According to the latest figures from Kline’s Global Personal Care Ingredients database [1], conditioning polymers, antimicrobials, and emulsifiers performed particularly well on the personal care ingredients market in 2012. However, the research firm highlights that surfactants are maintaining their primacy as the largest product category and that polymers are displaying dynamic growth.

Natural trends to drive surfactants’ growth

The ubiquitous specialty surfactants - that are used in many personal care products as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, and/or foaming agents - continue to contribute to the highest volumes of the global personal care ingredients market consumption rate. Kline & Company clasps the combined surfactants consumption across the United States, EU 27, India, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia at 507 million pounds (about 229,97 million kilograms) in 2012. Kline forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% to the year 2017.

As a global phenomenon, the natural trend drives the growth of specific surfactants in both mature and emerging markets. A biodegradable surfactant, alkyl polyglucoside finds fertile ground in the growing number of shampoos and cleansing products containing environmentally friendly ingredients in Europe.

Organic alkyl polyglucoside and lauryl glucoside surfactants are gaining momentum in India too. Kline & Company forecasts a 10% CAGR through 2017 for alkyl polyglucoside consumption and an 8% CAGR for lauryl glucosides. However, India preserves its own specificities. For instance, as many Indian consumers seek cleansing products, which give a “white glove on the hands” appearance, an increasing number of manufacturers are adding high foamers, such as Alkanolamides into their personal care products.

Strong growth for conditioning polymers

Conditioning polymers are expected to experience the most dynamic growth, among all the eight product categories covered by research, estimated to post approximately 5% CAGR over the next five years.

The strongest growth is expected in India, where conditioning polymers will post double-digit CAGR over the forecast period. Furthermore, Southeast Asia is projected to display high growth rates, while Europe, the United States, Japan, and China will grow more modestly.