Biocides Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (QAC, Organosulfurs), By End-use (Paints & Coatings, Water Treatment, HVAC), By Region (APAC, Europe, North America), And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global biocides market size was valued at USD 8.5 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2023 to 2030. The growth is driven by the consumer product segment wherein biocides are used in cleaning products, cosmetics & wipes, disinfectants, toothpaste, and laundry detergents, to name a few. Furthermore, biocides are observed to be increasingly used in preservatives, disinfectants, insecticides, antiseptics, fungicides, and herbicides. Biocides are significantly used in the disinfection of food containers, surfaces, or pipes utilized in food logistics and more.

Increasing innovations by various multinationals to expand their product portfolio and minimize hazards caused by biocides, coupled with the growing preference for natural biocides, shall lead to broader consumption of the product over the coming years. The U.S. remains the dominant country in the North America regional market, primarily driven by the demand from the water treatment and wood preservation markets. U.S. regulations regarding water quality are strict, and these support the application of EPA-registered biocides in water treatment plants. Blue Plains Advanced WWTP is one of the key water treatment plants in the U.S., engaged in the consumption of biocides. The prominent use of wood for construction in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors has benefitted the growth of biocides application in wood preservation.

It is environmentally supported by the 15-20% higher tree plantation when compared to their consumption. Major demand from the paints & coatings for biocides has further accelerated the market growth in the U.S. From a global standpoint, rising demand for biocides from industries, such as cleaning & 0sanitation, water treatment, paints & coatings, and more, have led to a surge in production and innovation of various biocide formulations worldwide. Biocides, such as chlorine dioxide, are used in lower concentrations and are highly effective in wastewater treatment operations as water sanitizer and disinfectant as they have more than double the oxidizing capacity as chlorine, and is, therefore, highly consumed by wastewater treatment facilities globally.

However, the product utilization, over the past couple of years, has reflected adverse health effects, which eventually led to public health scares. To restrict the movement of b0iocides and monitor the utilization and handling of various biocide products globally, Chemical Ranking and Scoring (CRS) methods have been put in place worldwide for effective management of the products. CRS provides information regarding characteristics, such as toxicity and exposure to various biocide products. Various countries across all major regions have been implementing policies and regulations to minimize the ill effects of biocides, which can restrain the market growth.

Pr0duct Insights

The halogen compounds segment led the market in 2022 and accounted for the highest revenue share of 25.0%. This is attributed to the use of halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine, and iodine, as bases in biocide compositions. Another iodine-based substance called iodophor increases the stability and biocidal potency of iodine. One of the most widely utilized halogens is chlorine due to its potent antibacterial and oxidizing capabilities, which make it ideal for use in municipal drinking water plants and wastewater treatment facilities, among other places. Applications in the food & beverage industry are the frequent use of chlorine-based formulations like calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite. Another chlorine-based formulation utilized for water treatment applications is chlorine dioxide, which comes in the form of a gas.

The primary drivers of this market are anticipated to be the effectiveness of halogens in reducing microbial growth and their diversity in terms of application areas. The metallic compounds product segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. Since metallic compounds are effective at attaching to the proteins of microorganisms, their mode of action is dependent on the suppression of enzyme activity. Silver and other heavy metals are frequently employed as biocides. Copper is considered more effective due to its higher toxicity to bacteria and other microbes compared to silver. In many water treatment facilities, biocide formulations based on copper sulfate are employed to suppress algae development. It is also utilized in marine anti-fouling paints.

End-use Insights

The paints & coatings segment dominated the industry with the highest revenue share of 26.3 % in 2022. This is attributed to the high utilization of the product in marine coating applications, as the painted surface is majorly exposed to humidity and water. Water-borne paints & coatings require the application of biocides. However, competition from other paints & coatings segments, such as powder coatings and solvent-borne coatings, which do not require in-can preservation project challenges for the water-borne paints & coatings and thus, to the biocides market. Asia Pacific region, holding a prominent share of the paints & coatings market volume, projects lucrative growth opportunities in the market, especially in China and India, in near future. According to the American Coatings Association, the Asia Pacific paints & coatings market was expected to reach a value of more than USD 96.0 billion by 2023 from a value of USD 56.2 billion in 2016.

 However, this estimated forecast is now expected to be lower owing to the growth decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The water treatment segment is expected to register the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. This is mainly because the product is used to prevent biofouling, film formation, and algal or bacterial contamination in water systems, such as municipal drinking water treatment systems, cooling water, spas and pools, and industrial water treatment systems, among others. Water treatment applications make considerable use of biocides, such as sodium bromide, hypobromous acid, hydrogen peroxide, silver, bromine, chlorine tablets, stabilized bromine, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, Bronopol, QACs, and isothiazolinone.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific region dominated the industry with the highest revenue share of 36.5% in 2022. This is attributed to many factors, such as the increased manufacturing of disinfectants, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the high demand for application-specific cleaning products. Disinfectants used in industrial, commercial, or residential applications demand antimicrobial agents with efficient activities. This has considerably boasted the demand for cost-effective and efficient biocide active ingredients. Pulp & paper is expected to witness a rise in demand for biocides supported by the growing high-end paper production, extensive recycling, and tighter regulations regarding the effluent discharges from the pulp & paper industry.

Central & South America is estimated to grow at a significant CAGR from 2023 to 2030. Water treatment and wood preservation applications are likely to be the strongest market growth drivers in Central & South America. The growing adoption of water-based paints & coatings, as they are more eco-friendly, is likely to drive the product demand from the paints & coatings application. The ultra-low sulfur demand from the marine transportation industry is expected to drive market growth in fuel application.

In addition, the dominant consumption of biocides is in Brazil and is observed from the water treatment application in line with the domestic demand for drinking water. Following water treatment is the wood preservation application supported by the high demand for wood from residential, commercial, and industrial construction. However, the demand for wood preservation is likely to be sluggish owing to construction project halts during the government-imposed lockdowns and movement restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The presence of many multinational players in the market has resulted in high competition. Both backward and forward integration is observed among manufacturers, or formulators in the supply chain. As a part of their long-term strategy companies are focusing on opening subsidiaries and also focusing on end-to-end integration throughout the supply chain. Forward & backward integration strategies can also prove fruitful as companies look to increase their control over the value chain. In the industrial consumer segment, companies are developing capabilities in terms of brands that cater to specific application segments. Companies have also looked at establishing capabilities in terms of partnerships with end-user companies to exert control over the value chain. Some of the key players in the global biocides market are mentioned below.

• Troy Corp.

• Chemtreat, Inc.

• Neogen Corp.

• Finoric LLC

• Shanghai Zhongxin Yuxiang Chemicals Co. Ltd.

• Iro Group Inc.

• Hubei Jinghong Chemicals Co. Ltd.

• Wuxi Honor Shine Chemical Co. Ltd.

• Albemarle Corporation

• Lubrizol

• BASF SE

• Solvay SA

• Lanxess AG

• Lonza

Biocides Market Report Scope

Global Biocides Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global biocides market report on the basis of product, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Halogen Compounds

  • Metallic Compounds

  • Organosulfur

  • Organic acids

  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

  • Phenolic

  • Nitrogen

  • Glutaraldehyde

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Water Treatment

  • Food and Beverage

  • Personal care

  • Wood Preservation

  • Paints and coatings

  • Plastics

  • HVAC

  • Boilers

  • Oil and Gas

  • Fuels

  • Pulp and Paper

  • Cleaning Products

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa