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Soap & Detergent Manufacturing in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The soap and detergent manufacturing industry has faced sustained pressure in recent years as intense retail competition and abundant imports have constrained revenue growth, despite stable underlying demand for essential hygiene products. Soaps, laundry detergents and dishwashing products remain non-discretionary for households and businesses, but supermarkets’ expanding own-label ranges and frequent promotions have limited manufacturers’ ability to lift prices. At the same time, imported toilet and cleansing preparations have continued to flow into the UK at scale, giving retailers flexibility to switch suppliers and keeping pricing tight. As a result, profit margins have remained constrained and below the wider manufacturing sector, reflecting strong buyer power and limited scope to pass through cost changes. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is projected to decline at a compound annual rate of 1% to reach £3.9 billion, with revenue expected to grow by 1.6% in 2025-26 as pricing stabilises.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code C20.411. Companies in this industry manufacture various surfactant products, including soap, washing powder, dishwasher detergent, textile softener and crude glycerol. The products are then sold to downstream industrial, commercial and household users. Related terms covered in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include surfactant, detergent and ethical consumerism.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Laundry products, Dishwashing products and Soaps.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Unilever UK Ltd, Ecolab Ltd and Procter & Gamble Product Supply UK Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £3.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
There are 203 businesses in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom are Unilever UK Ltd, Ecolab Ltd and Procter & Gamble Product Supply UK Ltd
What does the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Laundry products and Dishwashing products are part of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is Unilever UK Ltd.
How competitive is the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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