1-Decanol Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Source (Petrochemical Based and Oleochemical Based), Application (Plasticizers, Lubricants, Detergents & Cleaners, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Pharmaceuticals, Flavors & Fragrance, and Others) and Region | Global Forecast for 2025–2032

1-Decanol Market Report Scope & Overview

The 1-Decanol Market size was worth USD 249.71 Million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 393.54 Million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.85% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. 

1-Decanol Market Analysis shows strong growth in surfactant manufacturing, which is a key driver of the market expansion driven by the usage of surfactants in many household items, such as detergents, shampoos, household cleaners, and industrial cleaning agents. Due to its emulsifying and solubilizing properties, 1-Decanol serves as an important raw material and intermediate for the production of non-ionic surfactants. The surging population across the globe is demanding surfactants to be used in cleaning products due to the increasing awareness of good hygiene and cleanliness and fatty alcohol decanol. Moreover, the increasing preference for personal care products, especially in developing countries, also catalyzes the production of surfactants, further leading to a stable and increasing 1-decanol market growth of surfactant production output and thus increasing the requirement for 1-decanol.

For instance, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for "Personal Care and Effects," a grouping that includes many surfactant-based items-has continued to rise significantly. This could be seen from the CPI for this category which moved up from 206.3 in January 2025 to 208.4 in February 2025, as per a release by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) more consumer spending in this category, higher their numbers and consumers shifted their budgets, spending in this segment.

1-Decanol Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

•  Growing agrochemical industry drives the market growth.

The growth of the 1-decanol market is primarily driven by the expanding agrochemical industry. 1-Decanol is used as a solvent, dispersing agent, and intermediate in the preparation of pesticides, herbicides, and other crop protection chemicals. As the global population continues to grow while the area of cultivable land declines, there is a growing need for high-yielding products for agricultural efficiency and Industrial-grade 1-Decanol. As a result, there has been an escalation in excessive quantities of agrochemical use, especially in developing economies with modernization already in process. Moreover, the growing agrochemical sector, with rising government efforts to improve food security and drive agricultural production, is supportive of the agrochemical industry's growth.

In August 2023, Bayer AG spent USD 231.3 million to build a new R&D center at its site in Monheim, Germany. This facility is the biggest single financial investment in crop protection in Germany in 40 years, and its purpose is to cultivate safer, sustainable next-generation crop protection products.

Moreover, the USDA announced it to invest over USD 46 million in 2023 into developing agrochemical solutions that are sustainable and variable-impact research-directed.

Restraints:

•   Fluctuating Raw Material Prices May Hamper the Market Growth

The prime factor that hampers the 1-decanol market growth is the volatile prices of raw materials. 1-Decanol is largely dependent on key raw materials, fatty alcohols and petrochemical derivatives, whose prices exhibit high volatility due to changes in crude oil price, potential geopolitical instability in oil-producing countries, and supply–demand unbalance in the market. A rapid upsurge in input costs can increase the overall production costs, which might compel manufacturers to increase the prices of the product.

Consequently, this may make 1-Decanol less competitive against other chemicals, and subsequently, the demand for 1-Decanol may fall. Also, price variability impedes producers from making long-term plans for investments and keeps consumers from being able to earn a fair, steady profit. Fluctuating raw material prices tend to stagnate procurement and production activities in industries where cost sensitivity is high, such as personal care and agrochemicals, in turn, impacting the overall growth of the market

Opportunities:

• Innovations in Production Technology Create Opportunities in the Market

The 1-Decanol market is also benefiting from the recent advancements in production technology, which have made it possible to reduce the production time and costs and thus exploring new growth avenues. Recent progress in catalytic pathways and bio-fermentation processes allows manufacturers to synthesize 1-Decanol of higher purity, higher yield, and lower environmental load. The collective benefits of these technological advancements aid in decreasing energy use and the dependence on petrochemical building blocks, in agreement with the momentum towards greener, more sustainable chemical manufacture across the globe. In addition, as these innovations can help scale up and shorten production cycles, companies can expedite supply to meet rising demand, from personal care and agrochemicals to pharmaceuticals, and it drives the 1-decanol market trends.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced its investment of USD 35 million in 15 new research projects that aim to provide the know-how for improving biofuel manufacturing processes. Their projects aim to optimize production whilst minimizing CO₂ emissions and waste, two key objectives that suit the development of bio-based chemical production technologies.

Fatty alcohols, such as 1-decanol have been evaluated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the process is highly dependent on the choice of the catalyst and reaction conditions.

