Antimicrobial Additives Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Inorganic, Organic), By Application (Plastics, Paints & Coatings), By End Use (Healthcare, Food & Beverage), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Report Overview

The global antimicrobial additives market size was valued at USD 2.2 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2020 to 2027. Rapidly expanding end-use sectors due to growing population and urbanization are likely to escalate the demand for antimicrobial additives over the forecast period. Moreover, continuously rising demand for healthcare and packaging products to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic will positively impact market growth. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market as the region has some of the major healthcare product manufacturers.

After the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Japan, India, and Indonesia are expected to contribute to the growth of the construction sector in the Asia Pacific region owing to increasing consumer disposable income and rising government spending on large infrastructural projects. This will drive market growth. Moreover, ascending demand for commercial, residential, and institutional buildings in China, on account of the growing population, is in turn contributing to the growth of the market.

The market in the U.S. is expected to witness moderate growth over the coming years. High demand for advanced healthcare services in the country, owing to the availability of well-developed healthcare infrastructure and reimbursement coverage, is anticipated to drive the medical devices industry, thereby boosting the market growth. The rising target population and increasing cases of car accidents are projected to propel the need for surgeries, thereby supporting market growth.

However, stringent regulations may hamper the market growth as the regulations have made suppliers introduce and set up new compositions to meet the safe administration and anti-bacterial properties standards, such as Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) EU 528/2012 and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Type Insights

The inorganic type segment led the market and accounted for more than 51.0% share of the global revenue in 2019. High demand for silver-, copper-, and zinc-based additives is projected to fuel the growth of this segment over the forecast period. Silver-based additives are used as antimicrobial agents owing to their properties, such as non-toxicity, continual performance for a long duration, and high thermal stability. Zinc pyrithione is added to the materials that are prone to exposure to mold spore and fungi, as the additive offers excellent antibacterial protection. Copper salts are useful in preservative and sterilized applications, with underlying substrates or layers being paints, coatings, and polymers.

Organic types, when used with products and materials such as paints and coatings, provide long-lasting protection against stain and odor-causing microbes as well as biodegradation. For example, triclosan inhibits the growth of microbes such as algae, with the help of a chemical reaction, which results in penetrating and damaging their cell walls. However, the segment growth is expected to be sluggish over the forecast period due to the ban on the sales and use of OBPA and triclosan due to their high levels of toxicity.

End-use Insights

The healthcare end-use segment led the market in 2019 and accounted for more than 24.5% of the global revenue share. It is estimated to remain the dominant segment on account of the rising demand for healthcare products due to the growing geriatric population and increased awareness about healthcare among consumers. The healthcare environment plays a key role, especially in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). HAIs, which are additional infections that occur in patients during their stay in hospitals, are fatal and generally caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 25 patients is diagnosed with HAI in the U.S. each year. HAIs can lead to prolonged stays in hospitals, readmission after discharge, and an increase in expenses of patients. Thus, these challenges have led to increased interest in developing strategies and products to reduce the risk of HAIs, which, in turn, boosts the demand for antimicrobial additives in healthcare furnishings and medical equipment.

The food & beverage end-use segment is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the extensive utilization of additives in shelving, flooring, food processing equipment, ice-making machines, storage containers, water coolers, and water hydration systems in the food & beverage industry. Increasing population and changing lifestyles are also anticipated to drive the product demand in the food & beverage sector over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The plastic application segment led the market in 2019 and accounted for more than 33% share of the global revenue. This high share is attributable to the extensive use of plastics in the production of soap dispensers, food containers, surgical products, and breathing devices. Plastic is susceptible to microbial growth including bacteria and mold, which is expected to negatively impact the functional lifetime of a product. Thus, antimicrobial additives are incorporated during the production process of plastics to provide resistance against various microbes, thereby, resulting in the long-term durability of such products.

Antimicrobial additives have applications in all the types of paints and coatings including solvent, water, and oil as well as powder-based coatings. Specialty, industrial, and decorative coatings are considerably benefitted from these additives. For instance, silver-based additives give cost-effective protection solutions when used with paints. The additives added in inks and lacquers impart durable top-coat protection when applied on paper, metal, and plastic.

