ABOUT THE SOAP INDUSTRY:

ORIGIN OF SOAP INDUSTRY:

History of soap dates way back from 2350 years. Soap
manufacturing was started in North America. Early in the history of
Europe colonies and of the republic. Some American companies with
currently well known names were started 50 to 200 years ago. During
middle ages, soap was made at various places in Italy, France, Spain,
England and possible other countries.
Mankind knew about soap nearly 200 years back 70 A.D. when
Mr.Pllny and Mr. elder evidentially discovered the soap when roasted meat
over flowed on the flow in ashes. This lump like product was soap and had
foaming and cleansing character. Since then 1192 A.D. that in the first time
detergent was taken in London. It is in 1931 A.D. that in the first time
detergent was discovered by Mr.Grency with the sulphated olive oil and
almond oil. The wood consumption of soap in 1884 A.D. was said to be
lakhs/ton per annum and it was in this year Mr.W.H.L. ever entered the
field of the soap making in a big way.
SOAP INDUSTRY IN INDIA:
Soap industry in India began with M/S Godrej setting up their
manufacturing unit in 1918 at Mumbai and M/S government soap factory
in Bangalore. The industry stagnated due to the in informed price control.
The industry soon recovered and experienced sharp ups wing during 1974.
PROBLEMS OF SOAP INDUSTRY:
Soap industry faces some problems in the case of raw materials. The
major ingredients like soap ash, linear alkyl, benzene and sodium Tripoli
phosphate poses number of series in terms of availability.
The demand supply gap to vegetable oil is 1.5-2 lakhs tons and is
met through imports. In recent months, price of caustic soda has shown a
rising trend. The contents of soda ash in the cheaper varieties of soap are
quite high.

FUTURE OF SOAP INDUSTRY:

The growth prospects seems to be enormous considering the fact that the
per capita income consumption in India is as low at 0.30kg over the year
we have M/S HUL, M/S TAMCO,LUX etc., leading the industry in the
field of soap manufacture, growth of population, income
Consumption, expenditure increased in urban cities spread of education,
growing degree of personal hygiene etc., has increased by the spread of
audio-visual media, rising incomes and general consciousness about the
health.
ABOUT THE BUSINESS:
Major players & market shares:
Hindustan Unilever ltd., (HUL) is the leader for the toilet soap industry in
India with a 60% share in the market. Other major players from LUX is
facing competition are Godrej soaps, Wipro, Procter & Gamble, Colgate
Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson etc.,
Their market shares is as follows

COMPANIES
HUL
TATA OIL
MILLS
DOVE
GODREJ
SOAPS
NIRMA
OTHERS

MARKET SCENARIO

MARKET
SHARES
60
13
07
05
08
07

Of the nearly 7 lakhs tons toilet soap, market for 500 tons comes
from the premium segment, 3 lakhs tons won carbolic segment and the rest
are from the batting or popular segment. There are 40 brands in the total
toilet soap market. In the popular segment Liril, Cinthol, Palmolive, Lux
international have been well established in the market. In the popular
segment lux, rexona, hamam, santore have a strong presence while among
the carbolic soap lifebuoy, Ok, nirma have proved their worth.
The important point is that the price of the soap between the various
brands generally varies between 50 paise and rupee. The soap industry
does not face serious problems to the raw materials front.
In recent times, the price of caustic soda have shows a using trend.
This contents of soda ash is the cheaper varieties of soap in quite higher
linear alkyls benzene, being an important input in manufacture of soaps the
future of this soap industry is very much dependent on this input. It is
capital incentives during the around in 700-800 cores.
SEGMENTATION OF SOAPS
The Following table lists the key brands of the main companies.
COMPANY
BRAND
SEGMENTATION
Godrej soaps
Cinthol
Premium
Godrej no 1
Popular
Marvel
Popular
Lifebuoy(plus,
gold,family,liquid)
Carbolic
HUL

Lux(international,
Dove
Face washes,
Shower gel)
Liril,pears,
Jai,breeze

Premium
Premium

P&G

Camay

Premium

WIPRO

Santoor,baby soft

Premium

Premium
Premium
Popular

KS&DL
HENKET-SPIC
COLGATEPALMOLIVE

Wipro shikakai
My sore sandal soap
My sore sandal gold
Margo
Palmolive natural

Popular
Premium
Premium
Popular
Premium