Alpha Olefin Sulfonates: Market Size & Forecast 2026

The global Alpha Olefin Sulfonates (AOS) market sits at approximately USD 2.8 billion in 2025 (base year), anchored by detergent-grade demand in Asia-Pacific, a structurally tight linear alpha olefin (LAO) feedstock supply chain, and accelerating personal care reformulation away from sulfate-based surfactants. The category trades in a balanced-to-tight supply state following Stepan Company's announced 25% AOS capacity expansion in June 2025, which adds roughly 40,000 metric tonnes per annum of North American production and narrows what was a regional supply gap in US Gulf and Midwest detergent supply chains. > **Analyst Take.** The LAO feedstock chain is the single under-appreciated leverage point. Buyers who lock indexed structures now, before the winter 2026-2027 cracker turnaround cycle, avoid the 10-15% spot premium that typically hits in Q1. The bio-AOS story from Pilot/Novvi is rea

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