Europe Optical Brighteners Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Detergents & Soaps, Paper, Fabrics, Synthetics & Plastics, and Other Application), By End-use, By Country and Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2032

The Europe Optical Brighteners Market would witness market growth of 4.8% CAGR during the forecast period (2025-2032).

The Germany market dominated the Europe Optical Brighteners Market by Country in 2024, and would continue to be a dominant market till 2032; thereby, achieving a market value of $116.8 million by 2032. The UK market is exhibiting a CAGR of 4% during (2025 - 2032). Additionally, The France market would experience a CAGR of 5.8% during (2025 - 2032).

With its ever-growing demand for visually appealing garments, the textile industry has driven the extensive use of OBAs. They are used in laundry detergents and fabric softeners to enhance the whiteness and brightness of fabrics. These brighteners are widely used in the paper industry to enhance the brightness of paper products, such as printing papers, tissue papers, and packaging materials.

They help improve the visual appeal of paper products by reducing the yellowish tint of the material and making it appear cleaner and more vibrant. This is especially important in producing high-quality paper for printing and packaging, where brightness is crucial. The detergent industry is another major application area for these brighteners. OBAs are commonly incorporated into laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and other cleaning products to help fabrics maintain their whiteness and brightness after washing.

The European detergents industry, accounting for about 4.2% of the total chemical sector’s production value and valued at €41.2 billion in 2020, underpins a substantial market for these brighteners. Detergents—both consumer and professional—rely on these brighteners to make fabrics appear cleaner and brighter after washing. The widespread manufacturing network with around 700 European facilities ensures consistent and growing demand for these brighteners. Furthermore, the flourishing cosmetics and personal care markets in France, Italy, the UK, and Spain further fuel the need for these brighteners. In the UK, where approximately 6.3 million tonnes of plastic are consumed annually, and plastic exports generate £10.5 billion, the plastic industry plays a central role in economic activity. The fact that plastic packaging alone accounts for 34% of plastic consumption underscores the immense demand for high-quality, visually attractive materials—an area where optical brighteners are essential. They are widely used in plastic packaging to improve whiteness and brightness, making products more appealing to consumers. In summary, the growth of the detergents and cosmetics industries across Europe and the expansion of the plastics sector in the UK are key drivers propelling the market.

Based on Application, the market is segmented into Detergents & Soaps, Paper, Fabrics, Synthetics & Plastics, and Other Application. Based on End-use, the market is segmented into Consumer Products, Textiles & Apparel, Packaging, Security & Safety, and Other End-use. Based on countries, the market is segmented into Germany, UK, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Rest of Europe.

List of Key Companies Profiled

• BASF SE
• Huntsman International LLC
• Archroma Management GmbH
• Milliken & Company
• 3V Sigma S.p.A.
• Clariant AG
• Eastman Chemical Company
• Teh Fong Min International CO.LTD.
• Shandong Raytop Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Mayzo Inc.

• Detergents & Soaps
• Paper
• Fabrics
• Synthetics & Plastics
• Other Application

• Consumer Products
• Textiles & Apparel
• Packaging
• Security & Safety
• Other End-use

• Germany
• UK
• France
• Russia
• Spain
• Italy
• Rest of Europe