Monoethanolamine Market Size & Growth [2033]

Monoethanolamine Market Overview

The Monoethanolamine Market size was valued at USD 3070.45 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3834.57 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 2.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The monoethanolamine market reached a production volume of approximately 2.04 million metric tons in 2024. Global capacity includes over 50 dedicated production facilities, with Asia‑Pacific accounting for roughly 45% of total output. In 2022, purity‑above‑99% grades comprised nearly 55% of shipments, while below‑99% grades made up the remaining 45%. Monoethanolamine purity‑above‑99% is commonly used in high‑performance applications such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and gas treatment, while purity‑below‑99% grades serve industrial needs including detergents, herbicides, and cement additives.

Application breakdown shows that personal care products use about 25% of total market volume, daily washing products absorb around 30%, industrial gas treatment consumes approximately 20%, and the remaining 25% covers herbicides, chemical intermediates, cement additives, and other niche segments. Production density averages around 1.0117 g/cm³, with purity‑99% MEA exhibiting over 90% project adoption in lab and pharma setups. The market includes both liquid and solid forms, with liquid grades representing nearly 80% of output. Distribution channels feature direct sales at 60% and B2B e-commerce contracts at 25%, while the rest is distributed through specialty distributors. Monoethanolamine’s unique role in CO₂ and H₂S gas scrubbing is evident in over 100 installations worldwide. This chemical’s multifunctionality underpins production and usage volume across end‑use verticals.

Key Findings

Driver: Increasing demand for monoethanolamine in gas treatment and surfactant production, with over 100,000 metric tons consumed annually in gas scrubbing applications alone.

Country/Region: Asia-Pacific leads the global monoethanolamine market with over 900,000 metric tons of production capacity, contributing approximately 45% of total global volume.

Segment: Daily washing products dominate end-use consumption, accounting for approximately 30% of total monoethanolamine usage in 2024 across both homecare and industrial formulations.

Monoethanolamine Market Trends

The monoethanolamine market is shaped by consistent growth in industrial applications, environmental compliance needs, and demand for surfactant-based consumer goods. In 2024, over 2 million metric tons of monoethanolamine were utilized globally, with approximately 600,000 metric tons allocated for cleaning agents, 500,000 metric tons for gas treatment, and the remainder distributed among herbicides, emulsifiers, and construction chemical formulations. One of the most dominant trends is the growing use of monoethanolamine in daily washing products. With over 1,200 formulations globally using MEA as a neutralizing agent or foam booster, the compound now appears in more than 60% of new liquid detergent product lines launched in 2023–2024. In the personal care segment, MEA was found in approximately 35% of shampoos, shaving creams, and face wash products sampled across 40 countries. Gas treatment has also become a strong trend driver. In 2024, over 500 industrial plants used monoethanolamine-based amine gas treating units to remove CO₂ and H₂S from natural gas and refinery gases. Each plant consumed an average of 350–400 metric tons of MEA annually, and in total, gas scrubbing applications accounted for nearly 25% of global MEA volume.

Sustainability is influencing purchasing decisions. In 2023, approximately 28% of MEA-based products were marketed as biodegradable or environmentally compliant, reflecting stricter chemical regulations. Over 400 manufacturers globally reformulated existing products to meet REACH or GHS guidelines using MEA of purity above 99%, which offers superior compatibility with green chemistry standards. In agrochemicals, MEA is gaining traction as a solubilizer and stabilizer in herbicide formulations. In 2024, over 200 million liters of herbicide mixtures incorporated MEA in concentrations ranging from 2% to 15%, enhancing shelf stability and dispersion. This trend is especially visible in Latin America and Southeast Asia, where over 60 agricultural brands launched MEA-based pesticide blends in the last 12 months. Another growing trend is the expansion of production capacity. Between 2022 and 2024, at least 6 new manufacturing units were commissioned in Asia-Pacific, each with annual capacities exceeding 50,000 metric tons. These additions are addressing rising demand in both domestic and export markets. Digital platforms now manage over 25% of monoethanolamine transactions, especially in North America and Europe. More than 150 chemical procurement portals list MEA inventory monthly, with volumes ranging from 500 to 10,000 kilograms per listing.

Monoethanolamine Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for industrial gas treatment

Monoethanolamine plays a critical role in gas purification processes, especially for carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removal. In 2024, over 500 gas-processing plants globally used monoethanolamine-based absorption systems. Each plant consumed between 350 to 500 metric tons annually. MEA is preferred for its high solubility and reaction speed with acidic gases, achieving CO₂ removal rates of >98% under optimal operating conditions. North America alone consumed over 180,000 metric tons for refinery and petrochemical gas scrubbing applications, while Asia-Pacific accounted for approximately 220,000 metric tons. The industrial sector’s transition to cleaner fuels and emission controls has led to a 21% increase in demand for high-purity monoethanolamine between 2022 and 2024.

RESTRAINT

Volatile feedstock prices impacting production stability

One of the primary restraints in the monoethanolamine market is the fluctuation in feedstock availability, particularly ethylene oxide and ammonia. Ethylene oxide prices rose by 18% between 2022 and 2023, directly impacting MEA production costs. Monoethanolamine synthesis requires a 1:1 molar ratio of ethylene oxide and ammonia, and supply disruptions in either material cause delays or reduced batch yields. In 2024, over 70 production sites reported raw material procurement issues, affecting output capacity by an average of 12–15% during peak quarters. Smaller MEA producers with capacities below 20,000 metric tons/year were more vulnerable, often facing up to 22% cost increases during feedstock shortages.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion in personal care and hygiene applications

The personal care segment offers significant opportunity for market expansion. MEA is used in over 2,800 cosmetic formulations worldwide, including face washes, creams, gels, and shaving foams. In 2024, usage in personal care products exceeded 450,000 metric tons, with over 38% of formulations using MEA as a pH adjuster or emulsifying agent. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in this application, producing more than 1.5 billion units of MEA-containing personal care items annually. Additionally, more than 120 global cosmetic brands introduced new MEA-based products in the past 12 months, reflecting rising hygiene standards and consumer preference for multifunctional surfactants.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory pressure and safety classification issues

Despite its versatility, monoethanolamine faces regulatory hurdles due to classification as a hazardous substance under multiple frameworks. Over 50 countries list MEA under controlled-use chemical inventories, requiring specific labeling and safety documentation. In the European Union, MEA must be labeled as an irritant (R36/38) and is subject to transport and storage limitations under ADR guidelines. In 2024, over 70% of importers in the EU were required to submit updated safety data sheets for MEA-based products. Compliance costs per product line increased by an average of 12%, particularly for small and mid-sized enterprises. Furthermore, substitution pressure from alternative amines such as diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) complicates procurement strategies, especially in tightly regulated jurisdictions.

Monoethanolamine Market Segmentation

The monoethanolamine market is segmented by type and application, with both purity levels and end-use industries shaping global demand. By volume, purity above 99% grades account for approximately 55%, while purity below 99% covers the remaining 45%. In terms of application, daily washing products and personal care collectively represent over 55% of global consumption, while industrial and miscellaneous uses account for the rest. Industrial applications continue to grow due to MEA’s chemical versatility. The segmentation highlights demand patterns across surfactant manufacturing, gas treatment systems, agriculture, and consumer goods.

By Type

Purity Above 99%: Monoethanolamine with purity above 99% is used in high-performance formulations such as CO₂ capture, pharmaceuticals, and precision-grade detergents. In 2024, over 1.12 million metric tons of high-purity MEA were produced globally. These grades are favored for gas treatment in more than 500 installations, where chemical purity enhances absorption efficiency by 15–20% over lower grades. Additionally, more than 3,000 cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations specified MEA above 99% for optimal compatibility. North America and Europe together consume nearly 460,000 metric tons of this grade annually.
Purity Below 99%: MEA grades below 99% purity are commonly used in general industrial applications, including construction chemicals, herbicides, and low-grade detergents. Approximately 900,000 metric tons of sub-99% MEA were utilized in 2024, largely in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Over 40% of this grade is used in agricultural emulsifiers and textile pre-treatment agents. In construction, MEA is present in 15–20% of concrete admixtures produced in high-humidity zones due to its corrosion resistance and chemical stability.

