Frost & Sullivan: Demand from Rapidly Growing Personal Care and Household Sectors Sustains Surfactants Market in Brazil and Argentina

Multifunctional and renewable solutions to find more takers

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Sep 10, 2013, 09:27 ET

SAO PAULO, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The rapid growth of end-user sectors, including personal care and household products, mining, and agrochemicals, is expected to sustain the Brazilian and Argentinian surfactants market. The personal and household care segments, in particular, will be key end users chiefly due to the greater purchasing power of the middle class, who are spending more on fast-moving consumer goods.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.chemicals.frost.com) Analysis of the Brazilian and Argentinian Surfactants Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $1.44 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach $1.96 billion in 2018. The study covers amphoteric, anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants.

"Anionic surfactants account for nearly 50 percent of the total market in Brazil and Argentina as it is heavily utilized in the personal and household care segments," said Frost & Sullivan Chemicals, Materials and Food Industry Analyst Hernan Cavarra. "The cationic surfactants segment will expand the fastest."

Despite this increase in consumption, higher surfactant prices tied to the rise in petroleum, production and labor costs are reducing the margins of domestic manufacturers. The need to compete with low-priced Asian products further strains profits. Moreover, consolidation in the customer base has decreased business opportunities in Brazil. This has enhanced customer negotiation power, which along with retailer consolidation, curbs revenues.

Developing multifunctional products will widen application scope and be a crucial step to overcome these challenges. The multifunctionality of final products, which are able to solubilize, hold ingredients together, and improve product stability, will spur sale volumes.

Environmental concerns among customers in Brazil and Argentina will lead to the creation of natural, renewable-based products. Emphasis on green surfactants manufacturing is especially vital as raw material prices from petroleum derivatives escalate.

"Manufacturers are responding to this trend by eliminating alkylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenol ethoxylates from their formulations and replacing them with natural, renewable, oleo-based products such as methyl ester sulfates from soy, palm oil or seed oil-based alcohol ethoxylates," observed Cavarra. "More focus on research and development to add value to products will contribute to market growth."

Customer service and technical assistance are also important factors for winning share and recognition in this dynamic market.

If you are interested in more information on this research, please send an e-mail to Francesca Valente, Corporate Communications, at [email protected], with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

Analysis of the Brazilian and Argentinian Surfactants Market is part of the Chemicals & Materials Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related research services include: The Mexican Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemical Market, Engineering Polymers Market in Colombia, Brazilian Municipal Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market, Protective Gloves Market in Mexico, and Argentinean Automotive Paints and Coatings Market. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Analysis of the Brazilian and Argentinian Surfactants Market
NCA4-39

Contact:
Francesca Valente
Corporate Communications – Latin America
P: +54 11 4777 5300
F: +54 11 4777 5300
E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan