A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with "cleaning properties in dilute solutions. Detergents, as a constituent of the overall FMCG industry, accounts for a near 12% of the total demand for all FMCG products estimated at over Rs. 530 bn. Detergents, chemically known as alfa olefin sulphonates (AOS) are used as fabric brightening agent, anti-deposition agent, stain remover and as a bleacher. A major input for the production of detergents is a petrochemical, Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB), while soaps rely more on an inorganic chemical, caustic soda, as a major input.
To cater to this increasing demand of quality washing powders most of the top detergent brands in India are continually introducing better packaged detergents that are offering a host of benefits in a single wash. In India HUL holds a 38 per cent market share in the washing powder segment clearly standing as the winner. The other important players in the detergent industry include Surf Excel, Nirma and Sunlight.