Market Definition

Biosurfactants are surface-active agents produced by microorganisms that reduce surface and interfacial tension in various formulations. The market includes microbial-based surfactants used in detergents, personal care, agriculture, oilfield chemicals, and food processing. It focuses on eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants, with key products including rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, and lipopeptides.

Biosurfactants Market Overview

The global biosurfactants market size was valued at USD 2,456.4 million in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 2,635.5 million in 2025 to USD 4,649.8 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.45% during the forecast period.

The market is experiencing growth as industries shift toward sustainable and biodegradable solutions. Growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressure are prompting manufacturers in in-home care, personal care, and industrial cleaning to replace synthetic surfactants with bio-based alternatives.

Major companies operating in the biosurfactants industry are BASF, RAG-Stiftung, Jeneil Biotech, Givaudan, Croda International Plc, Biotensidon GmbH, AGAE Technologies, LLC, Holiferm, Lankem, Locus Ingredients, Shaanxi Deguan Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Allied Carbon Solutions, AmphiStar Biosurfactants, Dispersa Inc., and KANEKA CORPORATION.

In agriculture, biosurfactants are increasingly used as sustainable soil amendments to address compaction and improve yield performance. Sophorolipid-based solutions have demonstrated high efficacy in enhancing root growth, water retention, and nutrient uptake.

For instance, in October 2024, Locus Agriculture’s biosurfactant Unpac recorded up to 34% yield increases in third-party field trials. The solution effectively addressed soil compaction across 68 million U.S. acres, achieving an 86% success rate in crops such as almonds, apples, and table grapes.

This development highlights the growing commercial viability and agronomic impact of biosurfactants, reinforcing their potential to replace conventional inputs and foster market expansion through proven field performance, scalability, and alignment with sustainable farming practices.

Biosurfactants Market Size & Share, By Revenue, 2025-2032

Key Highlights

The biosurfactants industry size was valued at USD 2,456.4 million in 2024.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.45% from 2025 to 2032.
Europe held a market share of 36.45% in 2024, with a valuation of USD 895.4 million.
The glycolipids segment garnered USD 1,053.1 million in revenue in 2024.
The detergents & industrial cleaners segment is expected to reach USD 1,568.9 million by 2032.
Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.29% over the forecast period.

Market Driver

Growing Need for Eco-Friendly and Efficient Solutions in Industrial Sectors

The biosurfactants market is witnessing significant growth, largely attributed to increasing demand for sustainable and high-performance surfactants. Industries are prioritizing biodegradable and low-toxicity alternatives to meet environmental regulations and evolving consumer preferences.

Biosurfactants are derived from renewable feedstocks using eco-friendly production methods, which offer enhanced functional properties including superior wetting, emulsification, and cleaning efficiency.

In September 2024, Evonik Coating Additives launched TEGO Wet 570 Terra and TEGO Wet 580 Terra, 100% natural, biodegradable biosurfactants for coatings and inks. Derived from renewable corn via fermentation, these additives feature low volatile organic compounds (VOC) content, improve wetting, and reduce grinding time, enabling sustainable formulation in waterborne systems.

This alignment of environmental responsibility with technical performance is promoting widespread adoption across personal care, household, industrial, and agricultural sectors. As companies seek to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising product quality or process efficiency, biosurfactants are becoming essential components in formulations.

This reflects a strategic shift toward green chemistry and sustainable sourcing, reinforcing biosurfactants’ role as a preferred choice in the transition to environmentally responsible products.

Market Challenge

Higher Production Costs

The biosurfactants market faces challenges due to higher production costs compared to traditional petrochemical surfactants. Factors such as expensive raw materials, complex fermentation processes, and limited large-scale manufacturing contribute to these elevated costs, restricting adoption in cost-sensitive applications.

To address this challenge, companies are focusing on improving process efficiency by using low-cost renewable feedstocks and optimizing fermentation techniques. Investments in scaling up production capacity and leveraging waste-derived feedstocks further help reduce expenses.

Additionally, advancements in biotechnologies, including synthetic biology, enable more efficient biosurfactant synthesis. These strategies aim to lower production costs, enhance economic feasibility, and support broader market penetration while maintaining sustainability and product performance standards.

Market Trend

Rising Adoption of Fully Upcycled Biosurfactants

The biosurfactants market is experiencing a significant shift toward fully upcycled biosurfactants as scalable, high-performance alternatives to conventional surfactants. These biosurfactants are produced from organic waste and side streams using advanced biotechnological methods, enhancing resource efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil-based and virgin bio-based feedstocks.

This trend responds to increasing industry demand for sustainable ingredients that offer biodegradability, low toxicity, and improved functional properties such as wetting, emulsification, and cleaning efficiency. Scalability enables broader adoption across diverse sectors, helping companies meet environmental regulations and rising consumer demand for eco-friendly products.

For instance, in October 2024, AmphiStar launched AmphiCare and AmphiClean, the first commercially available biosurfactants made entirely from organic waste and side streams. Targeting the personal care and home care markets, the products offer fully upcycled, biodegradable alternatives to conventional surfactants. Developed using AmphiStar’s proprietary biotechnology platform, the biosurfactants deliver high performance while eliminating reliance on fossil and virgin bio-based feedstocks.

This development fosters innovation and supports market growth by aligning sustainability objectives with performance and operational requirements.

Biosurfactants Market Report Snapshot

Segmentation	Details
By Type	Glycolipids (Rhamnolipids, Sophorolipids), Lipopeptides (Surfactin, Lichenysin), Phospholipids, Others
By Application	Detergents & Industrial Cleaners, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Food Processing, Oilfield Chemicals, Others
By Region	North America: U.S., Canada, Mexico
	Europe: France, UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe
	Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, India, Australia, ASEAN, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific
	Middle East & Africa: Turkey, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa
	South America: Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America

Market Segmentation

By Type (Glycolipids, Lipopeptides, Phospholipids, and Others): The glycolipids segment earned USD 1,053.1 million in 2024, due to their high biodegradability, low toxicity, and widespread use in personal care, cleaning, and agricultural formulations.
By Application (Detergents & Industrial Cleaners, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Food Processing, Oilfield Chemicals, and Others): The detergents & industrial cleaners segment held a share of 37.23% in 2024, attributed to the growing demand for sustainable and non-toxic cleaning agents across industrial and household applications.

Biosurfactants Market Regional Analysis

Based on region, the market has been classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.

Biosurfactants Market Size & Share, By Region, 2025-2032

The Europe biosurfactants market accounted for a substantial share of 36.45% in 2024, valued at USD 895.4 million. This dominance is largely attributed to the strong presence of biosurfactant manufacturers in countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where green chemistry and sustainable production are deeply integrated into industrial practices.

Rising consumer preference for eco-labeled personal care and cleaning products, along with the increasing use of bio-based raw materials by major FMCG players, continues to boost regional demand. Furthermore, Europe’s advanced biotechnology ecosystem and ongoing investment in microbial fermentation technologies have enabled scalable production and accelerated innovation in biosurfactant development.

The Asia-Pacific biosurfactants industry is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 9.29% over the forecast period. This growth is fostered by rising demand for biodegradable ingredients in key countries such as China, India, and Japan, where rapid industrialization and expanding consumer markets are accelerating the shift toward sustainable alternatives in detergents, food processing, and agriculture. In response, regional manufacturers are scaling up production using cost-effective microbial technologies to meet both domestic and export demand.

For instance, in February 2025, AGAE Technologies, in collaboration with regional partners, commenced industrial-scale production of rhamnolipid biosurfactants at a 41,000-square-foot retrofitted facility in Asia. With an annual capacity exceeding 1,000 metric tons, the plant utilizes AGAE’s proprietary fermentation and foam control technologies to supply high-purity, biodegradable rhamnolipids for applications in personal care, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial sectors.

This large-scale manufacturing expansion strengthens Asia Pacific’s position as a key biosurfactant production hub by enabling cost-efficient, high-volume output. It supports growing regional demand across personal care, agriculture, and industrial sectors while enhancing supply chain resilience, reducing import dependency, and accelerating the adoption of sustainable ingredients.

Regulatory Frameworks

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors biosurfactants under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees their use in cosmetics and food-contact products.
In Europe, biosurfactants are regulated under the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) through the REACH regulation, which governs the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals, including surfactants.
In Japan, biosurfactants are regulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL), which oversees the manufacturing, importation, and use of chemical substances, including evaluation of their environmental and human health impacts.

Competitive Landscape

The biosurfactants industry is evolving with innovations in production processes, a growing emphasis on waste-to-value strategies, and rising demand for biodegradable alternatives to synthetic surfactants. Manufacturers are investing in advanced fermentation and bioprocessing platforms to achieve commercial-scale production of cost-effective, waste-derived biosurfactants.

To meet sustainability and performance requirements, companies are forming strategic partnerships focused on high-purity, upcycled formulations tailored for the personal care sector. These collaborations leverage circular feedstocks and microbial technologies to develop product portfolios that align with clean beauty trends, regulatory requirements, and brand sustainability goals.

In February 2025, Dispersa secured USD 4 million in seed funding from a consortium of Canadian investors to scale commercial production of PuraSurf, the world’s first fully waste-derived biosurfactant. The investment will support the development of its BioEterna technology platform, which leverages synthetic biology and precision fermentation to produce high-performance, cost-efficient biosurfactants for the North American household, industrial, and institutional markets.
In May 2025, AmphiStar partnered with Kensing to launch 100% upcycled microbial biosurfactants in the North American personal care market. The collaboration focuses on sustainable biosurfactants derived from agri-food sidestreams, regional circular feedstock sourcing, and the co-development of over 80 designer biosurfactants for personal care, agrochemical, and HI&I applications.

These strategies enable market players to meet evolving customer demands while strengthening their competitive position through sustainable innovation and reliable performance.

List of Key Companies in Biosurfactants Market:

BASF
RAG-Stiftung
Jeneil Biotech
Givaudan
Croda International Plc
Biotensidon GmbH
AGAE Technologies, LLC
Holiferm
Lankem
Locus Ingredients
Shaanxi Deguan Biotechnology Co., Ltd
Allied Carbon Solutions
AmphiStar Biosurfactants
Dispersa Inc.
KANEKA CORPORATION

Recent Developments (Product Launches)

In April 2025, HeiQ Chrisal launched a next-generation synbiotic laundry liquid formulated featuring fermentation-derived, biodegradable biosurfactants and active probiotics to deliver high-performance, eco-friendly cleaning. The product combines synbiotic technology with biodegradable, palm-free biosurfactants that enable effective stain and odor removal at low temperatures, while reducing grime buildup in washing machines by up to 90%.
In March 2025, Holiferm launched its low-foaming biosurfactants HoliSurf, HoneySurf, and AgriSurf in the U.S. market for use in personal care, home care, cosmetics, and agriculture. Made from renewable resources, these sophorolipids offer a sustainable, high-performance alternative to petrochemical surfactants.