Aekyung Chemical is expanding its foothold in the high value-added surfactant market by leveraging its own technology. Moving away from conventional commodity anionic surfactants, the company has expanded its portfolio to next-generation product lines—amphoteric, amino acid-based, and solid cationic surfactants—that are less irritating to the skin and more eco-friendly, and has set out to strengthen profitability.
According to the industry on the 30th, the low-irritation amphoteric surfactant that Aekyung Chemical is developing holds about an 87% market share in the Asia-Pacific market. With high skin affinity, excellent foaming power, and high compatibility with other ingredients, it is mainly used in baby products, cosmetics for sensitive skin, and premium skincare products.
In addition, Aekyung Chemical's amino acid-based solid cationic surfactant causes little skin irritation and can be manufactured in various forms, including not only liquid but also solid and powder, making it easy to store and transport. It also requires a small amount of preservatives, earning recognition as an environmentally friendly material. In particular, in hair care products, it offers hair conditioning, anti-static, and antibacterial functions, and is increasingly being adopted mainly for premium lineups.
Aekyung Chemical is broadening surfactant applications to cosmetics, household goods, agriculture, and pharmaceutical excipients, while accelerating the development of eco-friendly products that combine naturally derived raw materials and bio-based materials. The company aims to establish a sustainable production system by eliminating solvents, shortening processes, and reducing waste, and to expand the share of eco-friendly products to 50% of all products by 2030.
Aekyung Chemical is also accelerating its push into the global market. The company plans to establish product production strategies tailored to regional characteristics and to secure a stable foothold in overseas markets through customer-specific sales activities that leverage local bases.