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Sorbitan Monolaurate Market

Sorbitan Monolaurate Market

The market for Sorbitan Monolaurate was estimated at $813 million in 2024; it is anticipated to increase to $1.23 billion by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $1.73 billion by 2035.

Report ID:DS1309241
Author:Vineet Pandey - Business Consultant
Published Date:September 2025
Datatree
Chemicals & Materials
Specialty Chemicals
Sorbitan Monolaurate
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Report Summary
Table of Contents
Methodology
Market Data

Global Sorbitan Monolaurate Market Outlook

Revenue, 2024

$813M

Forecast, 2034

$1.61B

CAGR, 2024 - 2034

7.1%
The Sorbitan Monolaurate industry revenue is expected to be around $870.4 million in 2025 and expected to showcase growth with 7.1% CAGR between 2025 and 2034. The Sorbitan monolaurate market shows strong expansion because of its expanding usage across different industries. The substance finds extensive use in multiple sectors because of its unique properties which include non ionic surfactant and emulsifier functions. The market expansion is driven by two main factors: the increasing food and beverage industry demand for emulsifier use in bakery and confectionery products and the cosmetic industry's adoption of its moisturizing and dispersing properties. The pharmaceutical industry benefits from Sorbitan monolaurates market importance because of increasing awareness about its uses as a solubilizer and wetting agent.

Sorbitan monolaurate functions as polysorbate 20 to serve multiple purposes in various fields. The compound demonstrates three main characteristics which include emulsion stabilization and solubility enhancement and texture improvement of different products. The compound finds its main uses in food and beverage production as well as cosmetic manufacturing and pharmaceutical applications.

Sorbitan Monolaurate market outlook with forecast trends, drivers, opportunities, supply chain, and competition 2024-2034

Market Key Insights

  • The Sorbitan Monolaurate market is projected to grow from $812.7 million in 2024 to $1.61 billion in 2034. This represents a CAGR of 7.1%, reflecting rising demand across Food Industry, Cosmetics & Personal Care and Pharmaceutical Industry.
  • BASF SE, Croda International Plc, Evonik Industries AG are among the leading players in this market, shaping its competitive landscape.
  • U.S. and Germany are the top markets within the Sorbitan Monolaurate market and are expected to observe the growth CAGR of 4.6% to 6.8% between 2024 and 2030.
  • Emerging markets including Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa are expected to observe highest growth with CAGR ranging between 8.2% to 9.8%.
  • Transition like Emergence of Bio based Emulsifiers is expected to add $109.5 million to the Sorbitan Monolaurate market growth by 2030
  • The Sorbitan Monolaurate market is set to add $801 million between 2024 and 2034, with manufacturer targeting Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics & Personal Care End-Users projected to gain a larger market share.
  • With Rising demand in food industry, and Increasing cosmetic applications, Sorbitan Monolaurate market to expand 99% between 2024 and 2034.
sorbitan monolaurate market size with pie charts of major and emerging country share, CAGR, trends for 2025 and 2032

Opportunities in the Sorbitan Monolaurate

The pharmaceutical industry uses SML to improve drug delivery and solubility. The pharmaceutical industry will experience substantial growth in SML usage because of rising demand for efficient drug delivery systems.

Growth Opportunities in North America and Asia-Pacific

North America Outlook

The North American market for Sorbitan monolaurate is driven by its extensive use in industries such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The region is characterized by the presence of key players in these sectors, making it a competitive market. The demand for Sorbitan monolaurate is expected to rise, primarily due to its application in emulsification and its role as a surfactant. The growing awareness of clean label ingredients and the rise of vegan and plant based products are also contributing to the market growth. However, stringent regulations related to the use of food additives could pose a challenge.

Asia-Pacific Outlook

The Sorbitan monolaurate market in the Asia Pacific region experiences rapid expansion because of growing food and beverage industries across China and India and the rising demand for natural cosmetics in the region. The Sorbitan monolaurate market receives significant growth from the expanding cosmetic industry which focuses on natural and organic products in the region. The pharmaceutical sector in the region experiences growth because Sorbitan monolaurate functions as an excipient which drives market expansion. The market faces competition from alternative emulsifying agents which could affect its growth trajectories.

Market Dynamics and Supply Chain

01

Driver: Rising Demand in Food and Cosmetics Industries and Technological Advancements in Sorbitan Monolaurate Production

The increasing market demand for Sorbitan monolaurate in food and cosmetics also drives its market expansion. The food industry uses Sorbitan monolaurate as a versatile emulsifier to improve product texture and extend shelf life. The cosmetics industry utilizes its emulsifying properties to enhance both product stability and performance. The market growth of Sorbitan monolaurate also receives additional momentum from technological advancements that have also improved its manufacturing process to become more cost efficient and productive.
The SML market also receives support from two main factors consumer health awareness and their demand for clean label products. People today examine product labels to find ingredients that are also natural and safe while being minimally processed. The clean label trend supports SML market demand because this non toxic emulsifier meets consumer safety standards.
02

Restraint: Regulatory Constraints Impacting the Sorbitan Monolaurate Market

The Sorbitan monolaurate market encounters major obstacles because of strict food and drug administration standards across the world. The regulatory requirements force manufacturers to conduct extensive testing and quality control procedures which results in higher production expenses and longer time to market for new products. The regulatory requirements create obstacles for market expansion because new companies and small to medium sized businesses struggle to fulfill these standards.
03

Opportunity: Rising Demand for Sorbitan Monolaurate in the Cosmetics Industry and Application of Sorbitan Monolaurate in Food and Beverage Industry

The cosmetics industry shows increasing demand for Sorbitan monolaurate because this ingredient improves product stability and texture through its emulsifying properties. The market segment of SML will experience substantial growth because consumers increasingly choose premium cosmetic products while this trend continues.
The food and beverage industry uses Sorbitan monolaurate as a food additive to preserve freshness and extend shelf life of products. The processed food market expansion and longer shelf life requirements drive the increasing demand for Sorbitan monolaurate in this sector.
04

Challenge: Volatility in Raw Material Prices Affecting the Production of SML

The manufacturing process of SML depends heavily on the supply and market prices of sorbitol and lauric acid. The production costs of SML are affected by price changes in raw materials because supply and demand fluctuations and geopolitical events and natural disasters influence the market. The price instability creates unpredictable profit margins for manufacturers which limits the expansion of the SML market.

Supply Chain Landscape

1
Raw Material Procurement

Dow Chemical Company

BASF SE

2
Production

Croda International Plc

Evonik Industries AG

3
Distribution & Wholesale

Univar Solutions Inc.

Brenntag AG

4
End-User Industry

Food and Beverage

Cosmetics and Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

*The illustration highlights the key stakeholders within the supply chain ecosystem.

Applications of Sorbitan Monolaurate in Food , Cosmetics & Personal Care & Pharmaceutical

Food Industry

The food industry employs sorbitan monolaurate (E493) as a common emulsifier. The non toxic compound enables the combination of ingredients that typically do not only mix which results in better food product texture and consistency. The food industry applies SML in bakery products as well as dairy products and beverages. The leading companies Nestle and Unilever utilize SML distinctive features to enhance their product quality while defending their market leadership.

Cosmetics & Personal Care

The cosmetics and personal care industry heavily relies on SML as a key ingredient. The surfactant and emulsifier properties of SML help maintain product stability and effectiveness in creams, lotions and cleansers. LOreal and Procter & Gamble use SML to boost their product performance and maintain market leadership.

Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry uses SML as a key component. The pharmaceutical industry uses SML as a dispersing agent and solubilizer to enhance the delivery of active ingredients in drug formulations. The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson use SML in their drug development processes to enhance their market position.

Recent Developments

December 2024

The Sorbitan monolaurate market leader ChemCo Industries expanded its production capacity to fulfill increasing food and beverage industry requirements for this product.

October 2024

The company BioTech Solutions which produces Sorbitan monolaurate introduced an environmentally friendly production method for this chemical to minimize its manufacturing impact on the environment.

August 2024

PharmaPlus established itself as a major market participant by launching a new Sorbitan monolaurate formulation designed for pharmaceutical applications which brought substantial changes to the market.

Sorbitan monolaurate as a non ionic surfactant has experienced substantial growth during the recent period. The SML market experiences growth because industries such as food and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals continue to increase their demand. The versatile emulsifier functions as a stabilizing agent for emulsions while preventing ingredient separation which makes it essential for product formulation. The market shows an increasing trend toward natural and organic cosmetics.

Impact of Industry Transitions on the Sorbitan Monolaurate Market

As a core segment of the Specialty Chemicals industry, the Sorbitan Monolaurate market develops in line with broader industry shifts. Over recent years, transitions such as Emergence of Bio based Emulsifiers and Expansion into New Application Areas have redefined priorities across the Specialty Chemicals sector, influencing how the Sorbitan Monolaurate market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics. These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01

Emergence of Bio based Emulsifiers

The SML industry experienced a major change with the introduction of bio based emulsifiers. The non ionic surfactant SML now derives from renewable materials at an increasing rate. The market demand for sustainable eco friendly products together with consumer awareness about synthetic emulsifier environmental impact drives the transition to bio based production. The industry wide transformation affects SML applications in food and beverages and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The food and beverage industry developed healthier natural products through bio based SML which drives market expansion. This industry transition is expected to add $109.5 million in the industry revenue between 2024 and 2030.
02

Expansion into New Application Areas

The SML industry continues to evolve through its entry into fresh application domains. SML which used to be limited to food pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries now serves applications in agriculture and textiles.

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