Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Market To Surpass USD 1114.54 Million By 2032 Demand Driven By Expanding Applications In Personal Care, Construction, And Pharmaceuticals

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) The global hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) market is witnessing sustained growth, driven by rising demand across sectors such as personal care, construction, pharmaceuticals, and oil & gas.

Austin, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Market was valued at USD 754.63 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1114.54 m illion by 2032, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0% during the forecast period.

The Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Market is growing due to a diverse range of applications of HEC in various emerging industries like personal care, pharmaceutical, construction, and oilfield services. Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) is a non-ionic, water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose and is used for its thickening, stabilizing, emulsifying, and film-forming properties in both consumer products (from shampoos and lotions to cement-based mortars to controlled-release drug formulations). Its application, especially in the personal care and pharmaceutical industry, has witnessed a notable upsurge due to the transition to natural, ungroomed, and bio-friendly additives.

The North American hydroxyethyl cellulose market is led by the U.S. with a market size of USD 112.69 million in 2024 and is projected to reach a value of USD 171.79 million in 2032 with a CAGR of 5.42%. The United States accounted for the largest share of the global hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) market owing to its mature industrial base with a strong demand for key end-use industries. Favorable regulatory standards and a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing base are supporting the demand for high-purity HEC in drug formulations, ophthalmic solutions, and controlled-release systems in the country.

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Key Players:

• Ashland
• Dow Chemical Company
• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals)
• Daicel Corporation
• Lotte Fine Chemical
• Zhejiang Haishen New Materials Limited
• Wuxi Sanyou New Material Technology Co., Ltd.
• Celotech Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Yil-Long Chemical Group

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes	Details
Market Size in 202 4	USD 754.63 million
Market Size by 2032	USD 1,114.54 million
CAGR	CAGR of 5.00% From 2025 to 2032
Base Year	2024
Forecast Period	2025-2032
Historical Data	2021-2023
Report Scope & Coverage	Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook
Key Drivers	. Growing regulatory push to phase out synthetic dyes accelerates Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Market growth. . Increased Consumer Demand for Sustainable and Natural Cosmetic Colorants Drive Market Trends.

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By Grade

The cosmetic grade hydroxyethyl cellulose led the market in 2024, with a 40.6% share, due to significant usage of the product in personal care and cosmetic preparation. This grade is used due to its ideal thickening, emulsifying, and film-forming ability, suitable for improving the texture, stability, and sensory properties of products like shampoos, conditioners, facial cleansers, lotions, and gels. As consumers become more aware and demanding about the cosmetic products they buy, the market for clean-label, bio-based, and sulfate-free products is rising rapidly, and thus, cosmetic manufacturers are using natural and non-irritating products like hydroxyethyl cellulose according to changing trends of the market.

By Viscosity

The high viscosity grades of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) account for 47.3% of the total market share in 2024 due to the balance provided in terms of thickening efficiency, solubility, and multi-purpose capabilities. This viscosity range is especially popular in personal care product categories such as shampoo, lotion, and cream, as it lends a smooth texture, great spreading, and a uniform performance without causing formulas to become thick or tacky.

By Application

In 2024, the hydroxyethyl cellulose market for waterborne paints and coatings accounted for more than a quarter of the overall share, 26.4% of the hydroxyethyl cellulose market, as the coatings sector around the globe continues to transition towards sustainable low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) solutions. In these formulations, Hydroxyethyl cellulose helps as a basis, in which it serves as a thickener, stabilizer, and rheology modifier to achieve consistent viscosity, better flow, and sag resistance.

Regional Analysis

In 2024, the Asia Pacific region led the hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) market and was also the most rapidly growing region, holding around 38.1% of the global share. The dominance of the region is fueled by the high advancement in construction, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries, especially in developing countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. Increasing urbanization and the vast development of circular economy-associated infrastructure in these countries have substantially increased the consumption of HEC in cement-based materials, tile adhesives, and wall finishes. At the same time, increasing consumer awareness and rise in disposable incomes have raised the demand for cosmetics and personal care products, in which HEC is commonly used as a thickener and stabilizer.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025 , Ashland Global Holdings Inc. announced the expansion of its cellulose ether production facility in Nanjing, China, aiming to meet growing regional demand for HEC in the personal care and pharma sectors.
• In December 2024 , Dow Chemical introduced a next-generation hydroxyethyl cellulose under its DOWSILTM brand, designed specifically for enhanced performance in sulfate-free shampoo formulations.

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