SIC 2843 Surface Active Agents, Finishing Agents, Sulfonated Oils, and Assistants

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 2843

This industry classification includes establishments primarily involved in making compounds that, when dissolved in water, reduce the water's surface tension. Products include preparations such as wetting agents, emulsifiers, and penetrants. These ingredients are raw materials for soap and detergent manufacturers. This industry classification also includes establishments primarily involved in producing sulfonated oils and fats and related products.

NAICS CODE(S)

325613

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing

In 2005 shipments of surface active agents, or "surfactants," were valued at $7.99 billion, up from $6.27 billion in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The soap and cleaning compound manufacturing industry—comprising surfactants as well as soap and detergent manufacturing and polish and other sanitation goods—employed 44,839 people in 2005. The 3,428 production workers earned an average hourly wage of $21.58. The industry spent $17.13 billion on materials. The largest concentrations of businesses in the category were located in North Carolina, New Jersey, California, and Illinois.

Customer demand and legislative requirements changed the industry throughout the 1990s. Manufacturers worldwide developed milder products, used more natural ingredients, and emphasized environmental safety. One of the most profound changes was the shift to concentrated and superconcentrated products for use in homes, industries, and institutions. Some industry analysts feared that the increasing demand for superconcentrated surfactants produced by large manufacturers would impede the development of small companies because the formulas were difficult for smaller manufacturers to reproduce.

Formulas were also changed to comply with environmental regulations. Personal care product manufacturers required solutions with less alcohol, makers of specialty cleaners were shifting from solvents and volatile organic compounds to water-based systems, and some communities upgraded biodegradability standards. The mid-2000s saw a steady increase in demand for naturally derived surfactants.

The two leading companies in the industry in the mid-2000s were Stepan Company, of Northfield, Illinois, and Harcos Chemicals Inc., a subsidiary of Harrisons and Crosfield Inc., based in Kansas City, Kansas. Surfactants for consumer, industrial, and commercial use represented the Stepan's largest sector. In 2006, Stepan posted sales of...