Pulp & paper is a highly diverse industry as it comprises specialized papers (intended for currency printing, tissue production, and newsprint) and paperboards (intended for packaging applications). Paper is prone to the quick accumulation of dirt, which provides supportive ground for microbes to colonize. This boosts the demand for antimicrobial additives in the pulp & paper sector.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific led the market in 2019 and accounted for over 36% share of the global revenue. It is estimated to retain its leading position and expand further at the fastest CAGR from 2020 to 2027. The market is driven by the growth of the major end-use industries, such as automotive, healthcare, construction, food and beverage, and packaging.

Moreover, the robust manufacturing base of the automotive industry in China, Japan, and India coupled with increased sales of passenger vehicles is anticipated to augment market growth in APAC. In addition, favorable policies, such as Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Make in India implemented by the Indian government, are expected to create ample growth opportunities for the automobile industry. This, in turn, is expected to increase product consumption in automobile applications.

Industrial expansion in the region is also anticipated to augment the product demand in industrial machinery, equipment, and containers. The growing construction industry in the emerging economies of the region and increased infrastructure spending by various governments are also expected to drive the regional market.

On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic may hinder the region’s growth as there is limited cross-border trade among the economies. However, the demand in various end-use segments will increase after the current lockdown situation in several countries is revoked.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market is highly fragmented owing to the presence of major manufacturers across the globe along with various medium- and small-scale manufacturers. Global companies face intense competition from each other as well as from regional companies, who have a strong awareness of regulations and suppliers in the markets. Thus, prominent manufacturers seek opportunities to vertically integrate across the value chain and focus on M&A, expansion of manufacturing facilities, and R&D investments. For instance, in August 2018, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. expanded its polymer business by acquiring A. Schulman Inc. This acquisition helped strengthen the company’s presence in high-margin end markets, such as automotive, packaging, and electronic goods. In November 2019, Sanitized AG partnered with Bodo Moller Chemie for the distribution of sanitized antimicrobial additives in the Eastern European market. Some of the prominent players in the antimicrobial additives market include:

• NanoBioMatters Industries S.L

• BASF SE

• RTP Company

• Milliken Chemical

• BioCote Limited

• Microban International

• Clariant AG

• PolyOne Corporation

• Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

• Life Materials Technologies Limited

• SteriTouch Limited

• Sanitized AG

• Dow Inc.

• LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.

• Plastics Color Corporation

• Lonza

Antimicrobial Additives Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global antimicrobial additives market report on the basis of type, application, end-use, and region:

• Type Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Organic

  • Inorganic

    • Silver

    • Copper

    • Zinc

• Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Plastics

  • Paints & Coatings

  • Pulp & Paper

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Healthcare

    • Minimally Invasive Medical Products

    • Endotracheal Tubes

    • Wound dressing

    • Surgical drapes

    • Syringes

    • Re-usable Medical items

      • Hospital Bedding

      • Dental trays

      • Beds

      • Hospital gowns

      • Orthopedic devices

      • Laparoscopic Instruments

      • Medical Scrubs

  • Packaging

    • Food Packaging

      • Active Packaging

      • Controlled Release Packaging

    • Non-food Packaging

  • Food & Beverage

    • Bakery Food

    • Beverages

    • Dairy

    • Meat Processing

  • Building & Construction

    • Insulation

    • Faucets & Fixtures

    • Door Hardware

    • Sealants & Grouts

    • Carpet

    • Paints

    • OSB

    • Melamine

    • Others

  • Automotive & Transportation

    • Passenger Cars

    • Light Commercial Vehicles

    • Heavy Commercial Vehicles

    • Trains

    • Airplanes

  • Textile

    • Apparels

    • Home Textiles

    • Footwear

    • Sport Textiles

    • Non-woven

    • Others

  • Consumer Goods

    • Cleaning Products

    • Cosmetics

    • Toys

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • The U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • GCC Countries

    • South Africa