Emulsifiers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Source (Bio-Based Emulsifiers and Synthetic Emulsifiers), By Application (Food Emulsifiers, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Oilfield Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Agrochemical), By Region 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 9.32 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.53%
Fastest Growing Segment	Bio-Based Emulsifiers
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 13.62 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Emulsifiers Market will grow from USD 9.32 Billion in 2025 to USD 13.62 Billion by 2031 at a 6.53% CAGR. Emulsifiers are amphiphilic compounds that stabilize mixtures of immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, by reducing surface tension and preventing phase separation. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the escalating demand for processed and convenience foods, where these agents are essential for enhancing texture, consistency, and shelf-life stability. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical and personal care sectors increasingly rely on high-performance emulsifying agents to improve the delivery and bioavailability of active ingredients in various formulations.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the volatility of raw material costs and the mounting pressure to secure sustainable supply chains, particularly for palm oil-based derivatives. Manufacturers must navigate complex regulatory environments and consumer demands for environmentally responsible sourcing, which often necessitates costly certification processes. According to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, in 2024, the global estimated production of certified sustainable palm oil reached 13.4 million tonnes. This transition toward certified feedstocks creates supply constraints and price premiums that can hinder broader market accessibility and profitability for standard emulsifier producers.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating consumption of processed and convenience foods is a fundamental force propelling the global emulsifiers market, as these additives are critical for maintaining texture, aeration, and shelf-stability in industrial bakery and confectionery products. As consumers increasingly prioritize ready-to-eat meals and packaged snacks, manufacturers require advanced stabilizing agents to ensure product consistency across extended supply chains. This reliance on functional ingredients for large-scale food processing continues to generate significant economic value and resilience against market volatility. According to Tate & Lyle, May 2024, in the 'Full Year Results 2024', the Food & Beverage Solutions division delivered an 8% increase in adjusted EBITDA, underscoring the sustained profitability and demand within the sector that supports processed food formulations.

Concurrent with volume growth is the rising consumer preference for clean-label and natural ingredients, which is fundamentally altering product development and ingredient sourcing. This driver compels suppliers to innovate, replacing synthetic emulsifiers with plant-based or natural texturizing systems that offer comparable functionality without compromising the "clean" status of the final product label. Consequently, ingredients that support transparent labeling are outperforming traditional counterparts in sales performance. According to Ingredion Incorporated, February 2024, in the '2023 Annual Report', net sales for specialty ingredients rose by 4%, driven largely by the demand for texturizers that align with health-conscious trends. Indicating strong industrial confidence in this trajectory, according to Palsgaard, in 2024, the company completed a major facility expansion in the Netherlands designed to double its production capacity for PGPR, a key emulsifier used in chocolate and confectionery.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The volatility of raw material costs and the intensifying pressure to secure sustainable supply chains present a formidable barrier to the Global Emulsifiers Market. Manufacturers rely heavily on plant-based derivatives, particularly palm oil, which are subject to unpredictable price fluctuations driven by irregular weather patterns and geopolitical shifts. This instability complicates financial planning and erodes profit margins, creating a precarious environment for producers who must absorb these sudden cost spikes while attempting to maintain competitive pricing.

Compounding this economic uncertainty is the rigorous demand for environmentally certified ingredients, which forces companies to navigate expensive compliance landscapes. Adhering to strict sustainability standards requires significant investment in traceability systems and audits, further inflating operational expenses. According to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, in 2024, the global consumption of certified sustainable palm oil reached 10.1 million tonnes. This substantial demand for compliant feedstocks creates a highly competitive procurement environment, leading to supply bottlenecks and elevated premiums that directly restrict market accessibility and profitability for standard emulsifier manufacturers.

Key Market Trends

The Global Emulsifiers Market is witnessing a decisive shift toward PEG-free and cold-process personal care emulsifiers, driven by the dual necessity of reducing manufacturing energy costs and eliminating impurities associated with ethoxylated chemistries. Formulators are increasingly adopting bio-based, non-ionic surfactants that allow for ambient temperature processing, thereby significantly lowering the carbon footprint of cosmetic production while ensuring regulatory compliance regarding 1,4-dioxane. This technical evolution is rapidly translating into commercial success for ingredients that offer these advanced sustainability credentials. According to Croda International Plc, February 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', sales of the company's ECO surfactants range increased by more than 20% year-on-year, validating the strong industrial momentum toward these innovative, low-energy ingredient systems.

Simultaneously, there is a rising demand for multifunctional and high-performance blends as manufacturers seek to optimize production efficiency and protect margins against raw material volatility. Instead of relying on commoditized single-ingredients, the industry is pivoting toward value-added systems that deliver superior texture, stability, and aeration at lower usage rates, effectively decoupling profitability from pure volume growth. This strategic focus on high-value, specialized functionality allows suppliers to maintain robust earnings even when broader market demand softens. According to AAK, April 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the company achieved a 43% increase in operating profit primarily by optimizing its portfolio toward specialized, high-value plant-based solutions despite a concurrent decline in overall sales volumes.

Segmental Insights

The Bio-Based Emulsifiers segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Emulsifiers Market, driven by a global surge in demand for clean-label and environmentally sustainable products. Consumers are increasingly scrutinizing ingredient lists, prompting manufacturers in the food and personal care sectors to replace synthetic chemicals with natural alternatives. This market shift is reinforced by strict safety and environmental protocols from organizations such as the FDA and EFSA, which favor the use of biodegradable ingredients. These dual pressures of regulatory compliance and consumer preference are accelerating the adoption of plant-derived emulsifying agents.

Regional Insights

North America commands the leading share of the Global Emulsifiers Market, supported by a highly developed food and beverage processing industry. The region experiences sustained demand for convenience foods, particularly in the bakery, dairy, and confectionery sectors, which necessitates the extensive use of high-quality stabilizing agents. This market dominance is underpinned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), whose rigorous safety protocols and clear ingredient classifications facilitate consistent product quality and industry stability. Moreover, rising consumer preference for clean-label ingredients is accelerating the adoption of natural emulsifiers, driving continuous innovation across the regional supply chain.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, a North American specialty chemicals and ingredient distributor announced a strategic partnership with a global taste and nutrition company. The agreement designated the distributor as the partner for a new line of emollients, emulsifiers, and fermentation-derived actives in the United States and Canada. This collaboration aimed to expand the reach of science-backed, sustainable personal care technologies, including advanced emulsifiers that enhance stability and texture. Executives noted that the partnership would leverage technical expertise to meet rising consumer demand for natural and sensory-rich cosmetic formulations.
• In October 2024, a major chemical company introduced a new line of natural-based emulsifiers specifically for the personal care market. Launched at the SEPAWA Congress, the new ingredients, including a polyglyceryl-10 oleate and a polyglyceryl-10 stearate, were derived from 100% renewable feedstocks. These emulsifiers were developed to facilitate cold manufacturing processes, offering energy savings and suitability for sprayable emulsions and sensitive skin formulations. The launch underscored the company's commitment to sustainability and green chemistry, providing formulators with effective, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic polymers.
• In July 2024, a leading global provider of ingredient solutions expanded its portfolio with the launch of two new citrus fiber ingredients, FIBERTEX CF 500 and FIBERTEX CF 100. These clean-label products were designed to serve as effective natural emulsifiers, replacing traditional ingredients like egg yolks and mono- and diglycerides in various food applications. By utilizing upcycled citrus peels, the company aimed to address growing consumer demand for sustainable and recognizable ingredients while providing manufacturers with solutions that enhance texture, stability, and viscosity in sauces, dressings, and baked goods.
• In April 2024, a global ingredient solutions provider completed the divestiture of its emulsifiers business to Kingswood Capital Management. This strategic transaction, valued at approximately $362 million, allowed the company to sharpen its focus on core fermentation-based technologies while ensuring the emulsifier division continued its operations as a robust standalone entity. The comprehensive sale included two major manufacturing facilities in the United States and the transfer of roughly 175 employees. Executives emphasized that the deal placed the business in capable hands to support future growth and service excellence for its customer base.

Key Market Players

• DOW Corning
• Royal DSM
• BASF SE
• Kerry Group
• Clariant
• Solvay S.A.
• Archer Daniels Midland
• Akzonobel N.V.
• Cargill
• Evonik Industries AG

By Source	By Application	By Region
Bio-Based Emulsifiers and Synthetic Emulsifiers	Food Emulsifiers Cosmetics & Personal Care Oilfield Chemical Pharmaceutical and Agrochemical	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Emulsifiers Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Emulsifiers Market, By Source:

• Bio-Based Emulsifiers and Synthetic Emulsifiers

• Emulsifiers Market, By Application:

• Food Emulsifiers
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Oilfield Chemical
• Pharmaceutical
• and Agrochemical

• Emulsifiers Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE