Biosurfactants Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Glycolipids, Lipopeptides, Phospholipids, Polymeric, and Others), By Source (Bacteria, Yeast, and Fungi), By Application (Household Cleaners, Industrial & Institutional Cleaners, Food Processing, Oil & Petroleum, Personal Care, Agrochemicals, and Others), and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Biosurfactants Market size was valued at US$ 4,394.4 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 6,142.2 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 4.9% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. biosurfactants market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 1,916.4 million by 2031.

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms or derived from natural sources such as plants, bacteria, and yeast. They reduce surface and interfacial tension between liquids, solids, and gases, making them effective for emulsifying, dispersing, and foaming in various applications. The market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for green and sustainable alternatives to synthetic surfactants, as consumers and industries seek eco-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable ingredients.

This shift aligns with rising environmental awareness and stricter regulations, particularly in developed regions. Biosurfactants’ ability to perform effectively in extreme conditions enhances their appeal across diverse applications like personal care, agriculture, oil recovery, and industrial cleaning. A key trend in the market is the growing integration of biosurfactants into cosmetic and personal care formulations, driven by the clean beauty movement and consumer preference for natural ingredients. This is further supported by the marketing value of sustainable labels and plant-based claims.

A major opportunity lies in the rising demand for organic personal care products, with biosurfactants offering skin-friendly and safe formulations. Their use is also expanding into agriculture and environmental remediation. However, the market faces significant restraints due to high production costs, limited infrastructure, and complex downstream processing, which hinder large-scale adoption in cost-sensitive markets. Despite these challenges, advancements in fermentation technology and ongoing R&D are expected to support broader commercialization, as industries increasingly shift toward sustainable and safe alternatives in response to consumer and regulatory pressures.

Facts & Figures

• Rising Demand for Green and Sustainable Alternatives: Consumers and industries are shifting toward eco-friendly products due to growing environmental awareness and stricter regulations. For instance, in 2025, global biosurfactants demand is expected to cross $5.24 billion, driven by the preference for biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients in personal care and home cleaning products.
• Advanced R&D and Microbial Discoveries: Innovative microbial strains are being explored for enhanced biosurfactant efficiency and environmental applications. For instance, in May 2025, Indian researchers in Hyderabad discovered a Rhodococcus strain capable of degrading 90% hydrocarbons while producing biosurfactants, beneficial for environmental cleanup.
• Rising Demand in Industrial Cleaning and Oil Spill Management: Biosurfactants offer effective degreasing and emulsification properties, ideal for industrial applications. For instance, recently, Dispersa and AGAE Technologies scaled up glycolipid production by 1,000 MT, targeting cleaning and industrial sectors.
• Increased Use in Personal Care and Cosmetics: Biosurfactants are gaining traction in skin-friendly, natural cosmetic formulations for their mildness and biodegradability.
  For instance, AmphiStar’s €6 million funding round and partnership with Kensing (June 2025) aim to expand biosurfactant use in North America’s personal care segment.

Key Developments:

• In June 2025, AmphiStar and Kensing form a strategic partnership to introduce microbial biosurfactants in North America, aiming to co-develop a library of 80+ designer molecules.
• In May 2025, Evonik opens an industrial-scale biosurfactant plant in Slovakia
  The new facility produces glycolipid biosurfactants for coatings and pigment technologies, meeting global environmental standards.
• In May 2025, Dispersa and AGAE Technologies scale up glycolipid production
  These companies expanded biosurfactant output, adding over 1,000?MT annually via new commercial reactors to supply cleaning and industrial sectors.
• In April 2024, Sasol–Holiferm expands biosurfactant partnership and the collaboration now includes rhamnolipids and MELs, enabling pilot-scale production ahead of UK plant rollout.

Biosurfactants Market Segmentation:

Based on the type:

• Glycolipids
  • Rhamnolipids
  • Trehalolipids
  • Sophorolipids
• Lipopeptides
  • Surfactin
  • Iturin

• Phospholipids
• Polymeric
• Others

Glycolipids hold the largest market share in the market due to their high yield, cost-effectiveness, and versatile applications in personal care, home care, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Produced mainly as sophorolipids and rhamnolipids, they offer excellent emulsifying, foaming, and skin-compatible properties, making them ideal for natural and eco-friendly formulations. Their scalability and regulatory acceptance have further driven their dominance. Additionally, major companies are actively investing in expanding glycolipid production capacities to meet rising demand. On the other hand, phospholipids account for the lowest market share, as their complex extraction processes and limited application range restrict their widespread commercial adoption.

Based on the source:

• Bacteria
• Yeast
• Fungi

Bacteria are the leading source in the market with the highest market share. Their dominance stems from their ability to produce a diverse range of biosurfactants, such as rhamnolipids and lipopeptides, at high yields and using affordable substrates, meeting broad industrial needs. Yeasts are known for producing glycolipids like sophorolipids with safe, food-grade qualities and increasing adoption in cosmetics and food sectors. Fungi, including filamentous species, contribute the least to market share due to slower growth rates and less commercial production infrastructure, although their potential for specialized biosurfactant types is growing.

Based on the application:

• Household Cleaners
• Industrial & Institutional Cleaners
• Food Processing
• Oil & Petroleum
• Personal Care
• Agrochemicals
• Others

Based on application, personal care holds the largest market share in the market. This is primarily due to the growing demand for natural, skin-friendly, and biodegradable ingredients in products like shampoos, face washes, lotions, and baby care items. Consumers are increasingly preferring clean-label and eco-friendly personal care formulations, pushing manufacturers to adopt biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids and sophorolipids for their mild cleansing and foaming properties. Additionally, regulatory support and marketing advantages further boost adoption in this segment. In contrast, food processing holds the lowest market share, as biosurfactants face regulatory, safety, and formulation challenges that limit their integration into food-grade products.