Optical Brightener Market Report 2025

The optical brightener market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $1.43 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing textile industry, expansion in paper and packaging, advancements in formulations, consumer preference for bright colors, globalization of markets, innovations in specialty products.

The optical brightener market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.06 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing use in plastics and polymers, stringent environmental regulations, rising disposable income, increasing applications in automotive industry, customization for unique applications. Major trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in formulations, shift towards environmentally friendly options, application in cosmetics and personal care products, focus on brightness and color enhancement, application in printing inks, collaborations and partnerships.

The anticipated growth in manufacturing activities is expected to drive the expansion of the optical brighteners market in the future. Manufacturing refers to a sector of the economy dedicated to producing goods for sale. Optical brighteners serve as raw materials in various industries, including fabrics, synthetics, plastics, and detergents. For instance, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, a specialized agency based in Austria, reported that China’s manufacturing sector remained dynamic, growing by 1.5% in 2024. In year-on-year comparisons, manufacturing production in China increased by 6.7%, while it rose by 2.5% in the rest of Asia and Oceania. Additionally, in 2024, manufacturing in both industrial and industrializing economies experienced approximately 1% growth in quarter-over-quarter comparisons. Thus, the expansion of the manufacturing sector is fueling growth in the optical brightener market.

The growth of the cosmetics industry is anticipated to drive the expansion of the optical brightener market in the future. Consumers are increasingly looking for cosmetics that deliver a flawless complexion, diminish signs of aging, and promote a youthful, radiant appearance. Optical brighteners play a vital role in achieving these results. As the cosmetics industry evolves to meet these consumer demands, the use of optical brighteners in products such as foundations, concealers, hair care items, and anti-aging formulations is growing. Additionally, regulatory support for the safe use of optical brighteners in cosmetics, along with the necessity for product differentiation in a competitive market, further encourages their incorporation into cosmetic formulations. For example, in February 2023, L'Oréal S.A., a personal care products company based in France, reported that sales of consumer products rose from 11.8% to 14.6%, while sales of active cosmetics increased from 28% to 30.6% from the third quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2022. Therefore, the growth of the cosmetics industry is fueling the expansion of the optical brightener market.

Strategic partnerships and collaborations have emerged as a pivotal trend within the optical brightener market. Leading companies within this sector are actively engaging in strategic agreements and mergers to effectively cater to customer demands. For instance, in May 2022, Brenntag Specialties, a German-based chemical distribution company, forged a new agreement with Archroma, a Switzerland-based specialty chemical and optical brightener producer. This collaboration is aimed at expanding their product portfolio within the realm of home care, household, industrial & institutional (HI&I) cleaning, laundry products, and detergents. Through this partnership, Brenntag Specialties is strategically expanding its market presence in the United States and Canada, leveraging the strengths and resources brought in by Archroma to facilitate their growth objectives.

Leading companies in the optical brighteners market are innovating new spectro densitometers to enhance their competitive position. Spectro densitometers are devices that measure both color density and spectral attributes, which are essential for accurately reproducing colors in printing and imaging tasks. For example, in August 2022, Techkon USA, a US-based company specializing in color measurement solutions, introduced the SpectroDens 4, a spectro densitometer that integrates the functions of a densitometer and a spectrophotometer. This multifunctional color measurement device includes various features, such as OBA-Check, which allows for precise measurement of optical brightening agents (OBAs) utilized in paper production, as well as a visual opacity measurement function that adheres to ISO 23498:2020 standards for graphic technology. Additionally, the SpectroDens 4 provides a visual opacity measurement function for printed white ink, making it a valuable asset for the printing sector. It also boasts high-definition spectral sensing, the capability to evaluate ink density and adjust colors, and compatibility with industry standards and datasets.

In April 2022, Dorf Ketal, a manufacturer based in India specializing in process chemicals and additives for oil refineries, successfully acquired Khyati Chemicals for a total transaction value of $51 million. This strategic acquisition positions Dorf Ketal to venture into the performance chemicals sector, effectively broadening its product range. Khyati Chemicals, an India-based company, specializes in manufacturing optical brighteners.

Major companies operating in the optical brightener market are BASF Colors & Effects GmbH, Huntsman International LLC, Eastman Chemical Company, Archroma, Clariant AG, RPM International Corp., Keystone Aniline Corporation, Aron Universal Ltd., Brilliant Colors Inc., 3V Company Inc., The Fong Min International Company Limited, Kolorjet Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Dayglo Color Corp., BoldChem Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Odyssey Chemicals Co. Ltd., Hebei Xingyu Chemical Co. Ltd., Nantong Huanuo Pigment Co. Ltd., Shandong Joy-ring Chemical Co. Ltd., Shanxi Colorshine Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Dystar Singapore Pte Ltd., Everlight Chemical Industrial Corporation, Lanxess AG, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Bayer AG, Dow Chemical Company, Evonik Industries, Solvay SA, Shandong Lukang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shandong Yisheng Chemical Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Wanjie Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific dominated the optical brightener market and is expected to be the largest market in 2024. The regions covered in the optical brightener market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the optical brightener market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Optical brighteners are synthetic additives incorporated into liquid detergents, powder formulations, and pigments. These compounds work by converting ultraviolet (UV) light waves into stronger blue light and reducing the presence of yellow light, resulting in a visually whiter appearance for objects. Widely used in various applications, optical brighteners play a crucial role in enhancing the brightness and cleanliness of clothing and other surfaces.

The optical brightener market encompasses various types, including triazine-stilbenes, coumarins, imidazolines, diazoles, and benzoxazolines. Triazine-stilbenes, for instance, address challenges such as poor whitening effects and high costs found in existing brightening agents. These compounds are particularly favored in industrial applications as efficient whitening agents across diverse sectors like paper, fabrics, detergents, soaps, synthetics, plastics, lacquers, ultraviolet tracers, and pigmented lacquers. The end-use industries for these applications range from consumer products, security, textiles, apparel, to packaging.

The optical brightener market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides optical brightener market statistics, including the optical brightener industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with an optical brightener market share, detailed optical brightener market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the optical brightener industry. This optical brightener market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The optical brightener market consists of sales of cinnamic acid, coumarin, dicarboxylic acid, diphenyl pyrazoline, and stilbene. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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