For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in North America registered a notable quarter-on-quarter decline, driven by the following market dynamics:
• The SCS Price Index exhibited a consistent downward trend throughout Q2 2025, beginning in April as soft end-user demand, elevated stock levels, and subdued trade flows—particularly with Asia and Europe—weighed on market sentiment.
• Although Coconut Oil feedstock prices remained high across the quarter, the elevated input costs failed to translate into higher SCS prices, as market participants were constrained by sluggish downstream demand and a well-supplied market environment.
• Regional demand from key segments such as personal care, hygiene products, and cleaning formulations remained weak, with buyers largely sticking to pre-contracted volumes and avoiding spot market exposure amidst uncertain consumption patterns.
• Export activity also underperformed expectations, with logistical bottlenecks—including intermittent trucking delays and rising container freight costs—hindering competitiveness of U.S.-origin SCS, particularly during April and June.
• Even though demand showed minor improvement in June alongside warmer weather and seasonal production upticks, gains were insufficient to offset the broader bearish sentiment, resulting in an overall sharp decline in the SCS Price Index in North America for Q2 2025.
Why did the price of SCS change in July 2025 in North America?
The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in the U.S. increased due to:
• Firm Coconut Oil feedstock prices, driven by global supply limitations—especially from key Southeast Asian exporters like Indonesia and the Philippines—pushed up production costs for North American manufacturers.
• Tighter domestic supply, as cautious production runs and subdued import volumes restricted product availability in the U.S. spot market.
• Consistent demand from downstream sectors, particularly in personal care, hygiene, and cleaning applications, supported stronger procurement levels during the warmer summer months.
• Increased freight charges from Asia to North America, which significantly elevated the landed cost of imported SCS, leading to higher price realizations for both distributors and end-users.
• Higher inland logistics costs and intermittent transport bottlenecks, including trucking delays and warehouse congestion, further contributed to the overall rise in the SCS Price Index across the U.S. market.
Europe
• The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in Europe increased throughout the second quarter 2025.
• Rising feedstock Coconut Oil costs, as tight global supply and higher import prices from Asia raised upstream input costs for European SCS manufacturers.
• Tight regional inventories, with limited restocking from overseas suppliers and cautious domestic production, leading to reduced spot availability.
• Steady demand from the personal care and detergent sectors, particularly as summer consumption rose and private-label manufacturers ramped up procurement.
• Increased logistical costs, including elevated container shipping rates and inland transport expenses across the EU, which added to overall product pricing.
• Import delays and port congestion, particularly at key hubs like Rotterdam and Hamburg, which disrupted supply schedules and reinforced bullish sentiment in the regional market
Why did the price of SCS change in July 2025 in Europe?
The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in Europe increased due to:
• Upward pressure from Coconut Oil feedstock prices, as global supply constraints—particularly from Southeast Asian exporters—raised the cost base for European manufacturers.
• Limited product availability in the region, with subdued imports and cautious production activity tightening supply in the spot market.
• Robust demand from end-use sectors, including personal care, hygiene, and cleaning products, where steady seasonal consumption supported increased procurement.
• Renewed export demand from nearby markets, such as the Middle East and North Africa, which added momentum to regional pricing trends.
• Higher shipping and inland transport costs, combined with intermittent port delays, which elevated distribution expenses and contributed to firmer prices across the European market.
APAC
The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in APAC witnessed a significant quarter-on-quarter decline of 23.7% due to the following market developments:
• The Price Index of SCS steadily declined through Q2 2025, with April setting the bearish tone amid soft domestic demand, high inventory levels, and challenging export conditions, especially across Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.
• Elevated feedstock Coconut Oil prices in all three months of the quarter pushed production costs upward, but this was not reflected in the SCS Price Index due to weak buying sentiment and an oversupplied market that restricted suppliers' ability to raise prices.
• Domestic market conditions remained sluggish across APAC, as downstream industries like soaps, detergents, and personal care products experienced muted offtake, with most buyers opting for contractual volumes and avoiding speculative procurement.
• Export demand remained tepid across the quarter, with logistical challenges—such as persistent port congestion and increased freight costs—limiting Indian-origin SCS’s competitiveness in key APAC destinations, especially during April and June.
• Despite slight demand recovery during the summer and monsoon onset in June, bullish momentum was capped by continued international demand weakness, cautious downstream consumption patterns, and macroeconomic headwinds, contributing to the overall sharp decline in the SCS Price Index across APAC for Q2 2025.
Why did the price of SCS change in July 2025 in APAC?
The Price Index of Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) in APAC increased due to:
• Firm feedstock costs, as Coconut Oil prices rose amid tight supply conditions in key producing nations like Indonesia and the Philippines, pushing up production costs.
• Reduced regional supply availability, with several producers operating at lower capacities due to scheduled plant maintenance and constrained raw material inflows.
• Stronger demand from downstream industries, particularly in personal care, hygiene, and detergent sectors, where seasonal demand recovery led to higher procurement activity.
• Revived export inquiries, especially from markets in the Middle East and Africa, which supported a more bullish market sentiment and boosted price realizations.
• Logistical bottlenecks and increased freight rates, which inflated delivery costs and added upward pressure on final prices across key APAC markets.
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For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
During the first quarter Q1 2025, the North American Sodium Coco Sulphate (SCS) market experienced moderate price stability, supported by steady demand from the FMCG and soaps & detergents industries. Consumption levels remained consistent as manufacturers continued to prioritize sulphate-based surfactants in liquid and solid personal care formulations, particularly in the natural and eco-labelled products.
However, inventory levels remained elevated across major distributors due to pre-emptive restocking in late 2024. This led to slower offtakes in January, despite the favourable retail trends. Demand gained momentum by mid-February as FMCG firms launched seasonal product lines, boosting the overall procurement activities.
On the supply side, import volumes from Southeast Asia remained consistent, but slight delays at West Coast ports caused temporary tightness in some regions. Still, suppliers managed to avoid significant price volatility through contract-based allocations and robust domestic distribution networks. Overall, the SCS market in North America remained balanced, with expectations of stronger demand heading into Q2 amid improving consumer sentiment.
APAC
During the first quarter of 2025, the Sodium Coco Sulphate (SCS) market in the APAC region experienced a price decline of approximately 5.38%, primarily driven by bearish market fundamentals originating from India, a key regional supplier. Despite rising feedstock Coconut Oil costs, prices fell due to aggressive inventory liquidation efforts by Indian suppliers aiming to clear stock ahead of the financial year-end. This led to increased spot availability, putting downward pressure on prices.
Export demand remained weak, especially from North America and Europe, as tariff-related concerns and arbitrage limitations curtailed overseas inquiries. This contributed to inventory pileups at Indian ports, further amplifying the regional price slide.
On the domestic front, although early-quarter demand from the soaps and detergents sector remained stable, procurement activity declined in March due to conservative year-end buying. Additionally, smooth supply chain operations and the absence of production disruptions supported the ample market supply, reinforcing a bearish outlook across the APAC SCS market heading into Q2.
Europe
In the first quarter of 2025, the European Sodium Coco Sulphate (SCS) market exhibited a muted to bearish trend, primarily driven by sluggish downstream demand from the FMCG sector, particularly the soaps and detergents industry. Amid ongoing economic pressures and cautious consumer spending, major European buyers adopted conservative procurement strategies, focusing on existing inventory utilization rather than fresh purchases.
Import volumes from Asia, particularly India, remained stable to elevated, as Indian exporters aggressively liquidated stock ahead of the financial year-end, offering SCS at competitive prices. However, demand-side weakness in Europe, compounded by seasonally low consumption and continued tariff uncertainties, prevented any significant upward price movement.
