Indonesia Surfactants Market Research Report: Forecast (2026-2032)

Indonesia Surfactants Market Report Key Takeaways:

• Market size is valued at around USD 0.679 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.18 billion by 2032. The estimated CAGR from 2026 to 2032 is around 8.19%, indicating strong growth.
• By Product Type, anionic surfactants seized a significant market share, around 47% in 2025.
• By End User, the household consumer segment holds the largest market share, around 45% in 2025.
• Leading surfactant manufacturing companies in Indonesia are BASF, Dow, Evonik Industries AG, Clariant, Nouryon, Kao Corporation, Stepan, Croda, PT Lion Wings, and others.

Market Insights & Analysis: Indonesia Surfactants Market (2026-32):

The Indonesia Surfactants Market size is valued at around USD 0.679 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.18 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 8.19% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

The Indonesia surfactants market is positioned for continued growth as the country strengthens its domestic chemical-processing and consumer-goods industries. Rising national sanitation standards are a major contributor. According to the Ministry of Health, Indonesia increased access to basic hygiene facilities, reflecting the expansion of soap-based cleaning habits across urban and rural households.

Additionally, industrial expansion is another key driver. Indonesia’s chemical, pharmaceutical, and rubber sectors grew significantly, supported by the rising production of home-care and personal-care goods, which rely heavily on surfactants. Local manufacturers such as PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk and PT Wings Surya have expanded capacity for liquid detergents, dishwashing liquids, and personal-wash products, aligning with increasing demand in modern retail channels.

Moreover, Indonesia’s export capabilities also reinforce market momentum. For instance, in 2023, the country exported over USD4.8 billion worth of soap, cleaning products, and chemical preparations, reflecting strong downstream manufacturing capabilities that rely on both synthetic and bio-based surfactants.

Indonesia Surfactants Market Recent Developments:

• 2024: The U.S. Department of Defense awarded USD20 million to Electra Battery Materials to help build a sustainable cobalt-sulfate supply chain, supporting North America’s first commercial-scale cobalt-sulfate refinery. This marks a major push toward domestic, secure battery-metal production.

Indonesia Surfactants Market Scope:

Indonesia Surfactants Market Drivers:

Rising Oleochemical Strength Encourages Local Surfactant Production 

Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s largest producers of palm oil-based oleochemicals is a major driver for local surfactant production. Oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and glycerin are essential feedstocks for bio-based and semi-synthetic surfactants.

According to the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), national crude palm oil (CPO) output reached approximately 50 million tonnes in 2023, providing abundant raw material for downstream chemical processing. This sizable feedstock base enables Indonesian manufacturers to produce key intermediates used in surfactants, including fatty-alcohol-derived ethoxylates and alkyl polyglucosides.

This availability of renewable feedstocks reduces dependence on petrochemical imports, strengthens supply security, and supports the shift toward more sustainable surfactant formulations. It also encourages local companies in the cleaning, personal-care, and industrial-chemical sectors to expand surfactant production using domestically sourced oleochemical inputs.

Indonesia Surfactants Market Trends:

Shift Toward Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

Indonesia is undergoing a clear shift toward eco-friendly and bio-based surfactants as sustainability becomes central to consumer demand and industrial policy. The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) highlights rapid growth in cosmetics and personal-care manufacturing, prompting greater use of milder, biodegradable surfactants suited for skin-care and hygiene applications.

Moreover, leading FMCG companies operating in Indonesia, such as Unilever Indonesia, PT Kino Indonesia, and PT Lion Wings, have expanded product lines featuring plant-derived or biodegradable surfactants. Unilever’s Clean Future initiative, for instance, prioritises renewable carbon ingredients in home-care formulations, influencing local supply chains and formulation choices across Indonesia. These renewable inputs support the domestic production of natural surfactant systems.

Indonesia Surfactants Market Challenges:

Heavy Dependence on Imported Feedstock

A major challenge in Indonesia’s surfactants industry is its heavy reliance on imported chemical feedstocks, especially for producing anionic surfactants like LAS and SLS. Many key raw materials, such as mixed alkylbenzenes and certain petrochemical intermediates, are not produced in sufficient quantities domestically. For instance, Indonesia imported 16,978,200 kg of mixed alkylbenzenes in 2023, a core ingredient used to produce detergent-grade surfactants. This dependency exposes manufacturers to global price fluctuations, currency volatility, and international supply-chain disruptions.

Additionally, Indonesia’s chemical industry still imports a substantial portion of upstream petrochemical feedstocks because local refining and chemical-processing capacity remains limited. When international prices rise or when global shipping delays occur, Indonesian detergent and personal-care manufacturers face higher input costs, which can affect product affordability in a highly price-sensitive market.

Manufacturers must maintain larger safety stocks or secure long-term contracts to avoid shortages, increasing operational costs. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions and shifting global trade flows can disrupt access to raw materials.

Indonesia Surfactants Market (2026-32) Segmentation Analysis:

The Indonesia Surfactants Market Report and Forecast 2026-2032 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Based on Type

• Anionic-Surfactants
• Non-Ionic Surfactants
• Cationic Surfactants
• Amphoteric Surfactants
• Specialty Surfactants

Anionic surfactants hold the dominant share in Indonesia, around 47% because they underpin the country’s large-scale detergent, industrial cleaning, and formulation industries. For instance, consistent annual growth in national soap and cleaning-agent output leads to market growth, as these products rely heavily on anionic surfactants such as Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

LAS remains the most widely used detergent surfactant globally, and Indonesia regularly imports significant volumes of LAS, underscoring strong domestic dependence on anionic surfactant inputs. For instance, in 2024, Indonesia imported about USD20.8 million, indicating a huge demand for anionic surfactants in the country.

Additionally, Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) classifies downstream chemicals, particularly cleaning and formulation chemicals, as strategic priority sectors, encouraging capacity expansion and technology upgrades. Anionic surfactants are preferred within these sectors because they offer high detergency efficiency, strong foaming performance, broad formulation compatibility, and cost effectiveness, making them ideal for large-scale industrial and commercial manufacturing. These combined factors firmly reinforce anionic surfactants’ leading position in Indonesia’s surfactants market.

Based on End User

• Household Consumers
• Commercial
• Industrial Manufacturing
• Institutional

Household consumers dominate this market, with a market share of around 45%. Home-care and personal-care goods are produced and used at very high volumes nationwide, as a result generating maximum market revenue. Additionally, Indonesia’s cosmetics and personal-care manufacturing sector grew significantly, one of the fastest-growing downstream chemical industries, driven by strong demand for shampoos, soaps, body washes, and skin-cleaning products, all of which rely heavily on surfactants. The Ministry also notes that Indonesia now has more than 1,000 licensed cosmetics and personal-care manufacturers, reflecting large-scale domestic production aimed primarily at household use.

Moreover, the national hygiene initiatives, including the Handwashing with Soap Action Plan (2022–2030), further increase routine consumption of soaps and cleansing products in homes, schools, and public facilities. These factors are supporting a large domestic output of detergents and personal-care formulations.

Gain a Competitive Edge with Our Indonesia Surfactants Market Report

• Indonesia Surfactants Market Report by MarkNtel Advisors provides a detailed & thorough analysis of market size & share, growth rate, competitive landscape, and key players. This comprehensive analysis helps businesses gain a holistic understanding of the market dynamics & make informed decisions.
• This report also highlights current market trends & future projections, allowing businesses to identify emerging opportunities & potential challenges. By understanding market forecasts, companies can align their strategies & stay ahead of the competition.
• Indonesia Surfactants Market Report aids in assessing & mitigating risks associated with entering or operating in the market. By understanding market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and potential challenges, businesses can develop strategies to minimize risks & optimize their operations.

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