Market Trends of Rhamnolipids Industry
Growing Demand of Rhamnolipids from Surfactants
- Rhamnolipid bio-surfactants have the property of getting dreaded easily in nature as compared to synthetic surfactants. They are believed to be a better alternative to synthetic surfactants due to their being skin-friendly, rinse-active, and very environmentally friendly.
- Surfactants are known to be the major ingredients of detergents and household cleaning agents. There is a constant need for environmentally sound surfactants to be used in the industry for detergents and other cleaning products.
- Rhamnolipid bio-surfactants are used in laundry detergents, floor cleaners, dishwashing liquids, and other cleaning products. Many companies have been introducing bio-surfactant cleaning and detergent products in the market.
- Rhamnolipids surfactants contain either one or two molecules of rhamnose as the hydrophilic moisture, linked to one or two β-hydroxylated fatty acid chains as the hydrophobic region.
- Rhamnolipids decompose naturally, whether aerobically or anaerobically, to 100% natural substances. These glycolipids are versatile biosurfactants with a wide range of possible applications ranging from cleansing agents.
- Moreover, Ecover, a Belgium-based manufacturer of ecologically sound cleaning products, offers a glass and surface cleaner containing rhamnolipid. The product provided by the company is classified as biodegradable and shows minimal impact on aquatic life.
- According to Statcan, the Canadian Statistics Agency, the monthly manufacturer sales of soap and cleaning compounds in Canada in the first three months of 2023 accounted for CAD 395.58 million (~USD 304 million), approximately 20% more than the previous year’s sales for the same period.
- Hence, owing to the factors mentioned above, the application of rhamnolipids from surfactant is likely to dominate during the forecast period.
Europe Region to Dominate the Market
- Currently, Europe accounts for the highest share of surfactants, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals in the global market, owing to the demand from the industries and end-use applications.
- In Europe, Germany has a significant market for rhamnolipids. Fraunhofer IGB, Cognis Care Chemicals, Evonik Industries AG, and Biotensidon GmbH manufacture rhamnolipids and biosurfactants.
- Biotensidon GmbH has developed the capability for cost-effective mass-production of rhamnolipids, which will be instrumental in improving the health and eco characteristics of many products in several industry sectors. In order to increase the production capacity of rhamnolipids, Biotensidon GmbH has built a new rhamnolipid-supra molecular complex to increase the production capacity of rhamnolipids up to 5,000 tons per year.
- In the United Kingdom, companies are investing in the development of efficient production technologies for rhamnolipids and biosurfactants.
- TeeGene Biotech Limited is a biotechnology company that specializes in the production and development of biosurfactants in the country. The company developed environmentally friendly cutting-edge biotechnological processes to manufacture biosurfactants from natural sources such as microorganisms, plants, and marine organisms.
- In Italy, the market for rhamnolipids and biosurfactants is still in the research and development phase. In the coming years, the market for rhamnolipids is expected to grow in the country.
- France has the largest market for cosmetics in the world. Thus, most of the companies are developing specific biosurfactants which are used in personal care applications. For instance, Givaudan, a cosmetics and personal care company, developed a biosurfactant belonging to the sophorolipids family. The biosurfactant is used in deodorants, face cleansers, shower gels, and make-up removers.
- Hence, owing to the factors mentioned above, Europe is likely to dominate the rhamnolipids market during the forecast period.