Supply conditions in the region remained comfortable due to uninterrupted shipping activity and sufficient product availability across key ports. Despite higher upstream Coconut Oil costs globally, the SCS price levels in Europe declined moderately as suppliers passed on the pressure of abundant inventories and subdued export demand. Looking ahead, market participants remain cautiously optimistic, anticipating a demand uptick with the arrival of warmer months and improved FMCG sector activity.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In Q4 2024, the North American Sodium Coco-Sulphate (SCS) market experienced a shift from stability to a buyer’s market due to oversupply and logistical disruptions. Initially, prices remained stable as supply chains were strained by a combination of factors, including the ongoing hurricane season, which caused port closures and significant delays on the U.S. Gulf Coast. These disruptions, along with the strike between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), created uncertainty in the arrival of SCS shipments, further extending lead times.
However, as the festive season ended and businesses began to clear inventories, the market became flooded with excess SCS. Despite production cost increases in exporting market, driven by rising coconut oil prices, the abundant supply in North America combined with weaker demand from the downstream personal care and detergent industries led to a price decline. North American buyers, capitalizing on the surplus and supply chain delays, gained negotiating power and successfully secured lower prices.
By the end of the quarter, destocking activities dominated the market, and the once-stable market shifted into a buyer's market, characterized by lower prices and reduced purchasing urgency.
APAC
The APAC Sodium Coco-Sulphate (SCS) market experienced a mixed trend in Q4 2024, with prices initially rising by 6% before falling by 2% towards the end of the quarter. Coconut oil prices in India rose sharply by 6.25% in October, pushing up production costs for SCS, with prices climbing from Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,800 per quintal. This was further driven by the Sabarimala season, leading to a supply shortage. In November, production costs continued to rise due to higher coconut prices, which surged to Rs 130 per kg, 15% above the regulated market price. However, the market saw a supply glut due to festive holidays causing logistical delays and excess inventory in warehouses, which counterbalanced the price hikes.
Despite a further rise in coconut oil prices in December, the oversupply situation and weak demand from key export markets such as Asia, Europe, and North America led to minimal price increases. Destocking activities and off-season demand in downstream industries contributed to a bearish market. With ample supply and subdued demand, the APAC SCS market saw a price depreciation by the end of the quarter, reflecting an oversupply and weak export conditions.
Europe
In Q4 2024, the European Sodium Coco-Sulphate (SCS) market faced a challenging environment characterized by oversupply and weak demand. The market sentiment remained bearish as the downstream paint, coating, and construction industries continued to struggle, leading to subdued demand for SCS. Despite the supply from APAC being steady, the market was flooded with excess SCS, contributing to an oversupply situation.
Logistical disruptions further exacerbated market conditions. Strikes at key European ports and reduced shipping capacities slowed down product circulation, causing delays and lengthening lead times. Port closures and bottlenecks in trade routes between major European hubs limited the movement of goods and contributed to the build-up of excess inventory in warehouses. This situation was compounded by slow trading activity, with businesses struggling to offload stock.
As a result, the market became heavily oversupplied, and the excess SCS inventory pressured prices downward. With demand remaining low and no significant recovery in sight, suppliers were forced to lower prices to clear stock. The stagnant construction sector and weak activity in the downstream industries further hindered demand. Consequently, the European market remained in a bearish state, marked by excess inventory, slow trade, and reduced prices throughout Q4 2024.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
The North American Sodium Coco-Sulfate market experienced a predominantly bullish trend in the third quarter of 2024, largely due to higher-priced imports impacting the local market. The increased production costs for Sodium Coco-Sulfate were primarily driven by a significant surge in coconut oil prices, which rose by over 13% in Southeast Asia. This price hike was exacerbated by a scarcity of coconuts resulting from the El Niño weather pattern, which disrupted coconut production and created material shortages that directly affected coconut oil availability. The scarcity of coconuts, as the primary input for coconut oil production, resulted in a pronounced supply shock that resonated throughout global markets, including North America.
Additionally, consumer spending in the U.S. saw a modest increase of 0.2% in August, according to the American Chemistry Council. This uptick, primarily driven by greater spending on services, indicated a potential rise in demand for Sodium Coco-Sulfate, especially in consumer goods.
Further complicating the supply situation were the disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that significantly impacted logistics and supply chains in the southeastern United States. The combination of these factors led to heightened prices and a bullish market environment for Sodium Coco-Sulfate during this quarter.
