Galaxy surfactants

What Galaxy surfactants does

Galaxy Surfactants Limited is an India-based, publicly listed specialty chemicals manufacturer (founded 1980; NSE: GALAXYSURF) that produces surfactants and specialty care ingredients for the personal care, home care, and derma and wellness industries. Its portfolio spans over 215 products organized across anionic surfactants (fatty alcohol sulfates and ether sulfates including Galaxy SLS and GalEcosafe), non-ionic surfactants (fatty alcohol ethoxylates), mild and amino acid surfactants (Galsoft range), emollients, preservatives, syndet bases, pearlizers, and functional actives. The company owns 111 approved patents plus 32 pending, including patented technologies such as Galaxy Hearth Biosurf (encapsulated enzyme-surfactant synergy for powder detergents), Galaxy Hearth Fabcon (solvent-free diamidoquat for fabric conditioners), and GalHueShield HCS (a biodegradable hair conditioning molecule with UV and color protection properties). Manufacturing comprises 7 plants (5 in India, 2 overseas including Egypt), with India operations achieving Zero Liquid Discharge since 2017, 27.76% renewable energy usage, and 1.4x water-positive status.

Galaxy operates a B2B enterprise sales model serving 1,500+ clients across 80+ countries, with strategic accounts managed directly by senior leadership including the MD. Revenue is generated through (a) sale of specialty care ingredients and (b) sale of performance surfactants (fatty alcohol sulfates and ether sulfates) to personal care and home care brand owners, supplemented by (c) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for building overseas performance surfactants plants for global clients under long-term supply arrangements. In FY2026 (ended March 2026) revenue reached Rs 5,248.28 crore (~Rs 52.7 billion), up 24.26% YoY, while net profit declined 12.31% to Rs 267.38 crore as margins compressed to 5.1% from 7.2% on higher expenses and feedstock cost pressure. The company complements its enterprise channel with a Creator Hub digital platform targeting indie formulators and small beauty brands, and pursues sustainability differentiation through ISCC PLUS, REDcert2, RSPO, and biomass-balanced feedstock partnerships (notably with BASF) to position for low-carbon and regulatory-compliant formulations.

Name

Galaxy surfactants

Legal name

Galaxy Surfactants Limited

Website

https://galaxysurfactants.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Galaxy Surfactants is an India-based specialty chemicals manufacturer producing surfactants, mild cleansers, emollients, and specialty ingredients for 1,500+ personal care, home care, and derma and wellness brand clients across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfactants & Detergent Intermediates (LAB/LAS, Ethoxylates, Sulfonates) (IMAEADAL), Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI), Hand Sanitizers & Antibacterial Personal Care (CRADANAI)

Keywords

• Specialty surfactants
• Personal care ingredients
• Home care chemicals
• Mild surfactants
• Green chemistry ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Specialty Care Ingredients: Sale of specialty surfactants, mild surfactants, emollients, functional actives, preservatives, and specialty care ingredients to personal care, beauty, and home care brands. Higher-margin segment with focus on innovative, differentiated products. Revenue grew 25% YoY in FY2026 driven by specialty care volume growth in India.
2. Performance Surfactants (AMET): Sale of fatty alcohol sulfates, ether sulfates, and other performance surfactant products. Volume declined mid-teens in Q4 FY2026 due to logistics and raw material constraints. Represents volume-driven revenue with exposure to fatty alcohol feedstock price fluctuations.
3. EPC Services: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction services for building overseas performance surfactants and specialty ingredients plants for global clients. Galaxy provides process design, procurement, engineering, plant construction, and commissioning, with long-term supply arrangements following facility completion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Galaxy Surfactants manufactures and supplies specialty surfactants, mild surfactants, emollients, preservatives, functional actives, and care ingredients for personal care, home care, and derma and wellness brands. The company operates 7 manufacturing plants (5 in India and overseas, including Egypt), holds 110+ patents, and sells through direct B2B channels to 1,500+ clients across 80+ countries. It also delivers EPC services to build overseas surfactant plants for global clients under long-term supply arrangements.

Product overview

Galaxy Surfactants is a global specialty chemicals company and surfactant manufacturer operating since 1980, with 7 manufacturing plants (5 in India and 2 overseas), over 215 products, 1,400 customers across 80+ countries, and more than 110 patents. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around three core industries: Personal and Beauty, Home Care, and Derma and Wellness. Its product range includes Fatty Alcohol Sulfates and Ether Sulfates (FAS/FAES) with variants like Galaxy SLS and GalEcosafe (ultra-low dioxane); Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates (Galaxy MW Series); Emollients (GalMOL MOD/CCC/CSO); Mild Surfactants and Amino Acid Surfactants (Galsoft GLI 21, Galsoft SCG, Galsoft SLL, and the 100% natural Galsoft Ecocare range); Preservatives and Blends (Galguard Tetra, Galguard Trident S); Syndets and Transparent Bathing Bars; as well as Surfactant Blends, Pearlizers, Sun Protection, Functional Actives, LABSA, and Foam Boosters. Its specialty ingredient brands include Galaxy Hearth® (covering Biosurf, Fabcon, Amine Oxides, Mix LLDC, and Mix Pods for home care), Galseer DermaGreen (microbiome-friendly prebiotic skin ingredient), Galseer Flexcon (Gold Award-winning silicone-free conditioner), and GalHueShield HCS (patented hair color protection molecule). The company also operates the Creator Hub platform for co-creating formulations with cosmetic brand partners. In the home care segment, Galaxy Hearth® Biosurf delivers enzyme-surfactant synergy for powder detergents, Galaxy Hearth® Fabcon provides fabric conditioning, Galaxy Hearth® Mix Pods offers LABSA-free plant-based systems for laundry pods, and Galaxy Hearth® Amine Oxides enables sustainable cleaning across dishwashing and surface care. The portfolio spans biodegradable, eco-certified, RSPO-certified, and naturally-derived ingredients targeting the growing demand for sustainable personal care and home care formulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Galaxy Hearth: Patented enzyme-surfactant synergy products for fabric care including Galaxy Hearth Biosurf (enzyme encapsulation technology) and Galaxy Hearth Fabcon (ester and solvent-free diamidoquat for fabric conditioning).
• Galaxy
• Galsoft
• GalEcoSafe
• GalFUSION
• Galseer
• GalHueShield
• GalMOL
• Galguard
• GalEcosafe
• Creator Hub

Products and services

• Fatty Alcohol Sulfates (FAS) Primary anionic surfactants for personal and home care formulations providing superior foaming, wetting, and cleansing capabilities, sold to FMCG brand manufacturers globally.
• Fatty Alcohol Ether Sulfates (FAES) High-performance anionic surfactants derived from ethoxylated natural fatty alcohols offering enhanced mildness, rich foam and gentle cleansing for personal and home care brands.
• Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates Non-ionic surfactants valued for emulsifying, wetting, and detergent properties across personal care, household, and industrial applications, with low-foaming nature and high biodegradability.
• Mild Surfactants Gentle surfactants for sensitive skin and mild cleansing applications, including amino acid-based surfactants and 100% natural Galsoft Ecocare range for sensitive skin formulations.
• Emollients Emollient ingredients for moisturizers and skincare formulations, including silicone-replacement emollients for clean-beauty personal care brands.
• Preservatives and Blends Preservation systems ensuring product safety without compromising skin comfort in cosmetic and personal care formulations, including broad-spectrum and multifunctional preservative blends.
• Syndet and Transparent Bathing Bars Synthetic detergent-based cleansing bars with acidic to neutral pH that maintain skin hydration and are milder than traditional soap, sold as noodles to bar soap manufacturers.
• Galaxy Hearth Biosurf Patented enzyme-surfactant synergy product for fabric care and powder detergents, providing rapid stain removal, foam retention in hard water, and eco-efficient laundry formulations.
• Galaxy Hearth Fabcon Patented ester and solvent-free diamidoquat for next-generation fabric conditioners, providing antistatic and conditioning benefits, fragrance retention, and built-in antimicrobial protection.
• Galaxy Hearth Amine Oxides Amine oxide surfactants for dishwashing and surface cleaners, providing superior cleaning, biodegradability, mildness on skin, and foam stabilization.
• Galaxy Hearth Mix Pods LABSA-free, plant-based surfactant systems for water-soluble laundry pods and capsules, enabling biodegradable concentrated formats with reduced plastic packaging.
• Galaxy Hearth Mix LLDC Versatile surfactant blend for concentrated cleaning solutions, enabling customized green and sustainable formulations with improved stain removal and foaming.
• Galseer DermaGreen Dermatologically tested, microbiome-friendly, 100% green prebiotic ingredient for skin barrier protection and microbiome revival, targeted at derma and wellness brands.
• Galseer Flexcon Patented multifunctional silicone-free conditioner for hair and skin applications, providing deep conditioning, reduced frizz and enhanced softness with sustainability benefits.
• GalHueShield HCS Patented biodegradable hair conditioning molecule offering UV protection, applied hair color preservation, cuticle alignment, and improved wet/dry combing for premium hair care brands.
• Galaxy CAPB SB Biomass-balanced Cocoamidopropyl Betaine produced from BASF BMBCert DMAPA renewable feedstock, certified ISCC PLUS and REDcert2 for sustainable personal care formulations.
• GalEcosafe LES Range Fatty Alcohol Ether Sulfates with ultra-low 1,4-dioxane levels compliant with New York state regulations, enabling ecosafe personal care formulations without reformulation.
• Pearlizers Ingredients that impart pearlescent appearance to personal care formulations including shampoos and body washes.
• Sun Protection Ingredients Sun protection agents and UV filter ingredients for cosmetic sunscreen formulations, supporting formulation of broad-spectrum sun care products.
• Surfactant Blends Pre-formulated surfactant blend combinations for personal care and home care applications, simplifying customer formulation development.
• LABSA (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid) Anionic surfactant for laundry detergents and industrial cleaning formulations sold to home care brand manufacturers.
• Foam and Viscosity Boosters Ingredients enhancing foaming performance and controlling viscosity in personal care and home care formulations.
• Functional Actives Active ingredients providing additional functional benefits beyond cleansing in personal care formulations such as conditioning, soothing, and skin barrier benefits.
• Creator Hub Online co-creation platform enabling cosmetic brand formulators and indie formulators to access Galaxy's ingredient portfolio, formulation tools, and technical expertise for sun care and personal care development.
• EPC Services for Overseas Manufacturing Plants Engineering, procurement and construction services for building overseas performance surfactants and specialty ingredients plants for global clients, paired with long-term supply arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue of Rs 52.7 billion in FY2026, up 25% YoY
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future OriginscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Future Origins successfully demonstrated large-scale production of Nalo™, a sustainable replacement for fatty alcohols used in personal care products, in San Diego. The milestone produced over 10 tons of in-spec material and supports plans for a commercial-scale manufacturing plant. Galaxy Surfactants Limited is among the development partners including Kao, Unilever, and L'Oréal, contributing to the commercialization of this next-generation sustainable ingredient.
• BASF SEcoreTechnology or Integration · 29 September 2025BASF delivered its first shipment of biomass-balanced BMBCert™ DMAPA in Asia Pacific to Galaxy Surfactants. Galaxy plans to use this certified renewable feedstock to produce Galaxy CAPB SB for personal care applications, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions compared to its existing product portfolio. The initiative aligns with Galaxy's ESG roadmap and ambition to become a low-carbon solutions provider. BASF produces the ISCC PLUS and REDcert2-certified product at its sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Geismar, Louisiana using renewable resources and renewable electricity.
• Undisclosed Global Client (Strategic Manufacturing Partner)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2025Galaxy Surfactants announced a strategic partnership with an undisclosed global client to construct a Performance Surfactants and Specialty Ingredients plant overseas. Galaxy provides full EPC services including process design, procurement, engineering, plant construction, and commissioning. Discussions are underway for long-term supply arrangements following the facility's completion, aligning with Galaxy's strategy to expand its global footprint in key target regions.
• Sri Chaitanya HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalaxy Surfactants partnered with Sri Chaitanya Healthcare to implement Project Dhristi, an eye care initiative in rural Palghar, Maharashtra. Under the partnership, 4 eye checkup camps were conducted during FY2024-25 screening 364 people, and 75 cataract surgeries were successfully completed for individuals at risk of vision loss.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Clariant AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company with significant personal care and home care ingredients operations, including surfactants and mild cleansing systems. Comparable to Galaxy in specialty ingredient focus on personal care and home care end markets, and in serving global FMCG customers.
• Stepan Company: US-based manufacturer of surfactants and polymers for personal care, cleaning, and agricultural products. Directly comparable to Galaxy in core surfactant chemistry, customer segments (FMCG formulators), and global B2B ingredients distribution model.
• Croda International plc: UK-listed global specialty chemicals company supplying personal care, home care, and beauty ingredients including surfactants, emollients, and active ingredients. Closely comparable to Galaxy in end-market focus, customer base (global FMCG brands), and innovation-driven specialty portfolio.
• Innospec Inc. Global specialty chemicals company with Performance Chemicals and Personal Care segments producing surfactants, emollients, and active ingredients. Comparable to Galaxy in specialty personal care ingredients focus, B2B customer base, and innovation-driven product mix.

Broad incumbents

• BASF SE: World's largest chemical company with a broad Care Chemicals division that overlaps Galaxy's surfactant, emollient, and personal care ingredients portfolio. A broader incumbent with significantly larger R&D, scale, and integration; competes head-to-head with Galaxy on raw materials (DMAPA) and finished ingredients.
• Evonik Industries AG: German specialty chemicals company with significant personal care and home care ingredient offerings including specialty surfactants and conditioners. A broad incumbent with a wider portfolio and deeper global R&D footprint, directly competing with Galaxy in personal care specialty ingredients.
• Lonza Group AG: Swiss specialty ingredients and contract manufacturing company serving personal care, home care, and life sciences. A broad incumbent that overlaps with Galaxy in specialty personal care ingredients and increasingly in sustainable chemistry, though it is more weighted toward life sciences and pharma.
• Solvay SA: Belgian specialty chemicals group with personal care and home care ingredient offerings including surfactants and mild cleansing systems. A broad incumbent with much greater scale and a more diversified portfolio, competing with Galaxy for global FMCG formulation mandates.

Regional players

• SRF Limited: Indian diversified chemicals company with specialty chemicals operations including intermediates and surfactants serving personal care and home care end markets. Comparable as an Indian-listed specialty chemicals peer with global customer reach, though its portfolio is broader and less personal-care focused.
• Aarti Industries Limited: Indian specialty chemicals manufacturer serving personal care, home care, and FMCG end markets with surfactants and intermediates. Comparable as an Indian-listed specialty chemicals peer, though its scale is larger and its portfolio is more diversified into pharma and agrochemical intermediates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GalaxySurfactantsLimited
• Facebookfacebook.com/galaxysurfactants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/galaxy-surfactants-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/galaxy_surfactants

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Galaxy surfactants