Oleyl Alcohol Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Source (Beef Oil, Fish Oil, Olive Oil), By Application (Cosmetics & Personal Care, Surfactants, Textile), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global oleyl alcohol market size was valued at USD 669.03 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030. The demand for oleyl alcohol is anticipated to be driven by various factors such as eco-friendly, pure, and highly effective in terms of performance and quality. It is used as a defoaming agent, cosmetic emollient, plasticizer, rheology modifier, chemical intermediate, and automotive lubricant in numerous industrial applications.

Oleyl alcohol is manufactured by catalytic hydrogenation of oleic acid esters. It can also be formulated by Boweault-Blanc reduction reaction of butyl oleate using butyl alcohol and sodium as key ingredients. Thus, it is naturally available in fish oil and oils of other aquatic mammals. Moreover, increasing product use in R&D activities in pharmaceutical formulations for drug delivery is estimated to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the global market in the coming years.

Oleyl alcohol is an organic compound derived from the plant as well as animal sources. It is a clear liquid having a unique odor. The natural sources include soybean oil, castor oil, palm kernel oil, and rapeseed. The synthetic sources are chemically processed by synthesis of propylene glycols and ethylene.

However, the varying prices of raw materials have been a major concern for the manufacturers, making it a major barrier to the growth of the industry. However, the growing development of cost-effective, biobased surfactants with the help of oleyl alcohol by major product manufacturers is likely to positively influence the product demand over the forecast period.

Source Insights

Fish oil dominated the market with a revenue share of over 30.0% in 2021. Its high share is attributed to its exceptional benefits such as reducing blood pressure, lowering risks related to heart diseases, helping in increasing good cholesterol levels, and promoting the release of serotonin. The rising awareness among consumers and medical professionals regarding the importance of omega-3 fatty acids has led to an increase in the usage of fish oil, thereby positively influencing the overall market growth.

Oleyl alcohol is derived from a reaction between esters and oleic acid from olive oil. Various benefits associated with olive oil used in the food & beverage industry have triggered industry growth across the world. The benefits of olive oil include being rich in antioxidants, monosaturated fats, anti0inflammatory properties, and reducing risks of diabetes and heart failure. The growing consumer awareness regarding healthy eating has influenced the demand for olive, thus benefitting the market growth.

Application Insights

The cosmetics and personal care segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 25.0% in 2021. Its high share is attributed to the increasing consumer awareness regarding personal hygiene, along with the growing demand for anti-aging products at a global level. It is found in various products such as eye cream, foundation, hair conditioner, and skin cleansers. The moisturizing and emollient properties of the product also drive its demand in personal care and cosmetic applications.

Various multinational personal care and cosmetics brands, such as Avon, Revlon, Christian Dior, Estee Lauder, L’Oréal, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Maybelline New York, Bobbi Brown, and Body Shop, significantly adhere to the guidelines stated by the U.S. federal government for environmental protection and the European Commission, which emphasize the use of bio-based resources. This has increased the product consumption for manufacturing personal care products including anti-aging creams, styling gels, lipsticks, hair treatment products, moisturizers, eye shadow, and lip gloss.

Oleyl alcohol can be used in numerous applications as a softening and lubricating agent for textile fabrics, manufacturing carbon paper, printing ink, and stencil paper.  It is also used in several product formulations for drug delivery in the pharmaceutical industry. It is used in delivering medications via skin or mucus membranes and lungs. In addition, it is used as a precursor for the formulation of sulfuric ester derivatives, widely used in wetting agents and detergents.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market with a revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021. This is attributed to the increasing demand for bio-based products owing to growing consumer awareness, coupled with stringent regulations. The presence of major manufacturing companies across the region including AkzoNobel, P&G, Croda, and Ashland Inc. is triggering positive industry growth.

The product demand in Europe and North America is witnessing stagnant growth on account of its mature end-use industries and comparatively low population. However, the growing utilization of bio-based raw materials instead of petrochemicals is likely to have a positive impact on the industry across the regions. Moreover, the rising consumer awareness regarding the use of natural ingredients and their benefits is favoring the product demand across the personal care and cosmetics industry.

Increasing cleaning products industry is expected to enhance the product demand as it includes surfactants and wetting agents. Procter and Gamble, a manufacturer of cleaning products in Europe, majorly uses oleyl alcohol, which is imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Rising awareness regarding the availability of laundry detergent and liquid soap and increasing consumer disposable income have led to the high penetration of liquid detergents in the residential sector.

In addition, growing environmental awareness about the sustainability issues of synthetic alternatives and rising legal restrictions have been serving as a catalyst for the plasticizers market with developments in various emerging economies such as Russia, India, China, and Brazil. This, in turn, is driving the product demand during the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is growing at a significant rate on the account of the rising consumption in various end-use applications including pharmaceutical, textile, food and beverage, and personal care and cosmetics. Key players are focusing on various mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures for the expansion of business. Moreover, major companies across regions are teaming up with key chemical manufacturers in order to expand their geographical footprint and customer base. Some prominent players in the global oleyl alcohol market include:

• AkzoNobel

• Ecogreen Oleochemicals Pte Ltd.

• Procter & Gamble

• Croda International Plc

• Stepan Company

• Sasol Olefins & Surfactants GmbH

• The Lubrizol

• FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd.

• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

• Ashland Inc.

Oleyl Alcohol Market Report Scope

Global Oleyl Alcohol Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global oleyl alcohol market report on the basis of source, application, and region:

• Source Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Beef Oil

  • Fish Oil

  • Olive Oil

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Food & Beverage

  • Textile

  • Cosmetics & Personal Care

  • Pharmaceutical

  • Surfactants

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

    • Netherlands

    • Russia

    • Switzerland

    • Poland

    • Sweden

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Malaysia

    • Singapore

    • Indonesia

    • Taiwan

    • Australia

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa