Water Treatment Chemicals Market by Type (Flocculant & Coagulant, Corossion Inhibitors, Scale Inhibitors, Biocides & Disinfectants, Chelating Agents), Source, End-use (Residential. Commercial & Industrial), and Region - Global Forecast to 2028
Water Treatment Chemicals Market Overview
The global water treatment chemicals market size is estimated to be USD 36.7 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 43.9 billion in 2028, at a CAGR of 3.6%. Water Treatment Chemicals (WTCs) are compounds used in the process of water treatment to eliminate impurities that corrode it, cause scum formation, make it turbid and cause disturbances to its biological health. These pollutants may be natural, artificial or even man-made. The growth is mainly because of the need for clean water which has increased as different industries have come up along with strict regulations on use and disposal of wastewater.
Opportunities in the Water Treatment Chemicals Market
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Recession impact
The industrial, construction, and mining sectors are likely to have fewer activities in recessions thus reducing the demand for water treatment chemicals. At the same time, a business can lower its costs by investing into environmentally compliant practices like water treatment. However, other economic downturns may increase the necessity of good water processing due to infrastructures maintenance and stricter regulations all over the world. The duration and intensity of recession, industry specific trends, and government policies on water management as well as environmental compliance influence the overall outcome.
Water Treatment Chemicals Market Dynamics
Driver: Increasing demand for chemically treated water in various end-use industries
When it comes to providing for the needs of households and industries, fresh water resources constitute only 2.5% of all global water sources, thus representing a major problem. The rising deficit between the availability and need for water has to be bridged through efficient recycling of the precious commodity via application of chemicals meant for treating it. These factors led to the significant increase in use of treated wastewater by different industries including oil & gas, power, pulp & paper, mining, chemicals and food & beverage. On this basis markets like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia which are emerging economies among others are experiencing high industrial growth that is increasing demand for clean potable water for domestic usage as well as agricultural and industrial purposes. In comparison with expensive alternatives such as ion exchange; UV filtration or reverse osmosis; water treatment chemicals provide a low-cost solution. Coagulation flocculation disinfection costs are lower than UV and RO options used by larger-scale water treatment plants. At present growth in these sectors especially within emerging economies like China and India have necessitated this demand. Initiatives such as the pre-salt oil fields development in Brazil and high-capacity power further bolster the market for water treatment chemicals.
Restrain: Alternative water treatment technolgies
The rise of alternative water treatment technologies is increasingly seen as a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution, which is limiting the growth of this market. Membrane filtration systems are particularly notable for their ability to precisely control the removal of contaminants without the need for chemical additives. This not only improves the quality of the treated water but also significantly decreases the dependence on traditional flocculants and coagulants. Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems have become popular due to their eco-friendly method of treating water. By effectively eliminating pathogens without using chemicals, UV disinfection addresses environmental issues while also reducing the costs related to the purchase and disposal of conventional treatment chemicals. Membrane filtration technologies, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis, offer a customized approach to removing impurities from water. They are valued for their capability to eliminate particles, microorganisms, and even dissolved solutes, making them highly adaptable across various industries.
Opportunity: Rising population and rapid urbanization in emerging economies
In Asia-Pacific, especially China and India, offers more opportunities for water treatment chemicals market due to increasing population and rapid urbanization Faced with population growth and limited water quality, China has prioritized water quality in its five-year plan for environmental protection. The government’s emphasis on water quality control, pollution control and improvement of urban water supply has led to a huge demand for chemical treatments and India, which has restricted freshwater resources relative to its quantity, clearly needs to it needs a water treatment solution. With 16% of the world’s population, India’s growing demand for fresh water for agricultural and industrial purposes presents significant opportunities. As urbanization and environmental issues rise, these countries represent a huge market for solvents to address water quality challenges and bridge the demand-supply gap network This situation presents an attractive growth opportunity for the industry.
Challenge: Need for eco-friendly formulations and vulnerability regarding copying patents
One of the factor inhibiting the growth of the water treatment chemical substances in marketplace is rising issues regarding the effect of chemical substances on the environment have brought about stringent regulatory constraints for water treatment chemical producers. Currently, manufacturers of water treatment chemical compounds are endorsed to opt for inexperienced alternatives. The assets of the performance of green alternative formulations underneath severe situations makes it tough for producers to provide replacements for trendy formulations. Manufacturers face problems in fees and income in inexperienced chemistry, which results in challenges in developing exceedingly powerful and economically feasible surroundings-friendly water treatment chemical substances. The use of green opportunity chemical formulations results in the chance of bio fouling for which, greater dosage of biocides is needed, which, in turn, impacts the price-performance of the set up. Water treatment chemical substances need to be extra robust to allow accelerated recycling and reuse of water, however the extra sturdy chemistry has historically been less environment pleasant. Once a patented water treatment chemical is made public, it turns into vulnerable to being copied. Some manufacturers in Asia offer counterfeit merchandise at decrease charges, therefore posing a main task for fundamental chemical producers.
