Laundry is an indispensable part of daily life, and over the decades the form of cleaning products has evolved markedly. From the perspective of modern chemical synthesis, laundry products have moved through three generations: the first—laundry soap; the second—powdered detergent; and the third—liquid detergent. As one of the oldest formats, laundry soap is now carving out a niche through “specialized breakthroughs” while simultaneously moving up-market, particularly in fragrance-forward and eco-friendly segments.

       Customs data show that total soap exports reached US$548 million in H1 2025. The bulk—94.84 %—fell under HS 34011990 (other bar soaps, not elsewhere specified), while laundry soap (HS 34011910) accounted for US$21.43 million, or 3.91 % of the total.

       Historical data for 2020–2023 reveal steady growth in Chinese laundry-soap exports. Beginning in 2024, however, shipments turned downward: full-year 2024 exports fell 40.31 % versus 2023, and H1 2025 slid a further 9.47 % compared with the same period last year. The sharp 2024 decline was not triggered by a single factor, but by a confluence of higher tariffs in Europe and North America, elevated freight rates, rising Southeast Asian competition, and rising domestic costs. Together, these forces have reshaped China’s global market footprint for laundry soap.

       Customs data show that in the first half of 2025, the U.S. market—after a sharp drop triggered by policy headwinds—has begun to recover gradually. Latin America has been even more dramatic: Venezuela alone surged 1,721 % year-on-year. Elsewhere, emerging African markets such as Nigeria and Senegal posted strong gains, while Asian buyers in the Philippines and Malaysia also signaled robust demand. The Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia) remains steady, but Europe still accounts for less than 5 % of total volume—an area that warrants close attention.

       Chinese laundry soap now faces a squeeze at the premium end from liquid detergents in Europe and North America, where its share remains low and technical standards are rising. Yet exporters can leverage China’s production scale and innovation capacity to build differentiated advantages in fragrance, natural ingredients and other niches, tapping emerging markets as the main growth engine. Future breakthroughs will hinge on continuous technology upgrades and green certifications that vault the segment from “cost-driven” to “brand and technology exporting.”

Overall, laundry soap is evolving from a basic cleaning staple to a “quality-of-life” product; through technical innovation and deeper scenario-based marketing, it is securing a distinctive, sustainable position in the broader detergent landscape.

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