Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3, reflecting subdued demand from key downstream sectors including personal care, detergents, and industrial cleaners.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Forecast for Q4 2025 suggests a flat-to-soft trend, with limited upside due to cautious restocking and slow recovery in consumer product manufacturing.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Production Cost Trend remained stable, supported by steady lauryl alcohol feedstock availability and low energy input costs, helping producers maintain margin stability.
• Weekly movements in the Price Index were neutral to soft, with no major supply disruptions reported during the quarter.
• Export activity remained moderate, while domestic consumption was impacted by a slower-than-expected recovery in retail and industrial cleaning segments.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate change in September 2025 in North America?
• Prices decreased due to low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers, despite expectations of seasonal demand improvement.
• Stable feedstock costs and uninterrupted production maintained supply, while high inventories and muted procurement activity kept pressure on prices.
• Buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach, anticipating further price corrections amid weak downstream momentum.
APAC
• In China, the Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Index fell by 0.58% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weak exports.
• The average Sodium Lauryl Sulphate price for the quarter was approximately USD 1874.33/MT, supported by transaction data.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Spot Price showed limited volatility as domestic demand softened and inventories increased.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Index movements were constrained by competitive regional imports and logistics costs.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Production Cost Trend remained stable as feedstock lauryl alcohol prices were unchanged.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Demand Outlook is neutral with detergent downstream demand recovering amid cautious procurement.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Forecast suggests downside risk absent stronger export orders or feedstock increases.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Index reacted to reduced export inquiries and domestic rates among producers.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Spot Price and inventories will guide seller bargaining power and contract negotiations.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate change in September 2025 in APAC?
• Export demand weakened against competitive regional supplies and higher logistics complexity impacting margins and shipments.
• Stable feedstock and energy costs limited production cost pressure despite slightly higher localized utility expenses.
• Inventories increased modestly while domestic procurement remained conservative, reducing spot market urgency and upward pricing pressure.
Europe
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Index declined quarter-over-quarter in Q3, driven by weak demand from personal care, detergent, and industrial cleaning sectors.
• SLS is widely used in shampoos, toothpaste, liquid soaps, household detergents, industrial cleaners, textile processing, and agrochemical formulations due to its strong surfactant and foaming properties.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Price Forecast for Q4 2025 suggests a flat-to-soft trend, with limited upside due to cautious consumer spending and slow recovery in institutional cleaning demand.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Production Cost Trend remained stable, supported by consistent lauryl alcohol feedstock availability and moderate energy prices across Europe.
• Weekly movements in the Price Index were neutral to soft, with no major supply disruptions reported during the quarter.
• Export activity remained moderate, while domestic consumption was impacted by sluggish retail demand and delayed restocking by personal care manufacturers.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Prices decreased due to low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers, despite expectations of seasonal demand improvement.
• Stable feedstock and energy costs ensured a steady supply, while high inventories and cautious procurement behavior kept pressure on prices.
• Buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach, anticipating further price corrections amid weak downstream momentum.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Index in North America trended upward during Q2 2025, supported by consistent demand from personal care and household cleaning sectors.
• Supply remained moderately constrained due to disruptions in trans-Pacific shipments and increased lead times for imported fatty alcohols.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Production Cost Trend showed an uptick, driven by rising prices of sulfuric acid and imported raw materials, including lauryl alcohol.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Demand Outlook stayed firm, buoyed by consistent FMCG production and seasonal product rollouts by major personal care brands.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) change in July 2025 in North America?
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Index witnessed a modest decline in July 2025.
• Easing trans-Pacific shipping congestion led to improved availability of lauryl alcohol and sulfuric acid, reducing cost pressure.
• Detergent manufacturers slowed restocking activity after aggressive Q2 purchases, softening demand.
• Mild seasonal adjustments in procurement patterns prompted suppliers to make minor price corrections.
Europe
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Index in Europe rose during Q2 2025 as market participants faced elevated input costs and logistics disruptions tied to port delays in key hubs like Rotterdam and Antwerp.
• Local production was challenged by fluctuating sulfuric acid availability and tighter emissions controls, raising overall operating expenses for SLS manufacturers.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Production Cost Trend increased moderately as EU energy and compliance costs remained high.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Demand Outlook was stable, supported by consistent demand from both industrial-scale detergent producers and premium personal care brands.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) change in July 2025 in Europe?
• The SLS Price Index in Europe remained largely unchanged during July 2025.
• High production costs, including energy and emissions compliance expenses, kept price floors firm.
• Demand slightly weakened in Southern Europe due to seasonal holidays and macroeconomic uncertainty.
• Stable supply and moderate raw material costs prevented further price escalation but did not support a decrease either.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Index in India increased by 5.1% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2025, driven by a combination of rising raw material costs and strong demand from FMCG sectors.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Production Cost Trend rose sharply due to higher lauryl alcohol and sulfuric acid prices, as well as increased intra-Asia freight costs, which elevated import expenses.
• Import disruptions from Malaysia and China compounded supply-side tightness, while producers shifted focus to domestic sourcing under cost pressure.
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Demand Outlook remained robust, bolstered by rising rural consumption, promotional activities in the personal care segment, and consistent household cleaning product demand.
Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) change in July 2025 in Europe?
• The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Index declined slightly in July 2025.
• The onset of the monsoon season disrupted logistics and delayed FMCG procurement activity.
• While input costs for lauryl alcohol and sulfuric acid remained high, the temporary demand lull led to mild oversupply.
• Manufacturers reduced prices slightly to stimulate off-take and manage inventory levels.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
The United States, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) market has experienced steady and moderate trend in first quarter of 2025 comparing to last quarter of 2024. Till the mid-first quarter market grew, the growth flourished with potential and consistent demand from personal care and household cleaning sectors. The end month of 1Q 2025, led to the fall of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). The fall was influenced by the decline in the cost of feedstock prices. The fluctuation in the upstream market (Palm Oil & Caustic Soda) has become one of the potential reasons behind the downfall.
The purchases of consumer goods in March were comparatively lower than the February. Despite less purchase and decline in feedstock prices, the Sodium Lauryl Sulpahte (SLS) market was not much affected, as major possible impacts were absorbed by the personal care products which could have led to the downfall of SLS market.
Change in geopolitics has also played vital role, as United States manufacturing industries have planned to escalate the production to diverge global attention to America for exports.
APAC
The Indian Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) market has experienced a notable growth of 3.62% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024. This upward trend reflects a shift in consumer behavior, increased by the awareness of personal hygiene and sanitation.
Post pandemic, growing hygiene awareness was seen among the Indians especially middle-class family. The ongoing cultural shift has fueled Indian consumer to grow attention on personal health care and cleanliness for develop better personal hygiene. Not India but several Asian countries are seen with grown awareness on personal care.
As result, an increase in demand from downstream industries such as shampoos, bodywash, facial cleansers, and toothpaste were experienced. The surge in demand from downstream industries directly contributed to the growth of the Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) market in India. The manufacturers have increased production capacity and diversification product formulation to provide more hygiene focused products. The growing influence of E-commerce and digital buying has made personal care products more accessible, stimulating demand of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS).
First quarter 2025, India lead Asia in exports of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and second quarter is expected to maintain the same.
Europe
In Europe the Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) market performed mixture of both up & down, later decline by the end of first quarter 2025. The demand from key downstream industries was low, no new orders were made in 1Q 2025.
While Germany is recognized for being the largest producer of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) in Europe, faced significant challenges to revive the SLS market in the first quarter of 2025. The customers have lowered their confidence and trust, which has led to reduced production of SLS. The growing inflation and economic uncertainty in Germany, has squeezed the market. The customers have prioritized essential purchasing and exhibit the behavior of cautious buying among themselves. Analyzing the current market conditions the producers have reduced the manufacturing of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). With lower order volume and growing pressure to maintain operational efficiency, developed instability within the European market. Such insecurities have made producer to take cost cutting measure, by reducing the manpower and temporary plant shutdown.