Water Treatment Chemicals Market: Ecosystem
Coagulants & Flocculants segment is the second-fastest growing type in the water treatment chemicals market during the forecast period.
The Coagulants & Flocculants segment is the second fastest growing segment in the water treatment chemicals market due to its key role in removing suspended particles and purifying water. Increasing technology and stringent water quality standards are increasing the demand for raw water treatment. Coagulants immobilize the particles, and flocculants aid agglomeration, ensuring better handling for disposal, ensuring water quality control and part growth.
Boiler Water Treatment segment is the fastest growing application in the water treatment chemicals market during the forecast period.
The Coagulants & Flocculants segment is the second fastest growing segment in the water treatment chemicals market due to its key role in removing suspended particles and purifying water. Increasing technology and stringent water quality standards are increasing the demand for raw water treatment.
The commercial segment is the second-fastest growing end use industry in the water treatment chemicals market during the forecast period.
The commercial segment is the second fastest growing segment of the chemical water treatment market due to the increasing demand for water quality in various sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, retail, institutional etc. Thus these industries rely on chemical treatments to improve water quality for drinking, sanitation and HVAC systems. As commercial activities expand around the world, there is a need for water management.
Asia Pacific has the second largest market share in the water treatment chemicals market, in terms of value.
Asia Pacific occupies the second largest market share in the water treatment chemical substances marketplace due to numerous factors. Emerging economies like China, India, Indonesia, and South Korea are experiencing growing call for for these chemicals because of heightened cognizance of water treatment and infrastructure improvement. Government rules associated with water treatment additionally contribute to expanded demand. These factors collectively make contributions to the expansion of the water treatment chemical compounds market in the Asia Pacific vicinity.
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Key Market Players
Kemira OYJ (Finland), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab Inc. (U.S.), Dow Inc. (U.S.), and Solenis LLC (U.S.). These players have established a strong foothold in the market by adopting strategies, such expansions, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions.
Read More: Water Treatment Chemicals Companies
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Report Metric |
Details |
Years considered for the study |
2020–2028 |
Base year considered |
2022 |
Forecast period |
2023–2028 |
Units considered |
Volume (Kiloton) and Value (USD Million/Billion) |
Segments |
By Type, Source, Application, End-use Industry, and Region |
Regions |
North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America |
Companies |
Kemira OYJ (Finland), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab Inc. (U.S.), Dow Inc. (U.S.), and Solenis LLC (U.S.). |
This research report categorizes the water treatment chemicals market based on type, end-use industry, and region.
By type:
- Corrosion inhibitors
- Scale inhibitors
- Biocides & disinfectants
- Coagulants & flocculants
- Chelating agents
- Anti-foaming agents
- pH adjusters and stabilizers
- Others
By application:
- Boiler water treatment
- Cooling water treatment
- Raw water treatment
- Water Desalination
- Others
By end-user:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Industrial
By source:
- Synthetic
- Bio-based
By region:
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- North America
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
Recent Developments
- In October 2023, Solenis acquired Cedarchem's headquarters in Cedartown, Georgia. CedarChem offers a variety of highly customized water and wastewater products designed for the industrial and municipal markets, with a specific focus on serving the US. southeast With this acquisition, the company has strengthened its market position in the United States.
- In December 2021, Ecolab Inc. closed the acquisition of Purolite, a global provider of ion exchange resins for the separation and purification of solutions for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. US-based Purolite has a presence in more than 30 countries.
- In June 2019, Dow and Modern Water Inc., a global leader in technologies for water and wastewater treatment, and brine monitoring, have announced collaboration whereby Modern Water will globally distribute Dow’s products. This partnership will expand Dow’s global reach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the current size of the global water treatment chemicals market?
Global water treatment chemicals market size is estimated to reach USD 43.9 billion by 2028 from USD 36.7 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.
Who are the winners in the global water treatment chemicals market?
Kemira OYJ, BASF SE, Ecolab Inc., Dow Inc., and Solenis LLC fall under the winner’s category. They have the potential to broaden their product portfolio and compete with other key market players. Such advantages give these companies an edge over other companies.
