With the global population increasing at a robust rate, the demand and consumption of food are expected to witness an exponential increase in the coming future. By 2050, the demand for food is projected to grow over 60%. Moreover, with the increasing food consumption, the need to improve agricultural productivity has increased manifold.

However, there are different factors that result in crop loss, thus affecting crop production. One of such factors is crop losses occurring due to pests and weed diseases. The increasing percentage of crop loss due to pests and weed diseases has fueled the use of different types of agrochemicals in the agriculture industry.

One such widely used agrochemical is an agricultural surfactant. An agricultural surfactant is a type of crop protection chemical used for protecting crops from different pests and weeds and lowering the risk of crop loss. An agricultural surfactant is mixed with herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides to enhance their efficiency and effects. One of the key benefits of using agricultural surfactant is that they are targeted onto pests and do not seep into the soil, thus they do not hamper the soil quality.

BIS Research has recently published a market intelligence report titled “Global Agricultural Surfactants Market – Analysis and Forecast (2019-2024),” providing key insights about the expected growth of the global agricultural surfactants market during the forecast period, 2019-2024. As per the published report, the market potential is projected to reach $1.85 billion by 2024 from $1.27 billion in 2018. Furthermore, in terms of growth rate, the agricultural surfactants market is anticipated to grow at 6.50% during the period, 2019-2024.

The report published by BIS Research discusses four primarily used agricultural surfactants, namely non-ionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric. The non-ionic surfactant category acquired the largest market share in 2018 and is projected to lead the market in 2024 as well. Further, the anionic surfactant category acquired the second largest market share in 2018, following the non-ionic segment, and is expected to continue the trend during the forecast period. The cost-effectiveness and improved pest control are the two major factors contributing to the high adoption rate of non-ionic surfactants. Additionally, non-ionic surfactants also aid in controlling the diseases caused by fungal zoospores.

Agricultural surfactants can be used in a variety of ways such as foliar spray, seed treatment, and soil treatment. The foliar spray method, primarily used for horticultural activities, dominated the surfactants market in 2018. The high use of foliar spray is due to their fast effects on plants and their ability to overcome challenges such as leaching and insoluble fertilizer precipitation.

The market for agricultural surfactants is expected to witness stable growth across the globe. However, amongst the different regions discussed in the study, North American and Asia-Pacific (APAC) are expected to lead the market in terms of market share and growth rate, respectively, during the forecast period.

The agricultural surfactants market ecosystem includes several prominent companies such as BASF SE, Croda Chemicals, DowDuPont, Evonik Industries, Huntsman Corporation, Nufarm, Clariant International, Lamberti S.p.A, Helena Chemical Company, and Wilbur Ellis. Moreover, research institutes and organizations such as National Pest Management Association, European Crop Protection Association, and World Bank are also investing in the surfactants market and are focusing on the development of methods and techniques to reduce crop losses and further enhance agricultural productivity.