appearance high consumption of cosmetics due to the improving lifestyle of consumers has surged the product demand. Moreover, as consumers have become more aware of ingredients in the products they apply to their skin and use in their homes, natural surfactants in cosmetics improve the integrity and performance of cosmetic formulations. Consumers are willing to pay a high price for natural and organic cosmetic and skin products. This results in increased demand for these surfactants, thereby driving the market.

Further, several key players in the market, such as Dow and Shin-Etsu, have unveiled plans for improvements in the surfactants portfolio. These companies have started using sustainable and natural ingredients to produce sustainable surfactants derived from plants. Further, surfactants produced from plants are less harmful to the environment but it is a good approach to preserving the quality of cosmetic products. These factors altogether are creating a more compelling and attractive product demand.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Availability of Alternatives is Expected to Restrain the Market Growth

The key market restraint to the global market is the availability of cheaper alternatives. Synthetic surfactants are easy to manufacture and have available raw materials. Therefore, they are offered at cheaper rates to several end-use industries. Several small and medium personal care manufacturers are on the rise. Moreover, government approval is time-consuming and requires expensive legislative formalities that act as a major restraint for the market. Further, the manufacturer also has to consider environmental effects and deforestation as side effects of manufacturing plant-based surfactants, thus affecting the market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Application Analysis

Emulsifiers Segment to Account for Major Share Due to Demand from Personal Care Products

Based on application, the market is segmented into emulsifiers, foaming agents, solubilizers, and others.

The emulsifiers segment held the largest share of the market owing to the increasing use of surfactants in the personal care and cleaning industries. Increasing demand for lotions, creams & conditioners, and detergents from consumers in household and personal care applications is expected to drive the segment progress. The growth of the foaming agent's segment can be attributed to the increased production of cosmetics, household chemicals, and fire protection products across the globe. The product facilitates foam formation and reduces surface tension in the solutions, making it a key ingredient for face washes, hand washes, shampoo, detergents, and soaps.

Solubilizers are often used to enhance the dissolution of the active agent. Growth in the end-use industries such as agriculture, cosmetics, and personal care is expected to increase the demand for solubilizers, including silicone surfactants. The others segment includes products used as a wetting agent and PH modifier for several textile and chemical formulations for construction and agricultural industries.

By End-Use Analysis

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The personal Care Segment Held a Dominant Share Owing to Consumer Demand 

Based on end-use, the market is categorized into refrigeration, construction, paints & coatings, personal care, and others.

The personal care segment held a dominant market share, which can be associated with the increased use of silicone surfactants in the production of skincare and hair care products. These products require active agents such as emulsifiers and foaming agents to activate the product for better results on the skin. Lifestyle changes and improved disposable income have surged the demand for personal care products, thereby driving silicone polyether consumption. The rising trend for renovation as a result of improving lifestyle among consumers is leading to the use of surfactants in paints & coatings and polyurethane foam to improve the interior and exterior aesthetic of homes and offices. This is driving the market growth for construction applications.

Silicone surfactants offer paints & coatings with enhanced properties such as higher dispersion and longer product retention. Hence, the growing product demand from paint & coatings used for wood, automobiles, building & structure, and electronic goods is expected to drive the market. Further, the product is used as an additive in polyurethane foam manufacturing, which is suitable for the insulation of cooling systems or refrigerators. The increasing demand for refrigeration from the food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical industries is driving the segment growth.

The others segment includes the use of the product in the cosmetics, textile, and agriculture industries. Agriculture surfactants are bio-based products used with water-based herbicide spray solutions as they accentuate the emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, wetting, and other surface-modifying properties of organic pesticides. Further, the segment growth can be attributed to the higher demand for cleaning products from manufacturing industries. Industrial cleaning includes the use of surfactants as raw materials in cleaners with various chemical ingredients intended to work for removing types of soils and garbage during the manufacturing process.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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Asia Pacific held a dominant silicone surfactants market share and was valued at USD 0.82 billion in 2021. There is rising demand for personal care and home care products from emerging countries such as India, Japan, and China. Economic development has led to the enhancement in the lifestyle of customers, causing high demand for personal care formulations such as hand wash shampoo, and shaving cream. Further, this region is a major consumer of personal care solutions and has a higher consumption of paints & coatings due to the rapidly growing construction industry. This is expected to support market growth.

North America is estimated to have a significant share of the global market, attributed to the growing construction and healthcare industry in the region, where the silicone polyether is used for insulation and refrigeration applications. The rapid industrial development and increasing disposable income in the region are further driving product usage in additional applications that include agriculture and personal care.

The European region is expected to have significant market growth during the forecast period. The increase in demand from personal care, home care, and other industries is driving product demand. Further, the rising cosmetics industry, as Europe is a major region for the fashion industry, shall augment the market growth. These surfactants are used to manufacture luxurious products, including cleansers, serums, face masks, and others.

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The rest of the world will have gradual growth throughout the forecast period. Growing demand for homecare detergents, cleaners, and cosmetics products, and changes in consumer lifestyle, will drive the market size. Moreover, major natural silicone producers present in the region are further making it easy to manufacture silicone surfactants, thereby creating market growth opportunities.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

New Product Development and Acquisition Projects by Players to Intensify Competition

Major companies operating in the market are Dow Chemical Company, Momentive, Wacker AG, Innospec, Shin Etsu, and others. Profiled companies have adopted product innovation, acquisition, and collaboration to gain a competitive edge in the global market. For example, Dow Chemical Company has a strong global regional presence. The company offers products under the brand VORASURF and has adopted strategies such as product development and partnership with end-users.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Dow Chemical Company (U.S.)


• Momentive Performance Materials (U.S.)


• Wacker Chemie AG (Germany)


• Innospec (U.S.)


• Shin-Etsu Chemical (Japan)


• Andisil (U.S.)


• Evonik Industries (Germany)


• Supreme Silicones (India)


• Siltech Corporation (Canada)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• March 2022: Dow announced a new product extension of VORASURF Silicone Surfactants to support the growing demand for enhanced energy efficiency and sustainable solutions in the rigid polyurethane foam market, focusing on spray and construction applications.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The silicone surfactants market research report covers detailed market analysis and concentrates on crucial aspects such as competitive landscape, applications, and end-uses. Also, the market report offers insights into market trends and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation