Soap & Other Detergent Manufacturing

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry manufacture soap and detergent products. Major companies include Church & Dwight, Colgate-Palmolive, Ecolab, and Procter & Gamble (all based in the US), along with Henkel (Germany), Nice Group (China), and Unilever (UK).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Population growth, particularly among households with children, drives demand in the consumer sector, and economic growth drives demand in the commercial sector. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and effective sales and marketing. Large companies have scale advantages in purchasing, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering specialized products, providing superior customer service, or serving a local market. The US industry is highly concentrated: the top 50 companies generate about 90% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Bath, facial, and hand soaps account for about 10% of US industry revenue, while dishwashing detergents account for about 20%. Dentifrices were about 5%.