APAC
The Asian Sodium Coco Sulfate market experienced a price inflation of approximately 5% in the third quarter of 2024. This increase was primarily driven by rising feedstock costs, particularly Coconut Oil, which surged by about 5% towards the end of the quarter. Notably, Coconut Oil prices had increased by approximately 13% due to reported shortages of coconuts amid strong demand, resulting in a sustained upward trend throughout September 2024. Several factors contributed to this price surge. The El Niño weather pattern significantly disrupted coconut production, leading to material shortages that directly impacted coconut oil availability. Given that coconuts are the primary input for coconut oil production, this supply shock was particularly impactful. On the demand side, the soap and detergent sectors exhibited moderate performance in the early part of the quarter. However, as the quarter progressed, sales rebounded significantly, driven by improved consumer sentiment linked to the upcoming festive season. This resurgence in demand further bolstered the pricing of Sodium Coco Sulfate, reflecting the interconnectedness of seasonal consumer behavior and production challenges. Overall, the combination of supply constraints and revitalized demand contributed to the upward pricing trajectory of Sodium Coco Sulfate during this period.
Europe
The European Sodium Coco-Sulfate market experienced a predominantly bullish trend in the third quarter of 2024, largely due to higher-priced imports impacting the local market. The increased production costs for Sodium Coco-Sulfate were primarily driven by a significant surge in coconut oil prices, which rose by over 13% in Southeast Asia. This price hike was exacerbated by a scarcity of coconuts resulting from the El Niño weather pattern, which disrupted coconut production and created material shortages that directly affected coconut oil availability. The scarcity of coconuts, as the primary input for coconut oil production, resulted in a pronounced supply shock that resonated throughout global markets, including in Europe. Compounding these supply issues were delays in shipments resulting from ongoing crises in the Red Sea, which affected shipping routes and led to longer lead times for deliveries. Such logistical challenges further exacerbated the strain on the supply chain, making it difficult for European markets to replenish inventories promptly In Europe, the market typically experiences a downturn in demand following the summer vacations, but this year the recovery has been particularly sluggish. Many suppliers opted to stockpile inventories in anticipation of increased demand during the festive quarter, which often sees heightened transactions in preparation for seasonal sales.
FAQ’s
1. How do fluctuations in Coconut Oil prices impact SCS production costs?
Coconut Oil is the primary raw material used in the synthesis of Sodium Coco-Sulfate. Any volatility in Coconut Oil prices—driven by weather conditions, export regulations, or regional supply shocks—directly affects the cost structure of SCS manufacturing. Typically, a sustained rise in Coconut Oil prices tightens SCS producer margins and results in upward pricing pressure on finished goods.
2. What role does the active matter content play in the pricing of SCS?
Active matter refers to the percentage of surfactant content in the final product, typically measured as a 30% or 70% solution in SCS grades. Higher active matter content commands a premium price due to its stronger performance in foaming, cleansing, and emulsification—key attributes in personal care and detergent formulations.
3. How does SCS compare to SLES in terms of pricing dynamics and substitution?
While both Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are anionic surfactants, SCS is derived from natural Coconut Oil and is generally positioned as a milder, more eco-friendly alternative. SCS tends to be priced higher than SLES due to its natural origin and biodegradability, making it a preferred choice in premium and sulfate-free formulations.
4. What impact do freight and logistics costs have on SCS import pricing in regions like North America and Europe?
SCS is heavily reliant on imports from Asia (especially India, Indonesia, and the Philippines). Escalating container freight rates, port congestion, and inland transport surcharges significantly increase the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of imported SCS. These logistical cost inflations are passed down the value chain and can lead to rapid spot price increases even when feedstock prices are stable.
5. Are there seasonal factors that influence SCS demand and pricing trends?
Yes. SCS consumption typically increases during warmer months (Q2–Q3), driven by higher demand for personal care and hygiene products such as shampoos, body washes, and liquid detergents. Additionally, promotional cycles and festival-driven production surges in key end-use sectors can temporarily skew demand, influencing short-term price spikes or supply tightness.
