Decyl Glucoside prices in India rose by 4% in May 2025, driven by rising upstream costs and limited raw material supply, particularly coconut impacted by Kerala's root wilt disease. Despite steady demand from the personal care sector, manufacturers cautiously reduced production to manage costs, leading to lean inventories. With coconut oil prices expected to stay firm and seasonal demand picking up, Decyl Glucoside prices are likely to remain on an upward trend through June.
In May, the Indian Decyl Glucoside market rose by 4%. Prices increased primarily due to higher upstream costs and limited supply. Major raw materials for decyl glucoside saw marked price increases, including corn starch (up 1.3%) and coconut (up 1.5%). Coconut, due to the outbreak of Kerala root wilt disease, experienced some supply limitations that were affecting yield in major coconut-producing regions, including Coimbatore. Additionally, a 40% increase in by-product coconut output drew supply of raw coconut away from oil extraction and compounded the tightness in availability of decyl glucoside for surfactant production.
Despite moderate demand from the personal care sector, input cost inflation applied upward pressure on overall decyl glucoside market prices. The depot-based trends from Mumbai levels reflected the decyl glucoside market at increased prices into the end of the month. However, it supported demand albeit steady and not strong, indicating a cost-led rally in the decyl glucoside segment rather than one fuelled by strong offtake.
The manufacturing in the domestic decyl glucoside facilities remained mostly stable, with no major interruptions into production, but many decyl glucoside manufacturers chose to lower production levels slightly in order to maintain margins while feedstock prices continued to rise. All production locations indicated sufficient availability of supporting inputs, but finished goods inventories of decyl glucoside were somewhat leaner at the end of the month because of low production and consequently careful cost control measures.
The decyl glucoside supply chain continued to function with relative efficiency, with smooth movement of input materials to key production hubs. However, decyl glucoside producers remained cautious in their output planning, anticipating continued pressure on input pricing in the weeks ahead. This led to a measured approach in meeting market requirements, subtly tightening regional supply without disrupting availability.
On the demand side, personal care products manufacturers were also prudent in their raw material requirements, whether it be the shampoos, facial cleansers, and baby care markets, there continued to be consistent consumption levels, but downstream buyers hesitated to buy in bulk and continued to use existing inventories. Seasonal product formulation activities using decyl glucoside were underway, though did not lead to major demand spikes.
Looking ahead, ChemAnalyst expects that in India, decyl Glucoside prices are most likely to continue to rise the next weeks of June, driven by the upward pressure from rising feedstock costs, limited supply of raw materials. The feedstock coconut oil price is expected to remain firm due to limited supply because of limited yields from the Kerala root wilt disease. Steady prices for corn starch and higher demand from seasonal personal care products, such as cleansers and shampoos, may support some upward price pressure in the future. With cautious buying turning into restocking sales, market sentiment will likely turn to optimistic and add to the bullish price outlook in the near term.
