Tertiary Amines Market Size & Outlook, 2026-2034

Tertiary Amines Market Overview

The global tertiary amines market size is estimated at USD 4.37 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 7.12 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. The growth is driven by the dominant applications of tertiary amines in cosmetics and skin care products. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 50 million Americans are affected by acne annually, and 1 in 10 Americans of all ages is affected by atopic dermatitis. Tertiary amines are broadly utilized as surfactants, emulsifiers, and pH-adjusting agents in skin care products. The continuous rise in demand for skin care products accelerates the market growth.

Market Numbers

• Asia Pacific held a dominant share of the market, accounting for 32.73% revenue share in 2025.
• The North America region grew at the fastest pace, with a CAGR of 6.77% from 2026–2034.
• Based on type, the C-14 tertiary amine segment held the highest market share of 27.48% in 2025.
• Based on application, the biocide segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR growth of 6.57% from 2026–2034.
• Based on end use, the cosmetics & personal care segment held the highest market share of 30.93% in 2025.
• China dominated the regional market in 2025 with a revenue share of 31.47%.

Table: China Tertiary Amines Market Size (USD Million)

Source: Straits Research

Market Size & Forecast

• 2025 Market Size: USD 4.37 billion
• 2034 Projected Market Size: USD 7.12 billion
• CAGR (2026–2034): 5.6%
• Dominating Region: Asia Pacific
• Fastest-Growing Region: North America

Tertiary amines are organic compounds, where a nitrogen atom is linked bonded with three other carbon groups and no hydrogen atoms. The tertiary amines are classified based on the number of carbon atoms, such as C-8, C-10, C-12, C-14, C-16, and others. These multiple tertiary amines are dominantly applicable in surfactants and hence for cleansing purposes. In addition to this, tertiary amines are utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, the agriculture industry, and the textile industry.

Market Trends

Sustainable Production of Tertiary Amines

Rising environmental regulations and demand for environmentally assisted products influenced the manufacturers to shift towards sustainable production of tertiary amines. The regulations with respect to emissions during manufacturing are to be strictly followed by the manufacturers. Hence, companies such as BASF are scaling up low-emission production facilities. This year, BASF announced that produce tertiary amines at the Geismar site using 100 percent renewable electricity. With this approach, BASF aims to achieve net zero emissions.

Shift Towards Bio-based Personal Care Products

Tertiary amines are utilized in the development of personal care products as surfactants, emulsifiers, and pH-adjusting agents. However, the consumers are demanding bio-based products. This demand is influencing the development of bio-based surfactants. The fatty acids of plant source can be utilized in development of bio-based tertiary amines. Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine is an example of a plant-based amidoamine based on renewable feedstock. The development of such tertiary amines provides a pathway for innovation in bio-based cationic conditioning agents.

To get more insights about this report Download Free Sample Report

Market Driver

Consistent Growth of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Tertiary Amines are widely utilized in the pharmaceutical industry to increase the solubility of drugs, thereby acting as surfactants and in multiple types of amine-containing medicines such as antibiotics, anti-cancer medicines, and analgesics. Significant growth in trade of pharmaceutical products ensures the demand for tertiary amines in drug development and manufacturing. According to the International Trade Administration, China’s pharmaceutical import is estimated to reach USD 66.5 billion by 2029. Rising disease burden and need for medications accelerate the demand.

Market Restraint

Raw Material Price Fluctuations

Tertiary amines offer a wide range of applications across key industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and cosmetics. However, the raw material price fluctuations impose limitations on manufacturing rate of tertiary amines. Tertiary Amines are produced from raw materials such as ammonia and fatty acids. The price fluctuations in the last couple of years for fatty acids in countries such as Sweden, Japan, Canada, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands underscore the uncertainty in profit margins and pricing strategies, thereby limiting the market growth.

Market Opportunity

Strategic Approaches by the Government for the Textile Industry

Growing demand for textiles is revolutionizing the textile industry with new types of fibres, clothing styles, and a variety of textiles and garments. Tertiary amines are utilized as surfactants for softening and as a dye-fixation agent for fabrics. The government’s strategic initiatives explore the innovations in fabrics, thereby promoting the demand for tertiary amines. India’s largest global textile event served as a platform to accelerate the government's “Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets” vision. Organization of such events and the government’s vision for the growth of the domestic textile industry direct the demand for tertiary amines as a key component.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2025, accounting for 32.73% market share. This dominance is attributed to dominance of industries such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Strategic investments by key players and the government’s prominent role in the development of domestic manufacturing accelerate the demand for tertiary amines across these multiple industries.

India’s strong agriculture sector consistently drives the demand for tertiary amines as a key component in the manufacturing of biocides. India experienced a 5.23% increase in agricultural income in the last couple of years and a 3.5% growth in second quarter of this year. This consistent growth underscores the demand for tertiary amines in the production of biocides actively utilized in farming.

North America Tertiary Amines Market Insights

North America is emerging as the fastest growing region with a CAGR of 6.77% from 2026–2034, owing to the dominance of industries such as cosmetics and personal care, and a consistently growing pharmaceutical industry with a strong focus on domestic production and research & development, and strategic investments in the agriculture industry.

The tertiary amines market in the U.S. is driven by the dominant cosmetics industry, aligned with the investments by key players. Kolmar USA, a cosmetic manufacturing company, invested USD 60 million to expand manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania this year. This investment accelerates the demand for tertiary amines as a cleansing agent in skin care products.

Regional Market Share (%) in 2025

Source: Straits Research

Europe Market Insights

The European tertiary amines market is driven by the growing demand for tertiary amines in the water treatment aid. Tertiary amines are utilized for enhancing disinfection by accelerating the breakdown of organic pollutants and corrosion inhibitors. The government’s proactive approach to improving water quality accelerates the demand for tertiary amines.

The UK is well-focused on maintaining water quality throughout the country to restrict the spread of diseases. The government’s proactive initiatives to enhance the quality of water promote demand for tertiary amines. Last year, the UK government announced funding of USD 12.32 million to boost local water quality projects. These fundings enhance the demand for tertiary amines as a water treatment aid.

Middle East & Africa Market Insights

The MEA market for Tertiary Amines is propelled by the growing focus on the expansion of domestic pharmaceutical production capabilities. As tertiary amines are utilized in drug development and manufacturing, investments to enhance production capabilities propel the demand for tertiary amines.

Saudi Arabia’s pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest industries in the Middle East & Africa region, with strong manufacturing capabilities and the government’s key role. The government of Saudi Arabia offered 75% project financing for local pharmaceutical projects last year. Such strong initiatives promote the demand for tertiary amines as a key ingredient in the manufacturing of drugs.

Latin America Tertiary Amines Market Insights

The Latin American market for tertiary amines is driven by the growing agriculture industry, with strategic collaborations and evolving demand for agriculture-associated products. These collaborations promote the demand for tertiary amines as a key ingredient in the manufacturing of biocides. Tertiary amines are widely utilized as intermediates in the manufacturing of biocides utilized in farming.

Brazil is strengthening the agricultural trade relations that promote the demand and supply of tertiary amines as an intermediate in manufacturing of biocides. The agriculture ministries of Brazil and Chile met this year to strengthen trade relations. Strengthening trade relations increases the trade of intermediates such as tertiary amines for manufacturing biocides, thereby driving market growth.

Type Insights

The C-14 tertiary amine segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 27.48% in 2025. This growth is driven by its dominant application in cosmetics and personal care products, owing to its moisturizing and antistatic properties. In addition to this, it is utilized in the production of cationic surfactants and disinfectants.

The C-12 tertiary amine segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR growth of 6.39% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to its rising applications in the production of surfactants utilized in shampoos, conditioners, industrial cleaning formulations, and additionally as a fabric softener in the textile industry.

Type Market Share (%), 2025

Source: Straits Research

Application Insights

The surfactant segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 45.81% in 2025. This growth is driven by its dominant utilization in key industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic & personal care. Tertiary amines are utilized as intermediates in the production of surfactants. The growing demand for personal care and cleansing agents underscores the demand for surfactants.

The biocide segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR growth of 6.57% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to rising demand in the agriculture industry and the prominent role of tertiary amines in production of biocides. Rising issues of insecticides in farming, the launch of innovative products, and the government’s strategic initiatives promote the growth of agriculture industry, thereby promoting the need for biocides.

End Use Insights

The cosmetics & personal care segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 30.93% in 2025. This growth is driven by consistently growing demand for cleansers and personal care products with prominent utilization of surfactants and, hence, tertiary amines. Surfactants produced from tertiary amines offer excellent foaming, wetting, and emulsifying properties. Such properties enhance the value of products, thereby dominating the segment.

The pharmaceutical segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to key role of tertiary amines in drug development and manufacturing to enhance the solubility of drugs, and utilization in amine-based drugs. Growing global demand for medications, investments by key players in R&D as well as manufacturing, and the government’s key role in expanding the pharmaceutical market, accelerate the demand for tertiary amines.

Competitive Landscape

The global tertiary amines market is fragmented, with major manufacturing companies having a global presence, trying to increase their market share by undertaking strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, new product development, and partnerships.

The major players in the market include Kao Corporation, BASF, Arkema, Eastman Chemical Company, Nouryon, Chem International, and Global Amines Company Pte. Ltd., among others. These industry players compete to gain a strong market reach with a continuous supply of quality products.

NIPPON SHOKUBAI Group (Nisshoku Techno Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.): An Emerging Market Player

NIPPON SHOKUBAI Group (Nisshoku Techno Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) is a Japan-based chemical manufacturing company. It specifically deals with the manufacturing of industrial chemicals. The company developed its own technologies of organic synthesis. The product portfolio of the company comprises acrylic acid metallic salts, functional materials, optoelectronic materials, and polycyclic aromatics. With the manufacturing of quality products by using its own technology, NIPPON SHOKUBAI Group (Nisshoku Techno Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) continues to grow in the market.

List of key players in Tertiary Amines Market

1. Kao Corporation
2. Indo Amines Limited
3. BASF
4. Albemarle Corporation
5. Arkema
6. Eastman Chemical Company
7. NIPPON SHOKUBAI Group (Nisshoku Techno Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.)
8. RXSOL
9. Shandong Panze Chemical Science Co., Ltd.
10. LION SPECIALTY CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
11. Chem International
12. Shandong Paini New Material Co., Ltd
13. VVF
14. Nouryon
15. Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited
16. Vinati Organics Limited
17. Global Amines Company Pte. Ltd.
18. Others

To get more findings about this report Download Market Share

Strategic Initiatives

• 25^th August 2025: Kao opened a new tertiary amine production plant in U.S. to meet the global demand for tertiary amines.
• 8^th April 2025: Nouryon announced the launch of Armocare Aqua 12 surfactant at in-cosmetics Global in Amsterdam. This product launch enhances the demand for tertiary amines as a surfactant.
• 10^th February 2025: Nouryon opened a new office in Al Dhahran to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.