Soap & Toilet Preparation Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 2,280 soap and toilet preparation manufacturers in the US produce soap, detergent, polish, surface active agents, leather finishing agents, toilet preparations, and other cleaning and personal care products. Consumer soap and toilet preparation products are typically sold through distributors and retailers, such as mass merchandisers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and drugstores. Commercial products are sold directly to large customers or through distributors and wholesalers to smaller customers.
Mature Markets
In the US, many categories within the soap and toilet preparation industry are classified as low growth and mature.
Variable Raw Materials Costs
The cost of raw materials can vary depending on global market conditions.
Industry size & Structure
The average soap and toilet preparation manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs about 51 workers, and generates about $36 million annually.
- The soap and toilet preparation manufacturing industry includes about 2,280 companies that employ about 116,000 workers and generate $81 billion annually.
- The industry is highly concentrated; the top 50 companies account for 76% of industry revenue.
- Toilet preparation manufacturing accounts for about 45% of firms and 54% of industry revenue; soap and detergents manufacturing accounts for about 30% of firms and 29% of revenue; surfactant manufacturing accounts for about 5% of firms and 9% of revenue; and polish and other sanitation goods manufacturing accounts for 20% of firms and 8% of revenue.
- Large companies with soap and toilet preparation manufacturing operations include Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Ecolab, and Clorox. Most large companies manufacture a variety of consumer and commercial products in addition to soaps and toilet preparations.
- Large companies may generate a significant percentage of their sales in international markets.
- The average American family washes between 300-390 loads of laundry per year, according to Procter & Gamble. Other sources estimate the average US household washes around 400-500 loads annually.
Industry Forecast
Soap & Toilet Preparation Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Jan 27, 2025 - Price Increases Moderating
- Producer prices for soap and toilet preparation manufacturers rose 0.8% in December compared to a year ago after rising 3.3% in the previous December-versus-December annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. After rising steeply in 2021 and 2022, producer prices have continued to rise but at a slower rate, reflecting a less inflationary environment. Employment by soap and toilet preparation manufacturers grew 2.7% year over year in November while average industry wages declined by 3% over the same period to $23.64 per hour, BLS data show. Sales for the US soap and toilet preparation manufacturers industry are forecast to grow at a 2.52% compounded annual rate from 2024 to 2028, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to the Interindustry Economic Research Fund.
- A class action lawsuit accuses Mielle Organics and its parent company Procter & Gamble of misrepresenting that its Rosemary Mint Scalp & Strengthening Hair Oil is safe to use, according to the filing. The suit alleges the hair oil contains ingredients that cause hair loss in users and that the defendants failed to adequately disclose that risk in its labeling, advertising, marketing, or sale. The complaint also alleges P&G failed to make a reasonable effort to test the product to ensure that it wouldn't cause hair loss when it acquired Mielle Organics in 2023. The suit, seeking compensatory and other damages, illustrates the liability risk personal care products manufacturers face if a product or ingredient is found to harm human health. Legal experts said the suit is part of a broader trend where plaintiffs bring consumer fraud charges against personal care product companies on a class action basis, CosmeticsDesign USA reports.
- President Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from Mexico and China poses challenges for global supply chains. During his campaign, Trump proposed tariffs ranging from 10-20% on all imports, and up to 100% for Chinese goods, sparking concerns among businesses and trade groups about inflationary impacts and market disruptions. Mexico is a critical hub in the supply chains of several consumer goods giants, including Procter & Gamble and Unilever, reports Mexico Business News. In the third quarter, roughly 10% of P&G’s US-bound shipments came from Mexico, according to ImportYeti, while Unilever’s sea imports from Mexico accounted for about 2% of its US shipments. Both companies have invested heavily in infrastructure in Mexico after tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term and the pandemic spurred diversification away from China. Tariffs would have widespread ramifications for US manufacturers, making it more expensive to produce goods that use foreign components.
- Makers of antibacterial soaps are pushing back against recent guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration urging consumers to “skip” using antibacterial soap, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) reports. According to the FDA, there isn’t evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Some data even suggest that antibacterial ingredients could do more harm than good in the long term by exposing consumers to unnecessary chemicals. As an alternative, the agency recommends consumers follow simple hand-washing practices to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness. The ACI questioned the timing of the FDA’s recent consumer update, given that there haven’t been any new advisories or findings by the agency, and said it could sow unnecessary confusion among consumers. The antibacterial soap market industry was valued at about $7.7 billion in 2023, according to Market Research Future.
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