Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The linear alkyl benzene market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.28% during the forecast period.

The demand for linear alkyl benzene (LAB) is anticipated to increase owing to the rising demand for cleaning and hygienic products from the growing economies of Asia and Africa and the growing awareness among the general population aimed at cleaning and sanitary products. Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (LABSA) derived from linear alkyl benzene makes household detergents. The important application products are laundry powders, laundry liquids, dishwashing products, and all-purpose cleaners.

The major driving factors behind the market are increasing light-duty dishwashing liquid demand, the growth of biodegradable surfactants, and growing awareness due to urbanization and rapid industrialization. LABSA is used in industrial and institutional cleaners, textile processing as wetting, dispersing, and cleaning agents, industrial processes such as emulsifiers and polymerization, and in the formulation of crop protection agents. The growing demand for biodegradable surfactants further increased the usage of linear alkyl benzene in the market.

• In Germany, the production of detergents and personal care products was 11.2 billion euros in 2023, according to VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie)
• In 2022, according to the China Surfactant Industry Alliance, the total output of surfactants reached 4.262 million tons, sales volume reached 4.209 million tons, and demand reached 3.6329 million tons. In 2022, China's surfactant imports were 2,45,700 tons, and exports were 8,74,800 tons. In 2022, China's surfactants were mainly exported to Russia, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

LINEAR ALKYL BENZENE (LAB) MARKET DRIVERS:

Increasing application in the light-duty dishwashing liquid

The increased use of light-duty dishwashing liquid is one of the major reasons for the growing demand for linear alkyl benzene. Light-duty dishwashing liquids are generally milder than other harsh chemicals, these are beneficial for the skin and the material applied. The long-lasting effect on the environment has been noticed to be low compared to traditional detergents.

LABSA is applied to manufacture detergents, dishwashing detergents, detergent powder, cleaning powder, washing powders, detergent cakes, liquid soap, soaps, etc. It is a sulfonic acid compound used as a foaming agent, a cleaning agent in more formulations, and toilet soaps for foaming. Further, Laundry detergents containing linear alkyl benzene sulphonates are more effective at removing oily and greasy stains. Overall, the market growth would be driven by the demand for light-duty washing substances.

Adaptation of biodegradable surfactant

Biodegradable surfactants are compounds that reduce the surface tension of liquids, enabling them to mix with other substances. These surfactants are specifically designed to decompose naturally into simpler substances by biological processes, causing minimal harm to the environment, thus reducing the impact on the environment.

With the growing awareness and demand for environmentally friendly products, the future of biodegradable surfactants looks promising. Linear alkylbenzene sulphonate is an anionic surfactant. It was introduced in 1964 as the readily biodegradable replacement for highly branched alkylbenzene sulphonates. It is one of the major anionic surfactants used on the market, driving the demand for linear alkylbenzene.

Growing urbanization and rapid industrialization

The growing migration crisis and urbanization are leading to the increased population in the world's major cities. According to the World Bank, about 56% of the world’s population, or 4.4 billion inhabitants, live in cities. This trend is anticipated to grow as the urban population will double its current size by 2050, at which point nearly 7 of 10 people will live in cities.?

The urban population is highly concerned about hygiene and cleanliness, which is expected to drive the linear alkyl benzene market during the forecast period. The rising sales of surface cleaners, cleaners, powders, and artificial cleaners due to the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic are also driving its market growth.

Linear Alkyl Benzene Market Geographical Outlook

The Asia Pacific region will dominate the linear alkyl benzene market during the forecast period.

The major countries in the region, such as India, China, Japan, Korea, and Australia, play a vital role in the rapid economic growth and industrialization. Furthermore, countries of ASEAN, like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia, are experiencing fast economic growth and increasing industrial development.

India's chemical industry sector is the 6th largest producer of chemicals globally and 3rd in Asia, only after China and Japan. The usage of detergents and soaps has rapidly increased in the country due to the Swachh Bharat Mission. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to the increased use of detergents. Further,  In China, the total import and export volume of the chemical industry was US$952.29 billion. Among them, the total export volume was US$316.53 billion in 2023.  The export value of basic chemical raw materials was US$95.35 billion. The country’s demand for soap and detergents would increase the demand for linear alkyl benzene. China is one of the largest consumer markets in the world for personal care and cleansing products. The overall economic expansion in the region would lead to an increased demand for the cleansing product.

Linear alkyl benzene market restraints:

• Research suggests that there is no direct harm to the exposure and the environmental risk for aquatic, terrestrial, and soil. The effect on humans when prolonged or repeated contact is significant.  Production and formulation of the product life cycle cause the amount of chemicals released or emitted into the environment that are harmful to the environment.

Linear alkyl benzene market key developments:

• In March 2024, MAIRE (MAIRE.MI) announced that its subsidiary Tecnimont got an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning contract from SONATRACH for a new LAB plant in the industrial zone of Skikda, located 350 km east of Algeria. The contract was valued at approximately USD 1.1 billion. The project is implemented to create a new LAB plant with a production capacity of 100,000 tons per year. This included the associated utilities, offsites, and interconnections with the existing facilities. The completion of the project is scheduled within 44 months from the day of the agreement. This agreement would strengthen the company in Algeria and the downstream petrochemical value chain.
• In April 2023,  The Bureau of Indian Standards (a statutory body functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India) gave certification to Tamil Nadu Petroproducts Limited, Tiruvallur for Linear Alkyl Benzene. This certification is given to them for products and maintaining their quality.
• In January 2023, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd (PCBL)  Cepsa Química launched Nextlab, the world's first sustainable linear alkylbenzene.  NextLab is the world's first sustainable linear alkyl benzene.  Products within the NextLab portfolio have the same properties as PETRELAB, Cepsa Química’s linear alkyl benzene, but are manufactured sustainably. NextLab products are utilized in the Home Care Industry. The major priority is to decrease GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions into the atmosphere to reduce the impact of climate change. NextLab consists of three main types.  NextLab - R, available worldwide and produced with renewable raw materials, is based on a mass balance approach. NextLab - Low carbon that is produced with a GHG footprint reduction. NextLab - C is the linear alkyl benzene that is produced with circular raw materials. Cepsa Química is also a leading company in producing surfactants and their raw materials.
• In July 2022, Cepsa Química supplied consumer goods leader Unilever with NextLab. This is the new range of sustainable products that include renewable and recycled raw materials. This is a new development for circular chemistry, as NextLab uses “green carbon” derived from biomass instead of fossil fuels.

The linear alkyl benzene market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Application

• Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)
• Other applications such as solvents and paints

By Distribution Channel

• Direct
• Indirect

By Geography

• North America
• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of South America
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Rest of the Middle East and Africa
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific