Geopolitical uncertainty, supply disruptions and soaring feedstock costs are putting fresh pressure on the surfactants industry, with industry leaders set to tackle the challenges head-on at the 12th ICIS Asian Surfactants Conference in Kuala Lumpur on 27-28 October 2026.
The conference will bring together senior executives from across the surfactants value chain to examine how companies can build resilience, unlock growth and accelerate innovation. A dedicated training day will precede the event on 26 October.
With Asia still the world’s largest and fastest-growing surfactants market, the 2026 programme is centered on the issues driving commercial decisions across the region. Producers, traders, formulators, procurement leaders and technology providers will share perspectives on navigating increasingly volatile markets.
Among the key issues on the agenda are: Feedstock security, supply-chain resilience and changing sourcing strategies. The outlook for LAB, fatty alcohols and alternative feedstocks as market disruption persists. China’s surfactant industry and its growing influence on regional markets. The shift towards sustainability, including biosurfactant development and application-led innovation.
And the growing role of AI and digital technologies in formulation and commercial decision-making.
The programme will also feature interactive roundtables, networking sessions and independent ICIS market intelligence, giving delegates tools to benchmark strategies and make better-informed decisions in a rapidly changing market.
Industry experts and representatives from Liby Science & Technology, Clariant, Honeywell Technologies, Nikko Chemical and Ballestra are expected to contribute to discussions covering feedstocks, innovation, sustainability and future growth.
As companies across the region continue to reshape supply chains in response to geopolitical and market pressures, the conference is positioned as a key meeting point for the industry — offering market insight, strategic benchmarking and opportunities to build relationships that could prove critical to navigating the next phase of growth.
With volatility becoming a defining feature of the surfactants market, the 2026 conference will focus squarely on the decisions businesses need to make now to remain competitive in the years ahead.
