Demand for specialty surfactants is expected to rise 4.3% a year to $3.6 billion, or 2.1 billion pounds in 2006, according to the Freedonia Group’s Specialty Surfactants report. The demand is strongest from the personal care markets, followed by industrial markets. A number of factors will drive this trend, including naturally-derived surfactants, biodegradability, milder surfactants and surfactants for treated wipes. Annual growth is expected in each category: cationic (+4%), anionic (+4.1%), n...