Sodium Lactate Market

Market Overview

The global sodium lactate market size  is expected to grow at a CAGR 8.2% during the forecast period, 2023–2031.

Sodium lactate (SL) is a sodium salt of lactic acid, which is a colorless transparent liquid with a mild saline taste. It is derived by the fermentation of sugars that originates in corns and beets. Living organisms produce it naturally as a by-product of glycolysis. Its main applications include antioxidant synergist, bodying agent, humectant, and preservative. Sodium lactate has a high water-holding capacity, which makes it a good humectant and is used in various products, such as shampoos and soaps.

Market Dynamics

Growing Demand for Lactic Acid

Sodium lactate is extensively used in the chemical industry to produce lactic acid. The chemical companies are also using sodium lactate to produce sodium hydroxide by different processes, such as electrolysis using a cation exchange membrane. The increasing demand for lactic acid in its end-use applications, such as polylactic acid production, is driving the sodium lactate market.

Growing Use of Sodium Lactate in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry

The increasing demand for cosmetics and personal care products globally is driving the sodium lactate market. The factors such as a continuous increase in online beauty spending, expansion of social networks, consumers increasing interest in new and premium products, and growth in the upper-middle-class population accelerate the market growth. As per theL’Oréal 2018 annual report, the growth in the global online cosmetics sales was 25% in 2018 and the share of e-commerce in the beauty market was 12.5% in the same year.

Sodium lactate is used as a preservative enhancer and buffering agent in cosmetic products. It also acts as a bacteriostatic agent. Another prime application of sodium lactate in cosmetics and personal care products is its use as a humectant in the formulation of moisturizers, creams, lotions, and many other skincare products. According to the L’Oréal 2018 annual report, the global cosmetics market is evolving at a fast pace. The growth of the cosmetics market was 3.9% in 2015, which reached 5.5% in 2018.

Regional Analysis

India's Food and Beverage Industry: Largest User of Sodium Lactate

Asia-Pacific’s sodium lactate market is primarily driven by the burgeoning cosmetics and personal care, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. India and China are the prime consumers as well as producers of sodium lactate in the region. The consumption of sodium lactate in India is high in the food and beverage sector. The growing food processing industry in India will fuel the market growth over the forecast period.

As per the data published on Invest India (a government portal), India’s food processing industry is expected to be worth over half a trillion USD by 2025. Moreover, Asia-Pacific is evolving at a fast pace in terms of the consumption of cosmetics products, owing to the increasing upper-middle-class people that are both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about cosmetic products. As per the L’Oréal 2018 annual report, Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest share in the global cosmetics market. The region held a market share of approximately 39% in the global cosmetics market and 55% in the global skincare market.

Segmental Analysis

Versatility Properties of Liquid Sodium Lactate to Drive Its Demand among the End-Users

Naturally, sodium lactate is produced in liquid form. The demand for liquid sodium lactate is high, owing to its easy dissolution in water and other products. The liquid segment accounts for more than three-fourth of the sodium lactate market share. The liquid sodium lactate has more applications compared to powder sodium lactate. Liquid sodium lactate is used as a pH regulator, acidity regulator, and humectant, among others. The liquid form of sodium lactate is more convenient to weigh and use for cosmetics and other products since only a tiny amount of sodium lactate is needed. Sodium lactate powder absorbs water from the air as it is hygroscopic. Powder form requires careful handling and storage.

Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry: Prime User of Sodium Lactate

The prime end-user industry for sodium lactate is the cosmetics and personal care industry, followed by the food and beverage industry. It is extensively used in the manufacturing of soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, and other skincare products. It is used to make a bar and liquid soaps. It also functions as a preservative enhancer and humectant in the cosmetics industry.