Price-Watch™ provides price assessments for Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate across top trading regions:
Asia-Pacific
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) FOB Nhava Sheva, India
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) FOB Qingdao, China
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) CIF Penang (India), Malaysia
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) CIF Haiphong (China), Vietnam
Middle East
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) CIF Jebel Ali (India), United Arab Emirates
North America
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Active Matter (70%) CIF Houston (China), USA
Note: In assessments structured as CIF [Importing Port] (Exporting Country), the country mentioned in brackets indicates the primary origin of supply (exporting country), while the named port refers to the destination port in the importing country. Other Incoterms (FOB, FD, EXW, etc.) should be interpreted in accordance with standard international trade definitions.
Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Price Trend Q1 2026
In Q1 2026, there are several regions in the world where SLES prices increased while others decreased. Some regions where price increases are observed include China, India, and the USA, owing to the increased demand from personal care products, household cleaners, and industrial applications.
Other regions, including Malaysia and UAE, who are importers of Indian products, showed fluctuations in prices due to lower demand in the textiles and cleaning industry sectors. Geopolitical issues, especially those between Iran and Israel, affected production costs, thereby causing regional changes in prices.
The overall supply is relatively stable but conservative purchasing trends and minimal restocking efforts in certain regions influenced the global SLES market.
India: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Export prices FOB Nhava Sheva, India; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
The SLES price in India in Q1 2026 showed an increase of 1.5% against the price of the prior quarter. The SLES price trend in India shows that due to continued demand from the personal care and cleaning industry, the purchase trends have been cautious with respect to the consumption levels across major sectors.
In India, SLES price in March 2026 show an increase of 22% over February 2026. The SLES price trend in India has been affected significantly due to the political scenario globally, especially with the Iran-Israel dispute. The price hike has been caused by higher costs of raw materials and manufacturing processes. This has resulted in a substantial upward trend in prices backed by high sectoral demands.
China: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Export prices FOB Shanghai, China; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
As of Q1 2026, the SLES price in China has risen by 5% relative to the preceding quarter, fuelled by robust demand from the personal care and cleaning segments. The SLES price trend in China has been characterized by a relatively stable business climate underpinned by consistent consumer spending in major industries, despite conservative purchasing approaches that have tempered the growth in prices.
In China, SLES prices in March 2026 have witnessed a 16% increase compared to February, owing to escalating raw material prices and growing production costs. The SLES price trend in China has been notably affected by geopolitical strife, including the Iran-Israel feud, leading to logistical disruptions and inflated input prices, thereby contributing to a sharp rise in prices.
Malaysia: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Import prices CIF Penang, Malaysia; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
In Q1 2026, the SLES price in Malaysia has been reduced by 1%, largely owing to the lower demands of the cleaning and personal care segments. The SLES price trend in Malaysia has shown that supply levels are stable and backed by supplies from India. Additionally, conservative buyer behavior and minimal purchasing activities have led to the price reduction.
In Malaysia, SLES prices in March 2026 have experienced a remarkable increase of 19% from February, as high costs of raw materials and new market dynamics have prevailed. The SLES price trend in Malaysia has shown a significant rise, which has been highly affected by geopolitical issues, especially the Iran-Israel dispute, which has caused higher production and supply expenses.
UAE: SLES Import prices CIF Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
According to Price-Watch™, in Q1 2026, SLES prices in the UAE (importing from India) increased by 2%, driven by consistent demand from the personal care and cleaning sectors. While supply remained stable, cautious procurement strategies and limited restocking led to the price hike.
In the UAE, SLES prices in March 2026 surged by 29%, due to rising crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict, which escalated production costs. The overall SLES price trend in the UAE showed a significant rise, propelled by strong demand and higher production costs, influenced by external market dynamics.
Vietnam: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Import prices CIF Haiphong, Vietnam; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
In Q1 2026, SLES prices in Vietnam (importing from China) rose by 5%, supported by steady demand from the cleaning and personal care sectors. The market remained stable, with consistent consumption from key industries.
In Vietnam, SLES prices in March 2026 increased by 15%, driven by higher raw material costs and geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict, which impacted production costs and supply availability.
The SLES price trend in Vietnam reflected broader market conditions, showing a notable increase due to global supply chain disruptions and price adjustments.
USA: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) Import prices CIF Houston, USA; Grade- Active Matter (70%)
In Q1 2026, SLES prices in the USA (importing from China) increased by 4.5driven by steady demand from the personal care and cleaning sectors. Despite stable supply conditions, cautious buying behavior and limited procurement activity led to moderate price growth.
In the USA, SLES prices in March 2026 surged by 15%, influenced by higher production costs resulting from rising raw material prices and geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict.
The SLES price trend in the USA reflected stronger demand, with continued upward pressure on prices due to external market factors, including increased production costs and global supply chain disruptions.



