​1. Global Supply-Demand Trends: Raw Material Volatility and Biotech Surge​​
The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) market in 2023 is navigating dual pressures from fluctuating lauryl alcohol (key feedstock) prices and rising demand from pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
​​Feedstock Challenges​​: Lauryl alcohol prices, tied to coconut/palm kernel oil supplies, remain volatile due to reduced exports from Indonesia (15% YoY drop in Q3) and extreme weather in Southeast Asia. This has driven SDS production costs up by 8-12% (ICIS data).
Biotech-Driven Demand​​: SDS, a critical reagent in vaccine and mRNA therapeutic production, saw global pharmaceutical-grade demand rise 18% YoY, fueled by expanded biologics manufacturing in the U.S., EU, and India.