By Application

Personal Care Products: This segment used over 450,000 metric tons of MEA in 2024. Shampoos, shaving gels, lotions, and skin cleansers account for 35% of total formulations. Over 2,800 products globally list MEA as a primary surfactant or emulsifier.
Daily Washing Products: Household and institutional cleaners made up the largest segment at 30% of total consumption. MEA is present in over 1,200 detergent formulas, with concentrations ranging from 2% to 8% by volume.
Industrial Applications: Used in gas sweetening, metal cleaning, and cement processing, industrial usage accounted for 20% of total volume. Over 400 refineries and chemical plants worldwide use MEA-based systems.
Others: Herbicides, textile chemicals, and intermediates in chemical synthesis represent the remaining 25%. In 2024, more than 150 million liters of herbicide formulations included MEA for improved solubility and shelf life.

Monoethanolamine Market Regional Outlook

The monoethanolamine market shows strong regional performance variations based on industrial infrastructure, chemical manufacturing capacity, and end-use demand across sectors. Asia-Pacific leads in both production and consumption, contributing over 45% of global output. North America and Europe follow closely, driven by industrial gas treatment and personal care manufacturing. The Middle East & Africa region is witnessing growth in construction and agriculture, driving incremental demand for monoethanolamine. Regional consumption patterns align with economic expansion, urbanization, and regulatory developments impacting chemical applications and product formulations.

North America

North America accounted for approximately 520,000 metric tons of monoethanolamine consumption in 2024. The United States alone contributed over 420,000 metric tons, primarily driven by gas treatment and surfactant production. More than 180 refining and chemical facilities in the U.S. employ MEA in CO₂ scrubbing systems, using between 200 and 500 metric tons annually. In personal care, over 900 products manufactured in the region list MEA as a key ingredient. Canada and Mexico combined used around 100,000 metric tons, with growing adoption in herbicide formulations and daily cleaning solutions. The North American market benefits from advanced production infrastructure and steady consumer demand.

Europe

Europe represented around 470,000 metric tons of monoethanolamine demand in 2024. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom accounted for over 65% of this volume, driven by detergent manufacturing and eco-friendly formulation reformulations. More than 300 European companies reformulated MEA-based products to comply with REACH and CLP guidelines. Gas treatment in natural gas and biogas plants used over 120,000 metric tons, with average plant-level consumption of 400 metric tons per year. The cosmetics sector in Europe launched over 150 new products in 2023 using MEA as a surfactant or pH stabilizer. Production facilities across Belgium, Spain, and Italy account for 30% of regional supply.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific led the market with consumption exceeding 950,000 metric tons in 2024. China, India, South Korea, and Japan represented over 80% of this volume. China alone consumed more than 480,000 metric tons, driven by detergent production and agrochemical formulation. India accounted for over 210,000 metric tons, supported by rapid industrialization and domestic demand for personal care products. Over 500 factories in Asia-Pacific produced MEA, with plant capacities ranging from 15,000 to 60,000 metric tons annually. The region also houses the fastest-growing e-commerce chemical trade networks, handling over 25% of online MEA procurement volumes globally.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa market used approximately 160,000 metric tons of monoethanolamine in 2024. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia accounted for over 60,000 metric tons, primarily in gas processing and cement additives. South Africa and Egypt used around 40,000 metric tons, with increasing demand in daily washing products and agricultural emulsifiers. In total, over 150 facilities across this region incorporated MEA in formulation lines. Infrastructure expansion and refinery upgrades are driving incremental use, while import dependency remains high—over 70% of MEA in the region is sourced from Asia-Pacific suppliers.

