The global biosurfactants market was valued at approximately USD 2,577.7 million in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 4,018.4 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2025 to 2030. Increasing consumer preference for sustainable and natural products alongside the demand for cleaning and hygiene items is propelling market growth.
The biosurfactants industry is gaining momentum due to rising awareness of the environmental benefits offered by biodegradable and renewable materials. Produced by microorganisms including yeast, fungi, and bacteria, biosurfactants serve as sustainable alternatives to synthetic surfactants, offering low toxicity and easy biodegradability. Consequently, biosurfactants are seeing expanded applications across industries such as food processing, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
The market’s progression is driven by the eco-friendly nature of biosurfactants, prompting manufacturers to pivot towards sustainable products that align with consumer preferences. Government initiatives and increasing consumer knowledge of biosurfactant benefits are further catalyzing market growth.
Applications span food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, and oil recovery. Adoption is growing as a substitute for chemical surfactants, underpinned by heightened environmental consciousness and cost-effectiveness. This trend is expected to continue as demand grows for eco-conscious products worldwide.
Methyl ester sulfonates (MES) accounted for 33.4% of market revenue in 2023. Derived from renewable sources such as palm and coconut oils, MES is an environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative to synthetic surfactants. It exhibits excellent properties including biodegradability, low toxicity, and outstanding detergency, foaming, and wetting capabilities, suitable for diverse cleaning applications in laundry, dishwashing, and household products.
Rhamnolipids are forecasted to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. These biosurfactants, produced by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, attract global interest due to their unique functional and environmental advantages, including reducing surface tension and acting as emulsifiers, wetting agents, and foaming agents. Increasing adoption of rhamnolipids reflects the shift toward environmentally sustainable products.
Household detergents led the market, capturing a 45.0% share in 2023. Biosurfactants are gaining preference as eco-friendly ingredients in products like dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and general cleaners because they effectively remove grease, dirt, and stains while being less toxic and more environmentally safe, making them suitable for households with children and pets.
Personal care is set to achieve the highest CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period. The demand for natural and gentle cosmetics, including shampoos and body washes, is rising, with biosurfactants enabling claims of natural and eco-friendly formulations, allowing producers to command premium pricing. Growing consumer awareness is thus driving market expansion in this segment.
North America emerged as a key market due to shifting consumer preferences fueled by concerns over toxins released from chemical surfactants during biodegradation. Investment in health and cleanliness sectors and demand for enhanced oil recovery in the petroleum industry are expected to drive further growth.
The U.S. market is projected to grow rapidly, supported by rising demand for natural and organic products across personal care, cleaning, and food sectors. Biosurfactants, derived from renewable resources, fit well with this market trend.
Europe dominated the global market with 52.6% share in 2023. Increasing manufacturer awareness of environmentally friendly alternatives and stricter legislation to limit harmful chemical residues are propelling growth. Policies aimed at reducing surfactant content in detergents to mitigate marine environmental impacts have been particularly influential.
The UK led the European segment, driven by demand for natural raw materials in personal care and cosmetics. Stringent regulations on hazardous substances push industries to replace synthetic surfactants with biosurfactants that comply with environmental standards.
Asia Pacific is forecasted for notable growth due to public concerns about the environmental and health effects of traditional surfactants. Major countries including China, Japan, India, and South Korea drive demand through increased personal and home care product consumption and advancements in environmentally friendly technologies.
China’s expanding industries, particularly food processing, textiles, and oil & gas, are creating substantial demand for biodegradable, high-performance cleaning solutions like biosurfactants.
Key companies include Evonik Industries AG, Allied Carbon Solutions, Saraya Co., and Jeneil Biotech. Growing eco-friendly product demand encourages strategic partnerships and competitive positioning in the biosurfactants space.
The leading biosurfactants firms collectively dominate market share and guide industry trends.
| Report Attribute | Details |
| Market size value in 2024 | USD 3.31 billion |
| Revenue forecast in 2030 | USD 4.74 billion |
| Growth rate | CAGR of 6.1% from 2024 to 2030 |
| Base year for estimation | 2023 |
| Historical data | 2018 – 2022 |
| Forecast period | 2024 – 2030 |
| Quantitative units | Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2024 to 2030 |
| Report coverage | Volume and revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
| Segments covered | Product, application, region |
| Regional scope | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, MEA |
| Country scope | U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia |
| Key companies profiled | Evonik Industries AG, Allied Carbon Solutions Co., Ltd., Saraya Co., Ltd., Jeneil Biotech, Inc., Solvay S.A., Givaudan, Synthezyme LLC, Kaneka Corporation, GlycoSurf LLC, Stepan Company |
This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels while analyzing the latest industry trends from 2018 to 2030. The biosurfactants market is segmented by product, application, and region:
