United States Biosurfactants Market By Type (Glycolipids, Alkyl Polyglucosides, Methyl Ethyl Sulfonates, Sucrose Esters, Sorbitan Esters, Others), By Application (Household Detergents, Personal Care, Food Processing, Oilfield Chemicals, Textiles, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 143.92 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.11%
Fastest Growing Segment	Household Detergents
Largest Market	Midwest United States
Market Size (2031)	USD 183.26 Million

Market Overview

The United States Biosurfactants Market will grow from USD 143.92 Million in 2025 to USD 183.26 Million by 2031 at a 4.11% CAGR. Biosurfactants are surface-active amphiphilic compounds synthesized by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi using renewable substrates like vegetable oils or agricultural residues. The United States market for these ingredients is expanding, supported by distinct drivers including stringent environmental regulations and a growing consumer preference for biodegradable, low-toxicity formulations in personal care and household cleaning products. Unlike fleeting market trends, these drivers represent a fundamental structural shift in the chemical industry toward green chemistry and sustainable supply chains.

Despite this robust demand, the sector encounters a significant challenge regarding the high cost of production and purification compared to synthetic petrochemical alternatives, which limits scalability. Manufacturers are actively seeking to optimize fermentation processes to capture a larger share of the end-use market. According to the Household & Commercial Products Association, in 2024, the industry sold $227 billion annually of products used for cleaning and maintenance, indicating a massive addressable landscape for the integration of cost-competitive biosurfactants. Mastering cost-efficient scalability remains the primary obstacle to capitalizing on this extensive market potential.

Key Market Drivers

Government Incentives and Green Chemistry Initiatives significantly accelerate market growth by reducing the financial risk associated with commercializing bio-based technologies. Federal support enables manufacturers to bridge the gap between pilot-scale innovation and industrial production, fostering a competitive domestic supply chain. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, January 2025, in the 'Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals' funding announcement, the agency allocated up to $23 million to advance the development of affordable, low-carbon chemicals from domestic biomass. This regulatory backing not only subsidizes research and development but also encourages the displacement of petrochemical incumbents by validating the economic viability of renewable alternatives.

Rising Consumer Demand for Natural Personal Care Formulations drives the expansion of the United States biosurfactants market as brands seek to meet the public's expectation for clean-label, non-toxic ingredients. This heightened preference compels suppliers to scale biomanufacturing capabilities to ensure reliable, cost-effective delivery of glycolipids and rhamnolipids. According to Locus Fermentation Solutions, December 2025, in the 'Locus Fermentation Solutions Raises $20M to Scale U.S. Bio-Based Manufacturing Capacity' press release, the company secured $20 million in growth capital specifically to expand domestic biomanufacturing capacity and support commercialization across consumer packaged goods sectors. While synthetic options remain dominant—according to Stepan Company, in 2025, surfactant net sales reached $430.3 million in the first quarter alone—the increasing investment in bio-based infrastructure highlights a decisive industry pivot toward sustainable formulations.

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Key Market Challenges

The challenge hindering the "United States Biosurfactants Market" is the prohibitive cost of production and downstream purification relative to synthetic petrochemical options. This economic disparity stems from the complexity of microbial fermentation and the energy-intensive recovery processes required to achieve industrial-grade purity. While synthetic surfactants benefit from established economies of scale, biosurfactant manufacturing remains capital-intensive, resulting in a significant price premium that restricts their application. Consequently, these sustainable ingredients are largely confined to high-margin personal care segments and struggle to penetrate the price-sensitive mass market for household cleaning products, where cost competitiveness is the deciding factor for formulation inclusion.

This financial barrier directly limits the sector's scalability and its ability to capitalize on the industry's shift toward sustainability. Although the demand for green supply chains is evident, the processing costs associated with fermentation prevent biosurfactants from becoming a viable volume replacement for conventional ingredients. According to the American Cleaning Institute, in 2024, 60% of its member companies had committed to sourcing certified sustainable feedstocks, demonstrating a clear industry readiness for renewable inputs. However, without resolving the production cost inefficiencies, manufacturers cannot fully leverage this demand or the available renewable substrates to expand biosurfactant market share beyond niche applications.

Key Market Trends

Rising Deployment of Bio-based Adjuvants in Agrochemicals is expanding the market landscape beyond traditional cleaning applications by introducing high-volume use cases in farming. Agricultural formulators are increasingly utilizing rhamnolipids and sophorolipids as adjuvants to enhance nutrient uptake and soil structure without depositing synthetic residues. This shift is driven by the demonstrated efficacy of microbial surfactants in improving root development and moisture retention in stressed environments. According to Locus Agriculture, October 2024, in the 'US Farmers Combat Soil Compaction, Boost Yields Up to 34% with New Biosurfactant' press release, independent trials of their sophorolipid technology confirmed crop yield increases of up to 34% across various soil types. Such performance data validates the transition from petrochemical options to biological alternatives in large-scale agriculture, securing a critical new revenue stream for the sector.

Strategic Alliances for Vertical Supply Chain Integration are emerging as a vital mechanism to bridge the gap between specialized biomanufacturers and end-market formulators. Because fermentation startups often lack established distribution networks, they are partnering with major chemical distributors to ensure their ingredients reach personal care and industrial buyers efficiently. These collaborations allow distributors to offer exclusive sustainable portfolios while manufacturers gain immediate access to a broader customer base. According to Holiferm, August 2024, in the 'Coast Southwest and Holiferm announce distribution deal in North America' press release, the company appointed Coast Southwest as the distributor for its biosurfactant line across the United States. This trend of integrating technical production with established sales infrastructure is essential for scaling commercial availability against incumbent petrochemical options.

Segmental Insights

The Household Detergents segment constitutes the fastest-growing category within the United States biosurfactants market, driven primarily by a decisive shift in consumer preference toward sustainable and non-toxic cleaning products. This expansion is further supported by initiatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which encourage manufacturers to replace conventional synthetic chemicals with biodegradable alternatives to minimize ecological harm. Consequently, producers are increasingly reformulating laundry and surface cleaners with bio-based ingredients to align with these regulatory standards and address the rising public demand for environmentally responsible home care solutions.

Regional Insights

The Midwest United States maintains a dominant position in the domestic biosurfactants market, driven primarily by the extensive availability of agricultural feedstocks. As the agricultural heartland of the country, the region offers abundant access to renewable raw materials such as corn and soy, which significantly lowers production logistics and costs. This proximity to essential resources is complemented by a high concentration of end-use manufacturing industries, including personal care and industrial cleaning. Furthermore, the United States Department of Agriculture actively promotes the adoption of bio-based products through the BioPreferred Program, fostering a regulatory environment that strengthens the region's market leadership.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, AmphiStar formed a strategic alliance with Kensing, a United States-based manufacturer of high-purity specialty surfactants, to introduce novel biological ingredients to the North American market. The partnership focused on commercializing AmphiStar’s unique platform of biosurfactants derived entirely from upcycled agri-food waste streams. By combining AmphiStar’s proprietary biomanufacturing intellectual property with Kensing’s robust industrial capabilities and market reach, the companies aimed to disrupt the local personal care sector. This initiative provided U.S. brands with a fully circular, sustainable alternative to petrochemicals and first-generation crop-based ingredients, effectively reducing the industry's environmental footprint.
• In March 2025, Evonik Industries AG strengthened its market presence in the United States by finalizing an exclusive distribution arrangement with Sea-Land Chemical Company. This comprehensive agreement authorized the Cleveland-based distributor to manage the sales of Evonik’s advanced cleaning solutions portfolio, which notably includes its industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactants, throughout the entire country. The collaboration was strategically implemented to satisfy the intensifying requirement among U.S. manufacturers for high-performance, eco-friendly ingredients in the household, vehicle care, and institutional cleaning markets. This move ensured that Evonik’s renewable surfactant technologies could achieve broader penetration and accessibility for domestic industrial customers.
• In October 2024, Locus Fermentation Solutions announced a pivotal regulatory milestone that reshaped the domestic supply chain for green chemicals. The company secured an expanded Toxic Substances Control Act registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, establishing it as the sole domestic supplier authorized to produce glycolipid biosurfactants at commercial volumes using a diverse range of renewable raw materials. This approval allowed the firm to offer United States industries a scalable, 100% bio-based alternative to conventional chemicals. The development directly addressed the growing market demand for palm-free and 1,4-dioxane-free ingredients that meet stringent safety and sustainability standards.
• In August 2024, Holiferm Limited established a significant commercial foothold in the North American region by entering into a strategic distribution agreement with Coast Southwest. This collaboration appointed the United States-based chemical distributor as the exclusive representative for Holiferm’s complete portfolio of sophorolipid biosurfactants across the U.S. and Canada. The partnership was designed to accelerate the market adoption of these fermentation-derived, environmentally friendly ingredients within the competitive personal care and home cleaning sectors. By leveraging Coast Southwest’s extensive logistics and sales network, Holiferm aimed to provide American formulators with immediate access to sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to traditional petrochemical surfactants.

Key Market Players

• Jeneil Biotech Inc.
• AGAE Technologies, LLC
• Logos Technologies LLC
• BASF Corporation
• Stepan Company
• Evonik Corporation
• Allied Carbon Solutions Co., Ltd.
• Solvay S.A.
• TensioGreen Technology Corp.
• GlycoSurf, Inc.

By Type	By Application	By Region
Glycolipids Alkyl Polyglucosides Methyl Ethyl Sulfonates Sucrose Esters Sorbitan Esters Others	Household Detergents Personal Care Food Processing Oilfield Chemicals Textiles Others	Northeast Midwest South West

Report Scope:

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

• United States Biosurfactants Market, By Type:

• Glycolipids
• Alkyl Polyglucosides
• Methyl Ethyl Sulfonates
• Sucrose Esters
• Sorbitan Esters
• Others

• United States Biosurfactants Market, By Application:

• Household Detergents
• Personal Care
• Food Processing
• Oilfield Chemicals
• Textiles
• Others

• United States Biosurfactants Market, By Region:

• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West