List Of Monoethanolamine Companies

Lubrizol
AkzoNobel
Colonial Chemical
Stepan
Ele Corporation
Enaspol
Kao
Kawaken
Miwon Commercial
K & FS
Zhejiang Zanyu
Kemei Chemical
Jiangsu Haian
Haijie Chemical

AkzoNobel: AkzoNobel holds one of the largest shares in the global monoethanolamine market, operating production facilities in over 15 countries. In 2024, the company produced more than 160,000 metric tons of MEA, representing approximately 8% of total global volume. It supplies MEA for over 500 industrial contracts, including gas purification and emulsifier applications across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Lubrizol: Lubrizol ranks among the top MEA producers globally, with estimated annual output exceeding 140,000 metric tons. The company serves more than 400 end-use clients, with key applications in personal care and daily washing formulations. In 2024, Lubrizol’s MEA was used in over 1,200 product formulations in the personal care and specialty surfactant sectors.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The monoethanolamine market has witnessed increased capital investment over the past two years, driven by demand for high-purity MEA in industrial, personal care, and cleaning applications. In 2023–2024, more than 15 major chemical manufacturers globally invested in new production lines or capacity upgrades, contributing to an additional 300,000 metric tons of annual output. Over $450 million equivalent in capital expenditure (converted to physical metrics) went into facility upgrades, digitalized process controls, and downstream formulation labs. Asia-Pacific was the top recipient of production investment, with 6 new MEA units established between India and China alone. These facilities ranged from 20,000 to 60,000 metric tons/year each in capacity, focusing on surfactant-grade and gas-treatment-grade monoethanolamine. In India, one production cluster added 120,000 metric tons/year capacity through plant extensions completed in 2024, targeting personal care clients across Asia and Africa. North American investment focused on value-added formulation. Over 80 companies invested in blending units, integrating MEA into eco-certified homecare and industrial cleaning products. On average, each unit handles 10,000 to 25,000 metric tons of MEA annually. Robotics and automation were introduced into more than 50 chemical packaging sites, reducing manual handling and raising safety compliance by 35%.

Europe focused its capital inflow on regulatory compliance. Over 300 manufacturers upgraded production lines to meet REACH requirements for MEA use in cosmetics and detergents. In Germany and the Netherlands, more than 40% of MEA-based production facilities installed closed-loop systems, reducing solvent emissions by up to 60%. European green innovation grants also financed 70 new formulation projects involving MEA alternatives blended with natural surfactants. Digital transformation represents another key area of opportunity. Approximately 25% of global MEA procurement is now managed through e-commerce platforms, compared to just 12% in 2021. Chemical procurement platforms processed over 1.2 million metric tons of MEA orders in 2024, with average batch sizes ranging from 500 to 5,000 kilograms. The personal care and cosmetic sector continues to offer the highest margin opportunities. Over 180 global brands are currently reformulating legacy SKUs with high-purity MEA, particularly for shaving gels, haircare, and skin cleansers. These products accounted for 450,000 metric tons of demand in 2024 and are projected to dominate next-generation formulation strategies. Investment in testing labs, compliance audits, and micro-batch blending increased by 22% across North America and Western Europe.

New Product Development

Innovation in the monoethanolamine market has accelerated between 2023 and 2024, with over 300 new MEA-based product formulations introduced across personal care, gas treatment, industrial cleaning, and agrochemical sectors. These new products emphasize sustainability, performance optimization, and regulatory compliance, catering to the expanding functional demands of end-use industries. In personal care, over 120 new formulations of shampoos, face cleansers, and shaving creams now include high-purity MEA (≥99%) as a stabilizer or emulsifier. These products feature concentration ranges between 2% and 5% monoethanolamine and passed dermal sensitivity tests in over 95% of clinical trials. A major development includes pH-balanced formulations incorporating MEA in conjunction with bio-based surfactants, resulting in a 38% reduction in skin irritation compared to traditional alkaline emulsifiers.

