In December 2025, China Sodium Lauryl Sulphate prices were up by 1.3% because of increased sulphuric acid prices, whereas SLS prices in India remained unchanged as a result of eased prices for fatty alcohol and balanced manufacturing conditions despite strong demand for personal care and cosmetic products.
Prices of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) spread diagonally different trends in the Asian market for December 2025. China posted a 1.3% hike in prices for the month, while the market for India held firm.
In the Chinese market, SLS prices recorded a slight increase due to manufacturing costs, mainly due to the steep escalation in the prices of sulphuric acid in the fourth quarter of 2025. Although there was a decline in the prices of fatty alcohol, this impact was overtaken by the steep increase in the price of sulphuric acid. Therefore, the SLS industry experienced an increase in net production cost, and accordingly, the prices escalated.
The increase in the price of sulphuric acid is driven by the fundamental cost structure and supply chain challenges. The prices of sulphur, which are 50% import-sensitive, increased significantly due to a decrease in Russian imports triggered by geopolitical events and a diversion of Middle Eastern sources to growth markets like Indonesia. The low port stocks exacerbated the shortages, and as a consequence, the local price of sulphur touched an all-time high in mid-December, posting a 130% increase since the beginning of the year. The fundamental factor of the closure of sulphuric acid plants for repairs in key areas like Shandong and Liaoning exacerbated the price trend in December.
The Chinese downstream market continued to support, which also served to absorb SLS costs. The personal care products market continued to grow in value terms, with the personal care market showing an approximate 1.1% growth in its performance in December. This was driven by penetration in third-tier cities, continued diversification of retail, and good performance of domestic brands. The consumer also continued to shift towards products that are driven by their functional qualities, such as hygiene and personal wash products that are based on SLS.
Meanwhile, India’s SLS prices did not change from the previous month in December due to feedstock movements that balanced out cost pressures. Prices of fatty alcohol, a key raw material, softened and relieved part of the burden on SLS production costs, but higher sulphuric acid prices mostly neutralized this positive factor, which prevented any meaningful downward price adjustment. Domestically, SLS production rates remained stable, as manufacturers-maintained price levels through steady supply conditions.
Demand for personal care and cosmetics in India remained strong on the back of festive season consumption and structural growth. Leading players such as Nykaa reported year-on-year revenue growth in the mid-20%, while Godrej Consumer Products noted that affordability is improving, along with double-digit revenue expansion, and recovery in soaps and hygiene categories. This strong demand backdrop did little to stir Indian SLS prices from the range, given stable production economics.
According to ChemAnalyst, the Chinese SLS market is expected to remain under the pressure of increasing sulphuric acid and sulfur prices. On the other hand, ease of availability may slow down the upsurge. In the Indian market, the SLS market is projected to witness stable prices owing to stable production rates, stable feedstock prices, and constant demand for personal care products.