What are some of the strategies adopted by the top market players to penetrate emerging regions?
The major players in the market use expansions, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions as important growth tactics.
What is the recession on water treatment chemicals manufacturers?
Companies may focus more on cost-cutting measures and short-term survival strategies rather than long-term investments. Recessions might bring about shifts in consumer preferences and market demands.
What are some of the drivers in the market?
Increasing demand for chemically treated water in various end-use industries .
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The study involved four major activities in estimating the current market size for water treatment chemicals. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, peer market, and parent market. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. After that, the market breakdown and data triangulation methodologies were used to estimate the market size of segments and sub-segments.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various sources have been referred to for identifying and collecting information for this study. The secondary sources include annual reports, press releases, and investor presentations of companies; white papers, journals, and certified publications; and articles from recognized authors, directories, and databases. Secondary data has been collected and analyzed to arrive at the overall market size, which is further validated by primary research. Secondary research has been used to obtain key information about the value chain of the industry, monetary chain of the market, the total pool of key players, market classification and segmentation according to industry trends to the bottom-most level, and regional markets. It was also used to obtain information about the key developments from a market-oriented perspective.
Primary Research
Water treatment chemicals market involves a variety of stakeholders across the value chain, including raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users. For this study, both the supply and demand sides of the market were interviewed to gather qualitative and quantitative information. Key opinion leaders from various end-use sectors were interviewed from the demand side, while manufacturers and associations were interviewed from the supply side.
Primary interviews helped to gather insights on market statistics, revenue data, market breakdowns, market size estimations, market forecasting, and data triangulation. Primary research also helped to identify trends related to grade, application, end-use industries, and region. C-level executives from the demand side, such as CIOs, CTOs, and CSOs, were interviewed to understand their perspective on suppliers, products, and component providers, which will affect the overall market.
Breakdown of Primaries
Note: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 companies are classified based on their market revenue in 2022 available in the public domain, product portfolios, and geographical presence.
Other designations include sales representatives, production heads, and technicians.
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Market Size Estimation
- The top-down approach was used to estimate and validate the size of various submarkets for water treatment chemicals for each region. The research methodology used to estimate the market size included the following steps:
- The key players in the industry have been identified through extensive secondary research.
- The supply chain of the industry has been determined through primary and secondary research.
- The global market was then segmented into five major regions and validated by industry experts.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns based on type, end-use industry, and country were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
All possible parameters that affect the markets covered in this research study were accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to get the final quantitative and qualitative data. This data was consolidated and added with detailed inputs and analysis and presented in this report.
Water Treatment Chemicals Market: Bottum-Up Approach
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
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Water Treatment Chemicals Market: Top-Down Approach
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the overall market size—using the market size estimation process explained above—the market was split into several segments and sub-segments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics of each market segment and sub-segment, the data triangulation, and market breakdown procedures were employed, wherever applicable. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply of water treatment chemicals and their applications.
Market Definition
Water treatment chemicals can be defined as chemical compounds used in the water treatment process to remove impurities which cause corrosion, scales, high turbidity, and biological imbalance. These impurities can be metallic, organic, or non-organic in nature. The chemicals that are used to eliminate the impurities are corrosion inhibitors, coagulants & flocculants, scale inhibitors, chelating agents, biocides & disinfectants, and pH adjusters, among others.
Stakeholders
- Manufacturers of water treatment chemicals
- Raw Material Suppliers
- Manufacturers In End-use Industries
- Traders, Distributors, and Suppliers
- Regional Manufacturers’ Associations
- Government & Regional Agencies and Research Organizations
The main objectives of this study are as follows:
- To analyze and forecast the size of the water treatment chemicals market in terms of value and volume.
- To provide detailed information about the key factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the market
- To analyze and forecast the market by type, source, application, end-use industry, and region.
- To forecast the size of the market with respect to five regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East & Africa, along with their key countries
- To strategically analyze micromarkets1 with respect to individual trends, growth prospects, and their contribution to the overall market
- To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape for the market leaders.
- To analyze competitive developments in the market, such as investment & expansion, joint venture, partnership, and merger & acquisition
- To strategically profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market shares and core competencies2.
- Notes: Micromarkets1 are the sub-segments of the water treatment chemicals market included in the report.
- Core competencies2 of companies are determined in terms of their key developments, SWOT analysis, and key strategies adopted by them to sustain in the market.
Available Customizations:
MarketsandMarkets offers the following customizations for this market report.
- Additional country-level analysis of water treatment chemicals market
- Profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Water Treatment Chemicals Market