Track Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Price Trend Historical and Forecast

Executive Summary

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), a widely used surfactant in personal care, detergents, industrial cleaners, and other applications, witnessed a predominantly softening trend in Q3 2025 across major global markets. The price dynamics were influenced by subdued downstream demand, stable feedstock costs, and cautious procurement behavior.

In North America, the SLS Price Index declined due to low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers, despite expectations of seasonal demand recovery. APAC, particularly China and India, saw slight downward pressure on prices amid weak export activity and moderate domestic demand. Meanwhile, Europe faced similar softness as sluggish consumer spending and slow recovery in institutional cleaning dampened purchasing activity.

Production costs remained largely stable globally, supported by consistent lauryl alcohol feedstock availability and relatively low energy input costs. Export flows were moderate, and logistical challenges did not materially disrupt supply. The outlook for Q4 2025 suggests a flat-to-soft price trajectory, with limited upside unless stronger export demand or feedstock cost increases emerge.

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Introduction

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is an anionic surfactant known for its strong foaming and cleansing properties. It finds widespread application in shampoos, toothpaste, liquid soaps, household detergents, industrial cleaners, textile processing, and agrochemical formulations.

The SLS market is heavily influenced by trends in consumer demand, feedstock availability, energy costs, and global trade flows. As a commodity chemical, its pricing reacts to seasonal demand shifts, industrial activity, and supply chain factors such as shipping congestion and regional competition.

In this article, we analyze the SLS price trends for Q3 2025, provide a detailed regional breakdown across North America, APAC, and Europe, review historical quarterly movements, examine production cost trends, and offer a forward-looking forecast for Q4 2025. Additionally, a FAQ section addresses the key market questions and insights.

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Global Price Overview

In Q3 2025, the SLS Price Index across major markets showed a softening trend:

North America: Prices declined amid subdued demand in personal care and detergent sectors. Weekly movements were neutral to soft, and domestic consumption remained below expectations.
APAC: China experienced a modest 0.58% quarter-over-quarter decline, reflecting weak exports. India saw cautious procurement, with prices slightly constrained despite robust domestic FMCG demand.
Europe: Prices softened due to cautious consumer spending, slow institutional cleaning recovery, and steady feedstock availability. Weekly movements were neutral to soft, with moderate export activity.
Production costs remained relatively stable worldwide, supported by consistent lauryl alcohol availability and moderate energy prices. Supply disruptions were minimal, and inventories were generally high, further contributing to price softness.

Regional Analysis

North America

Quarter Ending September 2025

The SLS Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weak demand from personal care, detergent, and industrial cleaning sectors.
Production costs remained stable, as lauryl alcohol feedstock and energy costs did not see significant changes.
Weekly price movements were neutral to soft, with no major supply disruptions.
Export activity remained moderate, while domestic consumption was affected by slower recovery in retail and industrial cleaning segments.
Key Factors for Price Changes in September 2025:

Low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers, despite seasonal demand expectations.
Stable feedstock costs maintained uninterrupted production, while high inventories and muted procurement applied downward pressure.
Buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach, anticipating further price corrections amid weak downstream momentum.

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Quarterly Review - June 2025:

The SLS Price Index had trended upward in Q2 2025 due to steady demand and some supply constraints from trans-Pacific shipment delays.
Production costs increased moderately due to rising sulfuric acid and imported lauryl alcohol prices.
A modest price decline in July 2025 occurred as shipping congestion eased and detergent manufacturers slowed restocking.
Quarterly Review - March 2025:

The market remained steady to moderate, supported by consistent personal care and household cleaning demand.
End-Q1 2025 saw a slight decline influenced by lower feedstock costs and fluctuations in upstream raw materials like palm oil and caustic soda.
U.S. manufacturers increased production to support export ambitions, impacting domestic supply and pricing dynamics.
Procurement Behavior: Buyers remained cautious, monitoring inventory levels and opting for incremental purchases, awaiting any potential price corrections.

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Quarter Ending September 2025

In China, the SLS Price Index fell by 0.58% quarter-over-quarter due to weak exports.
The average SLS price stood at USD 1874.33/MT, based on transaction data.
Spot prices were stable, with softened domestic demand and increasing inventories.
Competitive regional imports and logistics costs constrained price movement.
Production costs remained stable as lauryl alcohol prices were unchanged.
Demand outlook is neutral, with gradual recovery in detergent demand but cautious procurement.

Key Factors for Price Changes in September 2025:

Weak export demand amid competitive regional supplies.
Stable feedstock and energy costs, with only slightly higher localized utility expenses.
Rising inventories and conservative domestic procurement reduced upward pressure.

Quarterly Review - June 2025:

In India, the SLS Price Index rose 5.1% due to strong FMCG demand and rising raw material costs.
Production costs increased sharply, driven by lauryl alcohol and sulfuric acid price hikes, alongside higher freight costs.
Import disruptions from Malaysia and China compounded supply-side tightness.
The market showed robust demand from personal care and household cleaning products, bolstered by digital retail and e-commerce penetration.

Quarterly Review - March 2025:

India experienced notable growth (3.62%) driven by increased hygiene awareness post-pandemic.
Demand surged from downstream industries including shampoos, bodywash, facial cleansers, and toothpaste.
Manufacturers expanded production capacities and diversified formulations to meet hygiene-focused consumer demand.
Procurement Outlook: Procurement in APAC remains cautious, with buyers monitoring spot prices and inventory levels. Export demand will be a critical factor in Q4 2025 price movements.

Europe

Quarter Ending September 2025

The SLS Price Index declined quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weak downstream demand.
SLS is widely applied across personal care, detergents, industrial cleaning, textile processing, and agrochemicals.
Production costs remained stable due to consistent lauryl alcohol availability and moderate energy prices.
Weekly price movements were neutral to soft. Export activity was moderate, and domestic consumption was sluggish.
Key Factors for Price Changes in September 2025:

Low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers despite seasonal expectations.
Stable feedstock and energy costs maintained supply, while high inventories and cautious procurement applied pressure.
Buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach amid weak downstream momentum.
Quarterly Review - June 2025:

Prices rose during Q2 2025 due to elevated input costs, logistics disruptions at ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp, and tighter emissions controls.
Production costs increased moderately, but demand remained stable from industrial detergent producers and premium personal care brands.
July 2025 saw little change as high production costs kept floors firm, while seasonal and macroeconomic factors slightly weakened demand.
Quarterly Review - March 2025:

Early 2025 witnessed mixed performance, with a decline toward the end of Q1 due to low orders and cautious buying.
Germany, Europe's largest SLS producer, faced operational challenges amid inflation and economic uncertainty.
Manufacturers reduced production and implemented temporary plant shutdowns to manage costs and inventory.

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Procurement Outlook: Buyers remain cautious, focusing on minimizing inventory buildup while monitoring downstream demand trends and production costs.

Production and Cost Structure Insights

Globally, the SLS production cost is primarily influenced by:

Feedstock Availability: Lauryl alcohol is the main raw material. Consistent availability supports stable production costs.
Energy Costs: Moderate energy prices in North America and Europe help maintain operational margins.
Sulfuric Acid Pricing: As a key reagent, sulfuric acid price fluctuations can affect quarterly cost trends.
Logistics and Freight Costs: Import/export shipping conditions impact overall cost, particularly in APAC.
Producers globally have leveraged high inventories, steady feedstock, and operational efficiency to maintain price stability despite weak downstream demand.

FAQ - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Market

Q1: Why did SLS prices fall in North America in September 2025?
A1: Prices decreased due to low offtake from personal care and detergent manufacturers, stable feedstock costs, and high inventories. Buyers also adopted a wait-and-see approach amid weak downstream demand.

Q2: What drove SLS price changes in APAC in Q3 2025?
A2: Weak export demand, competitive regional supplies, and cautious domestic procurement contributed to slight downward pressure on prices. Stable feedstock limited production cost increases.

Q3: How did European SLS prices evolve in Q3 2025?
A3: Prices softened due to low demand from key sectors, stable feedstock and energy costs, and cautious buying behavior. Export flows remained moderate.

Q4: What is the outlook for SLS prices in Q4 2025?
A4: Prices are expected to remain flat to soft globally, with limited upside unless stronger export orders or feedstock cost increases emerge.

Q5: How do production costs impact SLS pricing?
A5: Feedstock availability, energy costs, sulfuric acid pricing, and logistics influence production costs. Stability in these factors helps maintain prices despite demand fluctuations.

How ChemAnalyst Supports Buyers

ChemAnalyst provides actionable market intelligence for over 450 commodities, including SLS. Buyers benefit from:

Real-Time Price Updates: Weekly price tracking enables informed purchasing decisions.
Forecasting and Trend Analysis: Predictive insights allow for optimized procurement and cost management.
Supply Chain Intelligence: Monitoring plant shutdowns, shipping disruptions, and regional trade flows helps mitigate risks.
Expert Analysis: Chemical engineers and market analysts deliver insights into why prices move and market dynamics.
Global Reach: Ground teams in 50+ trading hubs provide firsthand information from ports and production centers worldwide.
By leveraging ChemAnalyst's insights, procurement teams can plan strategically, manage inventories efficiently, and stay ahead in competitive chemical markets.

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Conclusion

The Sodium Lauryl Sulphate market experienced a softening trend globally in Q3 2025, driven by subdued downstream demand, stable feedstock availability, and cautious procurement behavior. While production costs remained largely stable, inventories were high, limiting pricing flexibility. Regional dynamics varied, with APAC affected by weak exports, North America by slow industrial recovery, and Europe by cautious consumer spending.

Looking ahead, Q4 2025 is expected to see a flat-to-soft trend unless external factors, such as feedstock cost increases or stronger export demand, influence the market. Buyers are advised to monitor price movements closely and leverage tools like ChemAnalyst to optimize procurement strategy and maintain supply chain resilience.

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