1-Decanol Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Source

Oleochemical-based held the largest 1-Decanol market share, around 67%, in 2024 due to a greater preference for setting-friendly and sustainable substances. Oleochemicals can be extracted from natural sources including palm oil, coconut oil, and soybean oil, which are renewable and biodegradable fats and oils, attractive to replace techno-chemical-derived products. Increasing consumer cognizance toward the use of chemical products that have detrimental effects on the environment has forced 1-decanol companies towards the oleochemical sources for manufacturing 1-decanol, particularly in personal care, cosmetics, and agrochemical sectors. It is, moreover, thought that 1-Decanol produced from oleochemicals generally has higher biodegradability and lower toxicity, which complies with various regulatory standards globally.

Petrochemical-based held a significant 1-Decanol market share owing to its production infrastructure available for a long time and cost advantage. Petrochemical raw materials, sourced from fossil fuels, such as petroleum and natural gas, have been the dominant feedstock for industrial chemical production, including 1-Decanol, for decades. Petrochemical feedstocks are produced in mature supply chains, and their advanced refining technologies assure high quality and availability, making them reliable for production at scale. Moreover, petrochemical-based 1-Decanol can be competitively priced relative to bio-based alternatives, thus appealing to disciplines where cost-efficiency is essential, as surfactants and lubricants production.

By Application

Plasticizers held the largest market share, around 28%, in 2024. The growth is driven by the widespread usage of 1-Decanol as a significant intermediate in plasticizer production. Plasticizers are substances added to plastics, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to increase their flexibility, workability, and durability. They are used in many industries, including construction, automotive, and consumer goods. As a high-performance plasticizer, its chemical properties, such as compatibility enhancement of polymers and relatively low toxicity, make 1-decanol hesitate to be replaced.

Lubricants hold a significant market share in the 1-decanol market owing to the excellent properties of the compound as a lubricant additive and as a base fluid. 1-Decanol Industry is recognized for enhancing the viscosity, lubricity, and stability of lubricant formulations, making it suitable for use in automotive, industrial, and machinery applications. This unique chemical structure enables it to reduce friction and wear, thus improving the efficiency and lifetime of mechanical components and parts.

1-Decanol Market Regional Outlook:

Asia Pacific held the largest market share, around 43.26%, in 2024. The segment’s expansion is attributed to its growing industrial basis, abundant raw material availability, and high demand in importing end-use sectors. Due to huge palm oil production, oleochemical-based products are notably produced and consumed in places, such as China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and palm oil is the main feedstock for bio-based 1-Decanol. A healthy personal care sector, combined with a thriving agrochemical and lubricant sector, which benefits from increasing population, urbanization, and per capita disposable incomes in the region, is driving the growth of 1-Decanol derivatives, which include surfactants, emulsifiers, and solvents.

In 2024, Emery Oleochemicals has been focused on the diversification of its production processes and product portfolios from the 1-Decanol segment to meet the growing demand in personal care applications and industrial applications.

North America 1-Decanol market held a significant market share and is the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. It is due to advanced industrial infrastructure, elevated demand in main end-use sectors, and a high level of focus on innovations and R&D. Meanwhile, the U.S. houses the major chemical manufacturers and downstream industries that mainly consume 1-Decanol for surfactant, lubricant, and plasticizer uses. This, combined with the presence of a well-established personal care and cosmetic industry in North America, will continue to boost the demand for 1-Decanol, which has high purity and is made by usage in the formulations of creams, lotions, and cleansers.

The U.S 1-Decanol market size was USD 45.24 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 78.55 million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 7.14% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. It is owing to the sophisticated chemical manufacturing, high consumption from several different industries, and a greater emphasis on innovation. It has some of the top chemists and chemical producers globally, along with an integrated supply chain that easily supports mass production of alcohol-based chemicals, such as 1-Decanol.

In 2023, Dow launched the Dow Lab Safety Academy, a platform that features a comprehensive library of videos and resources illustrating laboratory safety best practices. This effort is focused on enhancing safety awareness and practices in academic research labs, especially those working in chemical research.

Europe held a significant market share in the forecast period. It is due to its established industrial background, strict environmental laws, and several prominent chemical producers. Surfactants, lubricants, and plasticizers use 1-Decanol, of which there is high demand in the region due to the presence of well-developed personal care, pharmaceutical, and automotive sectors. The increasing attention among European manufacturers toward bio-based and sustainable chemicals, coupled with sustainable businesses, is enhancing the consumption of 1-Decanol derived from oleochemicals.

Key Players:

The key players operating in the market are Sasol, KH Neochem, OQ Chemicals, Godrej Industries, ExxonMobil, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Emery Oleochemicals, Musim Mas, VVF LLC, and Jinan Haohua Industry.

Recent Developments:

• In 2025, BASF announced a new bio-based product line for 1-decanol in response to the need for more sustainable and eco-friendly chemical products worldwide.

• In 2023, Evonik announced in March 2023 that it would build a new 1-decanol plant in Germany to meet rising demand for this fatty alcohol, which is used in personal care, surfactants, and plasticizers.