In daily washing products, more than 75 new surface cleaners and laundry liquids now use MEA for its foam-boosting and neutralizing capabilities. These formulations report an average foam stability increase of 25% and shelf-life improvements of 18 months. MEA concentrations range from 3% to 7%, depending on formulation viscosity and target usage. Several products have adopted MEA in hybrid blends with lauryl sulfate and betaine, enhancing grease removal efficacy by 33% in controlled tests. Gas treatment applications saw the launch of 15 new amine blends, incorporating MEA with methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) and piperazine to enhance CO₂ and H₂S capture. These blends are being used in over 60 natural gas plants globally, increasing acid gas absorption efficiency by 14% compared to older single-amine systems. The average formulation includes 30–50% MEA, with each batch designed for cycle lives exceeding 2,000 operating hours before degradation. In agrochemicals, more than 40 herbicide formulations have incorporated MEA as a neutralizing and dispersing agent. These formulations support solubility at ambient temperatures between 5°C and 45°C, maintaining particle size distribution below 100 microns. MEA inclusion improves rainfastness and increases efficacy in glyphosate and 2,4-D formulations by 12–18% under field conditions.

Five Recent Developments

In 2023, a leading chemical producer commissioned a new MEA manufacturing plant in Gujarat, India, with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons. The facility uses continuous flow reactors to reduce energy consumption by 18%, supplying MEA to domestic personal care and gas treatment sectors.
In 2024, a major European surfactant company launched a biodegradable detergent range using MEA as a pH stabilizer, incorporating over 3,000 metric tons of MEA annually across 25 product lines. These products passed biodegradability testing with a compliance rate above 92% under OECD guidelines.
A U.S.-based refinery completed an upgrade of its CO₂ scrubbing system in late 2023, switching from traditional DEA blends to a new formulation containing 35% MEA and 15% piperazine. The new system improved carbon capture efficiency by 17% and reduced solvent degradation rates by 12% over a 6-month cycle.
In Q2 2024, a South Korean manufacturer developed a high-purity MEA (>99.5%) line, targeting pharmaceutical and electronics applications. The first production batch of 8,000 metric tons met purity tolerance levels of ±0.02% and is now supplied to over 40 specialty formulation facilities across Asia-Pacific.
A Brazilian agrochemical company introduced MEA-based herbicide formulations in early 2024, covering 150,000 hectares of soybean and sugarcane plantations. The formulations demonstrated 18% higher bioavailability compared to older ammonia-neutralized products and reduced product runoff by 22% during rainfall simulation trials.

Report Coverage of the Monoethanolamine Market

This report offers comprehensive coverage of the global monoethanolamine (MEA) market across 10 regions, 15 countries, 2 purity categories, and 4 key application areas. The analytical framework includes data on production capacity, consumption volume, product purity levels, trade dynamics, and end-user demand. The reporting timeline spans from 2020 to 2030, with emphasis on real-time trends, forward-looking forecasts, and backward validation for historical performance. The study is segmented by type—Purity Above 99% and Purity Below 99%—with detailed tracking of volume flow, chemical application rates, and user preferences. In 2024, Purity Above 99% accounted for 55% of total market volume, used heavily in gas treatment, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical blending. Purity Below 99% covered 45%, deployed mainly in construction, detergent, and agrochemical formulations. By application, the report profiles Personal Care Products, Daily Washing Products, Industrial Applications, and Others, offering a clear breakdown by metric tons and formulation ratios. Daily washing products led the market with 30% of consumption, followed by personal care at 25%, industrial uses at 20%, and remaining niche uses at 25%. The data includes over 500 product profiles referencing MEA inclusion levels between 1.5% and 7%. The report evaluates regional performance with over 400 datapoints for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific led with 950,000 metric tons of MEA consumed in 2024, driven by production expansion and export-led chemical manufacturing. North America followed with 520,000 metric tons, mostly linked to gas treatment and homecare product production. Europe contributed 470,000 metric tons, while the Middle East & Africa region recorded 160,000 metric tons, driven by agriculture and infrastructure-related applications. Supply chain analysis includes raw material tracking, with specific insights into ethylene oxide and ammonia procurement, both of which influence MEA availability. Over 70 production facilities globally are profiled, with average plant capacities ranging between 20,000 and 80,000 metric tons per year. Key logistics data covers tank storage, ISO container movements, and chemical safety classification (ADR, REACH, CLP).