Soaps are the earliest form of detergents. Though at present, the term detergent is used for synthetic detergents derived from petroleum products. The origin of soap making is unknown. Detergents are defined as complete washing or cleaning products, which contain among their ingredients an organic surface-active compound (Surfactant) that passes soil-removal properties. Frequently the term detergent is used synonymously with surfactant but common industry practice treats the surfactant as one component of a done here. Additionally this discussion treats primarily, only the so-called synthetic detergents, excluding those products in which soap is the sole or predominant surfactant. Detergent cake and detergent powder are largely used in the domestic houses, commercial sectors, hotel industries, garment industries and in many other sections of the society. There is high price, medium price and low priced detergent available. There are different kinds of raw material used in the industries. There is large demand of this consumer item. There are renowned organized as well as unorganized private sectors, engaged in this production. The technology, involved in the high priced detergent powder and cakes is charged nowadays. From the 1940s on-ward, synthetic detergents have expanded rapidly all over the world. Their rapid development has been stimulated by the enormous and fast growth of the international petro-chemical industry. The transition from conventional hard soaps to synthetic detergent cake has been rapid and irreversible response by consumers. So that to-day, synthetic detergent accounts in most developed and developing countries in the world. To improve detergency of the detergent cakes & powders, certain other components were added to it known as builders, synergies, fillers and brighteners etc. 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. Total market of synthetic detergents and scourers was valued at about Rs 90 bn in 2007-08. It represents an increase of 15% over that of preceding year. 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. Detergents are available as powder, bars and liquids. Bars make up for less than half of the market, while powders have more than a third of the market. Liquids have 12% presence in the market. The bar market is dominated by Hindustan Lever (now Hindustan Unilever - HUL) with a share of over 40% held by its brands - Rin, Wheel, 555, Shakti, OK. The super-premium market, making up for around 10% of the overall detergents market, is dominated by Surf Excel from HUL and Ariel from Proctor & Gamble (P&G). The two together have a near 75% market with the rest coming in from players like Henkel SPIC. In the sub premium segment, Nirma from Nirma Soaps and Wheel from HUL are the major brands with small presence from an array of brands like Trilo, Hipolin, Tide, Key, Chek and others. The detergent market in India is dominated by HUL Nirma is the second largest player with an overall market share of 19%. Nirma is more dominant in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, that is Northwest India. Nirma has the highest market share of around 40% in Gujarat. It has the highest market share in the mass segment, like toilet soaps. There is a very good scope of this product and new entrepreneurs should venture into this sector. Few Indian Major Players are as under: Arochem Silvassa Ltd. Associated Industries Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd. B J M Industries Ltd. Calcutta Detergents Pvt. Ltd. Continental Chemicals Ltd. Corona Plus Industries Ltd. Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. Henkel India Ltd. Henkel Marketing India Ltd. Henkel Spic India Ltd. Hico Products Ltd. Hindustan Polyamides & Fibres Ltd. Hindustan Unilever Ltd. Hipolin Ltd. Hughes & Hughes Chem Ltd. Jyothy Laboratories Ltd. Kaiser Industries Ltd. Kanpur Detergents & Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. Kripa Chemicals Ltd. Nilnita Chemicals Ltd. Nirma Industries Ltd. Nirma Ltd. Paramount Minerals & Chemicals Ltd. Pee Cee Cosma Sope Ltd. Power Soaps Ltd. Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd. Rohit Surfactants Pvt. Ltd. Shreeji Dye-Chem Ltd. Sivalik Cellulose Ltd. Standard Surfactants Ltd. Sunrise Asian Ltd. Surfactant Specialities Ltd. Swadeshi Detergents Ltd. Swastik Surfactants Ltd. Swastik Udyog Ltd. T O C Disinfectants Ltd. Tata Oil Mills Co. Ltd. Utkal Soap Products Ltd. Vashisti Detergents Ltd. Vora Soaps Ltd. Capacity : 6000 MT/Annum Detergent Cake 10 MT/Day Detergent Powder 10 MT/Day
