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Soap & Detergent Manufacturing in Germany Industry Data and Analysis
In the past five years, the manufacture of laundry detergents and cleaning products in Germany has been significantly characterised by a comprehensive and increasingly strict regulatory framework. These mainly related to environmental protection and labelling requirements, which include information on ingredients and safety instructions. The need for additional testing, product customisation and training places a financial burden on small and medium-sized companies and impairs their competitiveness. The drastic price increases for energy and raw materials caused by the war in Ukraine have forced the industry to raise prices in order to offset the cost increases. However, higher product prices reduce the attractiveness of products and led to a significant decline in export sales in 2023. The industry's turnover is expected to reach €11.9 billion in 2025. This corresponds to an increase in turnover of 0.1% compared to the previous year and an average decline in turnover of 2.9% per year over the last five years.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released July 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany operates under the WZ industry code C20.41DE. The companies in this sector are involved in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, cleaning and polishing agents, such as dishwashing detergents, textile softeners, leather and wood care products, scouring pastes and powders. The manufacture of body care products, on the other hand, does not fall under the industry definition. Related terms covered in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany include detergencies, glycerin, surfactants / preparations, corporate social responsibility (csr) and lohnabfüller.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany include Surface-active preparations, Organic surfactants and Artificial waxes.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Fit GmbH and Werner & Mertz GmbH.
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 Germany.
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 Germany.
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 Germany.
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 Germany. 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 Germany. 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 Germany. 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 Germany. 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 Germany.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany is €11.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 428 businesses in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany 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 Germany?
The Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany 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 Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany are Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Fit GmbH and Werner & Mertz GmbH
What does the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany include?
Production of organic surfactants and Production of paper, cotton wool, felt and nonwovens, mixed with soap or cleaning agents are part of the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany is Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.
How competitive is the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Soap & Detergent Manufacturing industry in Germany.
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