Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Overview
The global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) market was valued at approximately USD 224.5 million in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 451.10 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 8.15%. Rising demand in personal care, household cleaning, and biodegradable plastics is driving growth.
Segments Analysis
By Type
- Glycolic Acid Solution (50–60%)
- Glycolic Acid Solution (61–70%)
- Glycolic Acid Solid
- Hydroxyacetic Acid (other derivatives)
By Application
- Household & Institutional Cleaning
- Personal Care & Cosmetics
- Biodegradable Plastics
- Textile & Leather Processing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Others (industrial uses)
Regional Analysis
- North America: Strong demand in cosmetics and dermatology; U.S. leads consumption.
- Europe: Growth driven by eco-friendly cleaning agents and cosmetic regulations.
- Asia-Pacific: Fastest-growing region; China and India dominate production and consumption.
- South America: Brazil emerging in personal care applications.
- Middle East & Africa: Moderate growth, driven by industrial cleaning and niche cosmetic markets.
Porter’s Five Forces
- Threat of New Entrants: Moderate; high R&D costs and regulatory barriers.
- Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Low to moderate; raw materials are widely available.
- Bargaining Power of Buyers: High; buyers demand quality and cost efficiency.
- Threat of Substitutes: Moderate; alternatives like lactic acid exist.
- Industry Rivalry: High; multiple global and regional players compete.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Versatile applications across industries.
- Strong demand in personal care and cleaning sectors.
Weaknesses
- Sensitivity to raw material price fluctuations.
- Regulatory compliance challenges.
Opportunities
- Rising demand for biodegradable plastics.
- Expansion in emerging markets.
Threats
- Competition from substitute acids.
- Economic volatility impacting industrial demand.
Trend Analysis
- Increasing use in eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
- Rising popularity in anti-aging and exfoliation skincare products.
- Growing adoption in biodegradable plastics.
- Shift toward sustainable chemical production.
Drivers & Challenges
Drivers
- Rising consumer awareness of skincare benefits.
- Expanding industrial cleaning applications.
- Growth in sustainable packaging.
Challenges
- Regulatory hurdles in chemical safety.
- Price volatility of raw materials.
- Competition from alternative acids.
Value Chain Analysis
- Raw Material Suppliers → 2. Manufacturers (Chemours, CABB, Sinopec, etc.) →
- Distributors → 4. End-Use Industries (Cosmetics, Cleaning, Plastics, Pharma) →
- Consumers
Key Players
- Chemours
- CrossChem
- Phibro
- CABB
- Water Chemical
- Danhua Technology
- Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical
- Additional Players: Avid Organics, Parchem Fine & Specialty Chemicals, Shandong Xinhua, Zhonglan Industry, Spectrum Chemical, Merck KGaA, BASF SE
Quick Recommendations for Stakeholders
- Manufacturers: Invest in R&D for biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
- Investors: Focus on Asia-Pacific markets for high growth potential.
- Regulators: Encourage sustainable production practices.
- Cosmetic Brands: Leverage glycolic acid’s skincare benefits to expand product lines.
- Distributors: Strengthen supply chains in emerging economies.
1. Market Overview of Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid)
1.1 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Overview
1.1.1 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Scope
1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook
1.2 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Regions:
1.3 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Historic Market Size by Regions
1.4 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Forecasted Market Size by Regions
1.5 Covid-19 Impact on Key Regions, Keyword Market Size YoY Growth
1.5.1 North America
1.5.2 East Asia
1.5.3 Europe
1.5.4 South Asia
1.5.5 Southeast Asia
1.5.6 Middle East
1.5.7 Africa
1.5.8 Oceania
1.5.9 South America
1.5.10 Rest of the World
1.6 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Impact Will Have a Severe Impact on Global Growth
1.6.1 Covid-19 Impact: Global GDP Growth, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Projections
1.6.2 Covid-19 Impact: Commodity Prices Indices
1.6.3 Covid-19 Impact: Global Major Government Policy
2. Covid-19 Impact Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Sales Market by Type
2.1 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Historic Market Size by Type
2.2 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Forecasted Market Size by Type
2.3 Glycolic Acid Solution
2.4 Glycolic Acid Solid
2.5 Hydroxyacetic Acid
3. Covid-19 Impact Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Sales Market by Application
3.1 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Historic Market Size by Application
3.2 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Forecasted Market Size by Application
3.3 Household & Institutional Cleaning
3.4 Personal Care
3.5 Others
4. Covid-19 Impact Market Competition by Manufacturers
4.1 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers
4.2 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers
4.3 Global Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Average Price by Manufacturers
5. Company Profiles and Key Figures in Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Business
5.1 Chemours
5.1.1 Chemours Company Profile
5.1.2 Chemours Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.1.3 Chemours Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.2 CrossChem
5.2.1 CrossChem Company Profile
5.2.2 CrossChem Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.2.3 CrossChem Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.3 Phibro
5.3.1 Phibro Company Profile
5.3.2 Phibro Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.3.3 Phibro Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.4 CABB
5.4.1 CABB Company Profile
5.4.2 CABB Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.4.3 CABB Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.5 Water Chemical
5.5.1 Water Chemical Company Profile
5.5.2 Water Chemical Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.5.3 Water Chemical Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.6 Danhua Technology
5.6.1 Danhua Technology Company Profile
5.6.2 Danhua Technology Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.6.3 Danhua Technology Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.7 Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical
5.7.1 Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company Profile
5.7.2 Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Product Specification
5.7.3 Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
6. North America
6.1 North America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
6.2 North America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
6.3 North America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
6.4 North America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
7. East Asia
7.1 East Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
7.2 East Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
7.3 East Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
7.4 East Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
8. Europe
8.1 Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
8.2 Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
8.3 Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
8.4 Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
9. South Asia
9.1 South Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
9.2 South Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
9.3 South Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
9.4 South Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
10. Southeast Asia
10.1 Southeast Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
10.2 Southeast Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
10.3 Southeast Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
10.4 Southeast Asia Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
11. Middle East
11.1 Middle East Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
11.2 Middle East Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
11.3 Middle East Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
11.4 Middle East Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
12. Africa
12.1 Africa Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
12.2 Africa Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
12.3 Africa Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
12.4 Africa Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
13. Oceania
13.1 Oceania Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
13.2 Oceania Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
13.3 Oceania Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
13.4 Oceania Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
14. South America
14.1 South America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
14.2 South America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
14.3 South America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
14.4 South America Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
15. Rest of the World
15.1 Rest of the World Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size
15.2 Rest of the World Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Key Players in North America
15.3 Rest of the World Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Type
15.4 Rest of the World Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Size by Application
16 Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market Dynamics
16.1 Covid-19 Impact Market Top Trends
16.2 Covid-19 Impact Market Drivers
16.3 Covid-19 Impact Market Challenges
16.4 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
18 Regulatory Information
17 Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions
18 Appendix
18.1 Research Methodology
18.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
18.1.2 Data Source
18.2 Disclaimer
Segments Analysis
By Type
- Glycolic Acid Solution (50–60%)
- Glycolic Acid Solution (61–70%)
- Glycolic Acid Solid
- Hydroxyacetic Acid (other derivatives)
By Application
- Household & Institutional Cleaning
- Personal Care & Cosmetics
- Biodegradable Plastics
- Textile & Leather Processing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Others (industrial uses)
Regional Analysis
- North America: Strong demand in cosmetics and dermatology; U.S. leads consumption.
- Europe: Growth driven by eco-friendly cleaning agents and cosmetic regulations.
- Asia-Pacific: Fastest-growing region; China and India dominate production and consumption.
- South America: Brazil emerging in personal care applications.
- Middle East & Africa: Moderate growth, driven by industrial cleaning and niche cosmetic markets.
