On February 24, 2026, Shanghai, China - From industrial lubrication to daily skincare, the multifunctional properties of ethyl silicone oil are driving its accelerated penetration into the consumer market. According to market research institutions' predictions, the global market size of ethyl silicone oil in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields will exceed 1.5 billion US dollars by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%, far exceeding the growth rate of the industrial sector.


Cosmetics industry: equal emphasis on safety and efficacy
In the cosmetics field, ethyl silicone oil has become the core additive of face cream, lipstick, eye black and other products due to its non-toxic, non corrosive and excellent spreading properties. Compared with traditional dimethyl silicone oil, ethyl silicone oil has a longer molecular chain and a 30% increase in compatibility with organic components, which can significantly improve product texture. The reagent grade ethyl silicone oil launched by Shanghai Yuanye Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has passed ISO 22716 cosmetics GMP certification and has become a high-end raw material supplier for multiple international brands.


The demand for 'pure beauty' from consumers has driven us to develop safer silicone oil products, "said the company's R&D director." Our ethyl silicone oil uses supercritical fluid extraction technology, with heavy metal residue levels below 0.1ppm, which meets the EU EC No 1223/2009 standard and is particularly suitable for sensitive skin populations. ”


Medical field: Innovative applications emerge endlessly
In the pharmaceutical industry, the biocompatibility and stability of ethyl silicone oil make it an ideal choice for medical devices and drug carriers. The ultra-low temperature resistant ethyl silicone oil developed by Xinyuan Chemical (Shandong) Co., Ltd. can maintain fluidity in an environment of -120 ℃ and is applied in the lubrication coating of frozen surgical knives and low-temperature transportation packaging of vaccines. In addition, ethyl silicone oil, as a plasticizer, can enhance the flexibility of medical rubber stoppers and reduce drug adsorption losses. The related technology has been granted national invention patents.


Regional market differentiation intensifies
From a regional market perspective, the Asia Pacific region accounts for 55% of the global consumption of ethyl silicone oil, with China and India experiencing the fastest growth in demand due to manufacturing upgrades; The European and American markets focus on high-end applications such as aerospace and biomedicine. Hubei Xinhongli Chemical Co., Ltd. has recently reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Alfa Chemistry in Germany, introducing advanced molecular distillation technology from Europe. The company plans to increase the purity of pharmaceutical grade ethyl silicone oil to 99.99%, meeting international customers' requirements for "zero impurities".


Challenges and opportunities coexist
Despite the broad market prospects, the ethyl silicone oil industry still faces challenges from fluctuating raw material prices and increasingly strict environmental regulations. In 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the "Organic Silicon Industry Clean Production Evaluation Index System", which requires enterprises to achieve a wastewater recycling rate of over 90%, forcing small and medium-sized enterprises to accelerate technological transformation. Industry analysts point out that companies with full industry chain integration capabilities and environmental technology reserves will stand out in the next round of competition.