Hand Sanitizer Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Gel, Foam), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarket & Supermarket, Drugstore), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global hand sanitizer market size was valued at USD 6.02 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2022 to 2030. Rising global awareness regarding sanitation and personal hygiene is expected to drive the demand for hand sanitizer as it is an antiseptic solution, which is used as an alternative to soap and water. Moreover, it helps in preventing some of the most infectious diseases, including COVID-19, norovirus, influenza, meningitis, hand, foot, and mouth disease, pertussis (whooping cough), and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for the increased use of hand sanitizers worldwide in public facilities, transportation, hospitals, nursing homes, and even common households to mitigate the virus burden. Active ingredients such as ethyl alcohol used to manufacture sanitizers are recommended for use against COVID-19 viruses by The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which claims to be effective against the SARS CoV-2 virus. Such factors are likely to bode well with the market growth.

Health and hygiene concerns are increasing among individuals worldwide on account of rising awareness regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the population. The market has been witnessing significant developments in the hand sanitizer industry worldwide in the wake of the ongoing pandemic crisis. However, with the supply chain disruptions and widening supply-demand gaps worldwide, the industry is currently facing significant challenges with regard to ramping up manufacturing capacities to help mitigate the supply shortage. In order to address this supply shortage, several companies have begun leveraging their mass production capabilities to manufacture these products for their domestic markets.

For instance, in April 2020 Honeywell announced an expansion of its manufacturing operations at two chemical manufacturing facilities to produce and donate hand sanitizer to government agencies in response to shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's sites in Muskegon, Michigan, Seelze, and Germany, would produce these products over the next two months-(May and June 2020) for government agencies, and institutions in need.

However, third-party manufacturers or contract, manufacturers, have been critical to major brands in increasing their output in 2020-2021. For instance, in April 2020, SC Johnson, a global manufacturer of household and professional cleaning and disinfecting products, has converted a line reserved for testing new products to produce up to 75,000 bottles of hand sanitizer per month for health workers, first responders, and the company’s own production employees.

There have been many investments done by several companies to expand their business in other markets. For instance, in April 2020, Unilever plc. adapted one of its deodorant manufacturing lines in the U.K. to produce supplies of hand sanitizer for the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, and the first batch of more than 700-liter sanitizer was supplied to St James’s University Hospital.

Innovators and entrepreneurs across the globe are reinventing their business models in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In the craft cocktail arena, breweries and distilleries are transitioning their focus from spirits to hand sanitizers. For instance, in May 2020, Doctor Shultz’s, partnered with Ilthy, a clothing brand for manufacturing and supplying hand sanitizers and face masks.

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be both unpredictable and rapid, the demand for these antibacterial products across the globe, especially in severely affected countries, will be largely shaped by the duration of the crisis. Though the sales were fast-moving throughout 2020, the product demand is anticipated to gradually decrease post-COVID as conditions become favorable.

Product Insights

Gel based hand sanitizer segment held the largest market share of 47.2% in 2021 and is expected to maintain dominance over the forecast period. Gel sanitizers are usually light and watery in the formulation and therefore have a spreadability, which allows these gel-based sanitizers to easily penetrate the skin to kill most bacteria. The ease of product availability and wider access to these types of antiseptic products will fuel the demand for these products in the coming years.

Gel sanitizers have witnessed unprecedented demand across the globe during the coronavirus outbreak, especially in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Television news channel CNBC reported that online stocks of numerous gel hand sanitizers were sold out on Amazon, Walmart, and Walgreens in March 2020.

However, foam-based hand sanitizer is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.1% from 2022 to 2030. The product gains prominence in the market owing to its easy penetration into the skin and stays for a longer period. Foam based sanitizers provide easy application on hands as it does not need to get rubbed off and thus provide the convenience of saving time. This product is expected to witness a surge in demand owing to its higher effectiveness in killing microbial germs. For instance, in March 2021, Cleancult, a non-toxic, zero-waste cleaning brand launched a foam-based hand sanitizer, made from fragrance-free formula and is FDA approved disinfectant and claims to kill 99.9% of germs.

Distribution Channel Insights

Hypermarket & supermarket was a larger distribution channel with a market share of around 37.7% in the global revenue in 2021. Increasing number of these stores across various regions have experienced a surge in the distribution of cleansers in the market. According to an article published by Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), in March 2020, hand sanitizer sales in the U.S. went up by 300% in March 2020 as compared to the same week in the year 2019.

Several stores were running out of stock of hand sanitizers in the first couple of weeks of the outbreak. Supermarkets in Singapore were also out of these and other household cleaning products in March 2020, primarily owing to panic shopping or stocking up on hand sanitizers. In order to discourage hoarding and put a cap on excessive buying prices were increased. For instance, in March 2020 Rotunden, a supermarket in Denmark, sold one bottle of these sanitizers at USD 4.09 and two bottles for USD 95.

The online distribution channel is anticipated to register faster growth during forecast years with a CAGR of 7.0% from 2022 to 2030. The segment is poised to emerge as a steady source of revenue in the forecast period. Promising growth exhibited by e-commerce platforms in emerging countries, including India and China, is compelling manufacturers to reorient their retail strategies in these countries.

Consumers have been stocking up on hand sanitizers and other antibacterial products due to the coronavirus outbreak. The online purchase of ‘virus protection’ products in the U.S., such as sanitizers, masks, gloves, and antibacterial sprays, reported an astounding 817% increase during January-February 2020, as compared to the same period the previous year. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer gels, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), sold out on prominent online platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, and Walgreens in the first couple of months of the outbreak.

Regional Insights

Europe made the second largest contribution in the global market with a share of 24.8% in 2021. This region comprises a number of market players which witness high penetration of different forms of hand antiseptic such as gel-based, foam-based, sprays, and wipes. Countries including U.K., and Germany dominates the market since consumers in the country are more willing to spend on personal care and hygiene products.

Furthermore, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol-based sanitizers have been witnessing a tremendous demand in the region. The current trend of panic shopping and hoarding of sanitizers has resulted in a shortage of products. Therefore, several local players such as Drugstores and chemical manufacturers have started producing the product to meet the excess demand. For instance, in April 2020, Vegamour launched its own hand sanitizer that exceeds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards for hand hygiene.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market and is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.0% from 2022 to 2030. The growth is attributed to the growing awareness about hygiene due to the viral infection caused by COVID-19 that started in 2019 and is prevalent since, in the region. Therefore, companies are launching innovative and different types of personal care & hygiene products in the market stressing safety factors for consumers. For instance, in April 2020, DetectaChem launched its own low-cost antiseptic hand rub, which is available to purchase on the DetectaChem website. The launch was made in response to increasing community safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The hand sanitizer market is highly fragmented with the presence of a large number of regional and local players. The market players face intense competition, especially from the top manufacturers of this market as they have a large consumer base, strong brand recognition, and vast distribution networks. Companies have been implementing various expansion strategies, such as partnerships and new product launches, to stay ahead in the game. Some of the key players operating in the global hand sanitizer market include:

• Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

• Procter and Gamble

• The Himalaya Drug Company

• GOJO Industries, Inc.

• Henkel AG and Company

• Unilever

• Vi-Jon

• Chattem, Inc.

• Best Sanitizers, Inc.

• Kutol

Hand Sanitizer Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis on the latest trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segment from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the hand sanitizer market report based on product, distribution channel, and region.

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Gel

  • Foam

  • Liquid

  • Others

• Distribution channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hypermarket & Supermarket

  • Drugstore

  • Online

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • China

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa