Ethoxylates are produced through the ethoxylation process, where substrates like alcohols, fatty amines, fatty acids, and ethyl esters react with ethylene oxide. As the second-largest derivative of ethylene oxide after ethylene glycol, ethoxylates are important non-ionic surfactants widely used across diverse industries including personal care, household products, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agrochemicals, and oilfield chemicals.
Key Characteristics and Applications
Alcohol ethoxylates, the largest non-ionic surfactant and the second-largest commodity surfactant by volume, are prized for their excellent formulation properties, good rinsing ability, and low aquatic toxicity, making them highly suitable for industrial applications.
Non-ionic surfactants like ethoxylates are electrically neutral, unlike anionic or cationic surfactants. They constitute around 35% of total surfactant production, second only to anionic surfactants by volume. These surfactants have diverse properties governed by their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance HLB, a scale that measures their affinity to water versus oil. Their molecular structure, featuring multiple alcohol groups in the head, makes them effective fat solvents, commonly used in laundry detergents, dishwashing agents, and household cleaners.
Advantages in Formulation
Non-ionic surfactants are less sensitive to water hardness and generate less foam compared to anionic types. They are extensively used in cosmetics and personal care for their ability to solubilize fragrances and natural oils, provide conditioning effects, reduce skin irritation, and enhance foam when combined with anionic surfactants. Products like baby shampoos frequently use non-ionic surfactants such as PEG-80 sorbitan laurate.
Market Drivers and Regional Insights
Growth in non-ionic surfactant demand is fueled by rising populations, increasing per capita incomes, and evolving lifestyles, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. China, Japan, and India are the key growth markets here. North America and Europe follow as the second and third-largest markets, respectively, with moderate growth rates.
Non-ionic surfactants include:
Ethoxylates
Polyglucosides
Alkanolamides
Sucrose Esters
Others
Europe currently leads the ethoxylates market but is witnessing regulatory restrictions due to toxicity concerns, prompting a gradual market shift toward Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific region, with its expanding end-use industries like agrochemicals, textiles, and personal care, is poised to become the largest and fastest-growing market for ethoxylates over the long-term forecast.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Scope
Market Coverage
Type
Application
Regions
Countries
Years Considered
Historical - 2018 - 2023
Base - 2024
Forecast Period - 2025 - 2034
Research Methodology
Approach
Research Methodology
Prismane Consulting Market Models
Assumptions & Limitations
Abbreviations & Definitions
Conversion Factors
Data Sources
2. Market Synopsis
Market Evolution
Demand Overview
Industry Structure
Strategic Issues
End-use Trends
Growth Forecast
3. Economic & Energy Outlook
GDP and Demographics
Monetary & Fiscal Policies
Crude Oil Production and prices
Natural Gas
Electricity Prices
4. End-use Sector Performance
Personal Care
Household
Pharmaceutical
Textile
Agricultural
Chemical
Others
5. Introduction to Ethoxylates and Market Overview
Product Description
Grades & Properties
Raw Material
Manufacturing Process
Environmental Issues
Value Chain
Application
6. Market Dynamics and Industry Trends
Market Dynamics
Drivers
Restraints
Opportunities
Challenges
7. Global Ethoxylates Demand Analysis, By Type, By Application (Volume, Value) (2018 - 2034)
Strategic Issues and COVID-19 Impact
Demand Analysis and Forecast (2018 - 2034)
Demand
Demand Growth Rate (%)
Driving Force Analysis
Global Ethoxylates Market, By Type
Alcohol
Fatty Amines
Fatty Acid
Ethyl Ester
Glyceride
Others
Global Ethoxylates Market, By Application
Personal Care
Household
Pharmaceutical
Textile
Agrochemicals
Oilfield Chemicals
Others
8. Demand Analysis and Market Review, By Region, By Country (Volume, Value), (2018-2034)
Strategic Issues and COVID-19 Impact
Demand Analysis and Forecast (2018 - 2034)
Demand
Demand Growth Rate (%)
Ethoxylates Market, By Type
Ethoxylates Market, By Application
Note: Demand Analysis has been provided for all major Regions / Countries as mentioned below. The demand (consumption) split by Type and by Application has been provided for each of the countries / regions in Volume (Kilo tons) and Value (USD Million).
North America
USA
Canada
Mexico
Western Europe
Germany
France
Italy
United Kingdom
Spain
Rest of Western Europe
Central & Eastern Europe
Russia
Poland
Rest of Central & Eastern Europe
Asia-Pacific
China
Japan
India
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Central & South America
Middle East & Africa
Note: CAGR will be calculated for all Type and Application to arrive at the regional / global demand growth for the forecast period (2025 - 2034)
9. Pricing Analysis
10. Key Strategic Issues and Business Opportunity Assessment
Market Attractiveness Assessment
Prospective & Target Market Study
11. Strategic Recommendation & Suggestions
12. Company Analysis
Ethoxylates Manufacturers Profiles/ Company Analysis
Basic Details
Headquarter, Key Markets
Ownership
Company Financial
Manufacturing Bases
Global Turnover
Total Employee
Product Portfolio / Services / Solutions
Key Business Strategies adopted and Prismane Consulting Overview
Recent Developments
Companies Covered -
BASF
Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
AkzoNobel
Arkema
Clariant
Evonik Industries
Huntsman International
India Glycols Limited
INEOS Group Limited
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
SABIC
Sasol Limited
Shell Chemicals
Solvay S.A.
Stepan Company
Dow
Other Manufacturers
Note: This section includes company information, company financials, manufacturing bases and operating regions. Company financials have been mentioned only for those companies where financials were available in SEC Filings, annual reports, or company websites. All the reported financials in this report are in U.S. Dollars. Financials reported in other currencies have been converted using average currency conversion rates. Company profiles may include manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors.