According to Fortune Business Insights, the global biosurfactants market size was valued at USD 4.90 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 5.20 billion in 2026 to USD 7.80 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. The growing focus on environmentally friendly products, increasing concerns regarding conventional chemical surfactants, and expanding applications across personal care, household cleaning, agriculture, food processing, and petroleum industries are supporting market growth.
Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Compared with conventional synthetic surfactants, these bio-based alternatives offer properties such as biodegradability, lower toxicity, and environmental compatibility. Their ability to reduce surface tension makes them useful across a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.
The growing emphasis on sustainability is encouraging manufacturers to explore bio-based ingredients and renewable raw materials. Biosurfactants are increasingly being considered for applications in household cleaners, industrial and institutional cleaning products, personal care, food processing, agrochemicals, and oil and petroleum operations.
Growing environmental concerns associated with conventional surfactants are one of the major factors supporting the biosurfactants market. Synthetic surfactants can enter wastewater systems and natural water bodies, creating concerns related to biodegradability, toxicity, and ecological impact.
Biosurfactants provide an alternative because of their biodegradable characteristics and potential to reduce the environmental footprint of surfactant-based products. Increasing consumer awareness regarding sustainable ingredients is also encouraging companies to develop greener formulations for cleaning, cosmetics, personal care, and other applications.
The petroleum industry represents an important application area for biosurfactants. These materials can help reduce interfacial tension and improve the mobilization of residual oil during enhanced oil recovery processes.
Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) uses microorganisms or their metabolic products to improve the recovery of trapped oil. Biosurfactants can function under demanding conditions associated with tertiary oil recovery and offer an environmentally preferable alternative to certain conventional chemical approaches.
The increasing need for cost-effective and environmentally responsible oil recovery technologies is expected to create opportunities for biosurfactant manufacturers.
Based on type, the biosurfactants market is segmented into glycolipids, lipopeptides, phospholipids, polymeric biosurfactants, and others. The glycolipids segment, which includes rhamnolipids, trehalolipids, and sophorolipids, is expected to maintain a leading position.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the glycolipids segment accounted for 34.62% of the market in 2026. Increasing demand from cosmetics and personal care applications is contributing to the segment's growth. Glycolipids are produced by microorganisms and can effectively reduce surface tension, making them suitable for applications across food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries.
By application, the market is categorized into household cleaners, industrial and institutional cleaners, food processing, oil and petroleum, personal care, agrochemicals, and others.
The household cleaners segment accounted for 48.08% of the global market in 2026, making it the leading application segment. Increasing hygiene awareness and consumer preference for environmentally responsible cleaning products are supporting demand for bio-based surfactants in household cleaning formulations.
Europe dominated the biosurfactants market with a 48.20% share in 2025. The regional market was valued at USD 2.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.3 billion in 2026.
The region's leadership is supported by widespread industrial biotechnology adoption, increasing awareness of green surfactants, and environmental regulations designed to reduce the impact of potentially harmful chemicals. Germany and the U.K. are among the important markets contributing to regional development.
North America is also experiencing increasing demand for biosurfactants. The regional market reached USD 1.0 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.1 billion in 2026. Growing demand from personal care and oil recovery applications is supporting market expansion.
Asia Pacific accounted for a 22.20% share in 2025, with the market reaching USD 1.0 billion. China, Japan, India, and South Korea represent important markets as demand for sustainable home care and personal care products increases.
Despite strong growth opportunities, production costs and manufacturing complexity remain important challenges for the industry. Biosurfactants do not always function as direct one-to-one replacements for conventional surfactants, which can require companies to reformulate products.
The production of certain biosurfactants can also involve complex downstream processing. Variations in molecular structures and properties can make purification and large-scale production more difficult and expensive.
Regulatory requirements can further increase the time and cost involved in commercializing new biosurfactant products. Expanding manufacturing capacity and improving production technologies will therefore be important for the industry's long-term development.
The global biosurfactants market includes several companies focused on expanding production capabilities, developing innovative bio-based formulations, and strengthening their presence across end-use industries.
Key companies profiled by Fortune Business Insights include:
Jeneil
Evonik Industries
AGAE Technologies
Glycosurf
Tensiogreen
Stepan Company
Holiferm
Companies are adopting strategies such as partnerships and product development to strengthen their competitive positions and address growing demand for sustainable surfactant solutions.
The biosurfactants industry is expected to benefit from the continuing transition toward sustainable and bio-based chemicals. Demand from household cleaning, personal care, food processing, agriculture, and petroleum applications is likely to create new opportunities for manufacturers.
Technological advancements in microbial production, improved downstream processing, and the development of cost-effective manufacturing techniques could help address some of the industry's current limitations. As businesses and consumers increasingly prioritize environmental performance, biosurfactants are positioned to gain broader adoption across multiple industries.
With the global market projected to reach USD 7.80 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 5.4%, the industry is expected to remain an important area of development within the broader sustainable chemicals sector.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global biosurfactants market was valued at USD 4.90 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 7.80 billion by 2034.
The global biosurfactants market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2026 to 2034.
The household cleaners segment is expected to remain a leading application segment, accounting for 48.08% of the market in 2026. In terms of type, glycolipids held the largest share at 34.62% in 2026.
Europe dominated the global biosurfactants market with a 48.20% share in 2025, supported by environmental regulations, industrial biotechnology adoption, and growing demand for sustainable surfactants.
Increasing environmental concerns associated with conventional chemical surfactants, growing demand for sustainable products, expanding personal care and household cleaning applications, and rising use of biosurfactants in crude oil recovery are key factors driving market growth.
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