Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Market Overview

Germany held the priciest sodium lauryl ether sulfate of the markets we track through the first half of the year 2026 (H1 2026). Q2 closed at a value of USD 1425/MT against Q1's USD 1400/MT, up 1.8%. Firmer lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide feedstock costs kept a floor under the market. Steady personal-care and detergent demand added its own pull on top of that. The global average moved from the USD 1260/MT to a value of USD 1285/MT, a gain of just a 2.0% percent. For the second half of 2026 (H2 2026), a range of an amount of USD 1290 to 1370/MT looks likely worldwide. Steady personal-care demand and firmer oleochemical feedstock costs are what's holding it up.

Sodium lauryl ether sulfate, SLES for short, is made by first ethoxylating the lauryl alcohol, sourced from the coconut or palm-kernel oil or from petrochemical routes, then sulfating the result with sulfur trioxide or chlorosulfonic acid and neutralizing it to the sodium salt. The result is the primary foaming and cleansing surfactant in nearly every shampoo, body wash, and liquid detergent formulation sold today. It's valued for its strong lather and relatively mild skin profile compared with the harsher alternatives. Dish and laundry detergents make up the remainder of the demand.

What sets the price comes down to three things.

• Lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide feedstock costs.
• The pace of personal-care and household-detergent demand.
• Regional oleochemical feedstock proximity.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Price Forecast for 2026

The second half of 2026 (H2 2026) opened firm across every market. Personal-care formulators in Europe and North America kept the demand steady even as they absorbed the firmer feedstock costs. India's fast-growing detergent and personal-care sector kept pulling harder on both domestic production and imports. China's producers ran at steady rates even as fatty-alcohol feedstock costs climbed alongside the broader oleochemical complex.

A couple of factors bear watching. A coconut or palm-kernel oil price spike, tied to weather or planting-cycle disruptions, could push the market past the top of the range. A shift toward alternative mild surfactants, or a palm-kernel oversupply cycle, could pull the prices below the floor instead.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 1135/MT
• United States: USD 1355/MT
• Germany: USD 1425/MT
• India: USD 1280/MT

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in China

China's SLES producers passed through firmer lauryl alcohol costs in Q2. Domestic detergent demand held steady at the same time. The gain came to a value of 1.8%, from USD 1115/MT to USD 1135/MT.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q2 2026 in China?

• Lauryl alcohol feedstock costs firmed through the quarter.
• Domestic detergent and personal-care demand held steady.
• Quarter closed at USD 1135/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in the United States

The US SLES firmed by 1.9% to a value of USD 1355/MT. The personal-care demand stayed strong, and the feedstock costs climbed alongside it.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q2 2026 in United States?

• Personal-care and household-detergent demand stayed strong.
• Lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide feedstock costs both climbed.
• Quarter closed at USD 1355/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in Germany

Germany gained by 1.8% to a value of USD 1425/MT. The personal-care demand stayed steady, and the feedstock costs firmed alongside it.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

• Personal-care demand held steady across the quarter.
• Feedstock costs firmed in step with the broader oleochemical complex.
• Quarter closed at USD 1425/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in India

India climbed by 2.4% to a value of USD 1280/MT, the fastest gain of the quarter. The detergent and personal-care demand kept building there.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q2 2026 in India?

• Detergent and personal-care demand kept building.
• Import-linked feedstock costs remained lifted.
• Quarter closed at USD 1280/MT.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 1115/MT
• United States: USD 1330/MT
• Germany: USD 1400/MT
• India: USD 1250/MT

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in China

China gained by 1.8% to a value of USD 1115/MT. The lauryl alcohol feedstock costs firmed as the year opened.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q1 2026 in China?

• Lauryl alcohol feedstock costs firmed as the year opened.
• Domestic detergent demand held steady.
• Quarter closed at USD 1115/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in the United States

The US SLES rose by 1.9% to a value of USD 1330/MT. The personal-care demand firmed with the new year.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q1 2026 in United States?

• Personal-care demand firmed with the new year.
• Feedstock costs continued climbing.
• Quarter closed at USD 1330/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in Germany

Germany gained by 1.8% to a value of USD 1400/MT. The feedstock costs firmed, and the personal-care demand stayed steady.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

• Feedstock costs firmed steadily.
• Personal-care demand stayed steady.
• Quarter closed at USD 1400/MT.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in India

India climbed by 2.5% to a value of USD 1250/MT. The detergent and personal-care demand built ahead of the summer season.

Why did the price of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate change in Q1 2026 in India?

• Detergent and personal-care demand built ahead of the summer season.
• Import-linked feedstock costs firmed.
• Quarter closed at USD 1250/MT.

Quarterly Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from the USD 1180/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1285/MT by Q2 2026, a net gain of about 8.9 percent. India led the climb throughout. Its fast-growing detergent and personal-care sector pulled harder each quarter than the steadier, more mature markets in Europe, North America, and China did.

What was Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Price in 2025?

The year 2025 was a steadily firming year for sodium lauryl ether sulfate across every market we track. The global average opened near a value of USD 1180/MT in Q1 and climbed in every quarter to close Q4 at USD 1235/MT, a full-year gain of 4.7 percent. India led in percentage terms, up 6.1 percent, on its rapidly expanding detergent and personal-care sector. The United States gained 4.4 percent, China 4.3 percent, and Germany 4.2 percent. All were supported by the firming oleochemical feedstock costs.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in China in 2025

China opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 1050/MT and closed the year at USD 1095/MT, a gain of 4.3 percent. The domestic detergent and personal-care demand built steadily through the year. The lauryl alcohol feedstock costs firmed in step with it. The net direction for the year was solidly higher, with the steady domestic demand as the main driver.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in the United States in 2025

The United States opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 1250/MT and closed at USD 1305/MT, a gain of 4.4 percent. The personal-care and household-detergent demand stayed consistently strong throughout the year. The feedstock costs firmed steadily alongside it too. The net direction for the year was firmly higher, with the steady personal-care demand as the dominant driver.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 1320/MT and closed at USD 1375/MT, a gain of 4.2 percent, the mildest of the four markets. The personal-care demand held steady at Germany's established production base. The feedstock costs firmed gradually through the year too. The net direction for the year was moderately higher, with the steady established demand as the main driver.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Prices in India in 2025

India opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 1150/MT and closed at USD 1220/MT, a gain of 6.1 percent, the strongest in percentage terms among the four markets. Rapidly expanding detergent and personal-care demand kept pulling harder on both domestic production and imports every quarter. Feedstock costs firmed alongside the acceleration too. The net direction for the year was sharply higher, with the expanding detergent and personal-care demand as the dominant driver.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Price Intelligence

Expert Market Research keeps a continuous watch on the sodium lauryl ether sulfate pricing across every major producing and consuming region. A price alone says very little. Our analysts dig into what actually drives it: the lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide feedstock economics, the pace of personal-care and household-detergent demand, and regional oleochemical feedstock proximity. The forecasts draw on the feedstock trends, the capacity utilization, and the trade-flow shifts across all four reporting regions. Contact Expert Market Research today for the sodium lauryl ether sulfate pricing data, a bespoke market analysis, and a strategic procurement advisory.