Prices of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in India witnessed a moderate increase in April 2025 due to growing demand from the personal care and detergent industries. The rise in prices reflects that consumer consumption increased along with active promotions and seasonal demand for hygiene and cleaning products. Prices of raw materials, such as fatty alcohols, moved upward, which added to overall upward pricing pressure for SLS. Manufacturers had no option but to pass on these increases to purchasers, and that helped elevate the price of SLS.

One of the key drivers of the rise in prices was the increase in the price of raw materials (lauryl alcohol and sulfuric acid) used in the production of SLS. The price rise of the feedstocks added to production costs for SLS manufacturers and had to be passed on via a price increase. There were additional complications on the supply side because of supply chain interruptions that experienced port clearance delays and transportation bottlenecks, which tightened SLS availability in the country. Variability in international shipping and influxes of inconsistent supply all had varying price pressures impacting the local market for domestic market participants.

On the demand side, the personal care market saw significant growth because of the rise in personal care (shampoos, body washes, and hygiene) products. The growth rate was characterized by marketing from larger companies trying to divert consumer spending from competitors in a competitive market. The detergent market also had increased production due to heightened consumption and simulated increased SLS use as a product component. Hygiene product manufacturing continued to be a reliable cause for demand for SLS across all product lines during that month.

Some formulators expressed concern over rising raw materials costs despite the strong demand, which may result in product reformulations or price increases in downstream products. While demand for SLS is currently strong, there are upward cost pressures that may impact the SLS market in the coming months.

As per ChemAnalyst, in the future, the SLS market in India may still face pressures regarding its cost, particularly if raw material costs do not moderate from high-level prices. Industry stakeholders are taking great care to monitor whether there will be an increase in supply chain costs, to what extent they will occur, and whether certain ingredients may experience cost fluctuations like key feedstocks. All of these factors will ultimately guide cost trends for SLS in the months ahead.