Microbial Control Chemical Market Size to Expand to USD 34.14 billion 2034

Vantage Market Research releases its latest comprehensive report on the ‘Microbial Control Chemical Market’ with a forecast period of 2025-2034. In 2023, the global microbial control chemical market size was USD 19.64 billion, and is calculated at USD 20.74 billion in 2024. The market is calculated to reach USD 34.14 billion in 2034, and register a revenue CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period (2025-2034).

Market Overview:

Global microbial control chemical market revenue growth is driven by increasing demand for biocidal active ingredients and chemicals and agents, including hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, benzoyl peroxide, alcohols, ozone, chlorine dioxide, bromine, Bronopol, THPS, DBNPA, and glutaraldehyde. Demand for organic acids and their esters, aldehydes, amines, halogen compounds, ionic silver and nanosilver, and oxidizing agents, isothiazolones, phenols, and biguanides is also rising. 

Disinfectants and antiseptics are crucial to inhibit growth of potentially dangerous microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These microorganisms can cause issues in industries, products, materials, equipment, components, machinery, settings and lead to product contamination and potential risks to human health. Major end-use industries for microbial control chemicals and biocides include healthcare, food and beverage, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and other. Widely used products are disinfectants, sanitizers, and sterilants, with applications ranging from surface cleaning to water purification and medical device sterilization, and other. 

These products are also in high demand for disinfection of surfaces and equipment, use in water treatment, food preservation, wood preservation, paint preservation, personal care products, textile treatment, healthcare settings, industrial cleaning, antifouling paints, agriculture, and pest control. 

Biocides are also widely used in the oil and gas industry to control microbial growth and prevent corrosion, fouling, and operational issues. These chemicals are used in various stages of oil and gas production, including hydraulic fracturing and enhanced oil recovery treatments.

Some common materials used for microbial control and in end-products include alcohols, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, and oxidizing agents like chlorine and hydrogen peroxide. High effectiveness of these chemicals over other materials such as higher efficacy at low concentrations, broad-spectrum activity, and rapid action are among some of the key factors driving use and demand. 

Demand for eco-friendly and biodegradable microbial control agents  has been increasing significantly in recent years, and this is driven by increasingly stringent regulatory pressure to reduce environmental impact, and also due to sustainability goals and rising preference among consumers for organic and sustainable products. Companies are leveraging these trends and focusing on developing new formulations with improved efficacy and lower toxicity, and also enhancing product portfolios with sustainable offerings. These trends are also influencing inclining use of sustainable and eco-friendly microbial control chemicals in personal care products, as well as in products used in the agriculture sector. 

Advanced packaging technologies are also emerging along with use of various microbial control chemicals that serve to extend product and shelf life, as well as do not compromise on product quality and consumer safety. Innovations in green chemistry are also having a major impact on various practices across industries and materials, and is expected to contribute to growth of the microbial control chemical market. 

Demand for clean water and expanding need for water and wastewater treatment initiatives and facilities is driven by rapid urbanization and increasing populations in urban areas and cities.  Peroxygens, including hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and benzoyl peroxide are strong oxidizing agents used in water and waste water treatment processes is also rising. 

Use of  microbial control products chemicals is high in industries, such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. In the pharmaceutical industry, microbial control chemicals ensure sterile conditions are maintained during drug production and packaging, and also prevent microbial growth and contamination of equipment and tools, instruments, surfaces, and ventilation shafts and ducts, and other components and items in hospitals and healthcare facilities. In agriculture, these chemicals are essential for protecting crops from microbial diseases and pests, and to ensure better quality, higher crop yields, and to improve food security. In personal care products, antiseptic agents and sanitizers serve the purpose to kill or inhibit growth of microbes, but are safe to use on human tissue. Demand for and use of sanitizers and disinfectants had risen substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to remain moderate.

Also, continuous technological advancements in preparation of formulations and use of more effective and safer ingredients are supporting growth of the microbial control chemical market. Emergence of more advanced equipment and technologies to aid in development of eco-friendly, and biodegradable formulations are enhancing product safety and aligning with environmental objectives. The advances are also enabling compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory norms in various countries, and also addressing rising preference among consumers for sustainable solutions. The green chemistry trend is also leading to emergence of non-toxic alternatives, thereby widening scope of applications in pharmaceutical and personal product industries. 

Manufacturers are also focusing on new strategies to enhance efficacy of microbial control agents, such as incorporating advanced delivery systems and combining active ingredients for broader spectrum activity. Competition in the industry remains intense, with rising demand for more effective and safe sanitizers and products that offer multiple benefits, besides protection against microbial organisms and infections. Companies are also focusing on development of long-lasting microbial control solutions, especially for applications in sectors such as food packaging, water purification, and public transportation.

Some Key Takeaways:

• North America microbial control chemical market is expected to continue to lead in terms of revenue share in the global market.
• The Europe microbial control chemical market is expected to continue to register steady revenue growth with Germany, the UK, and France leading in terms of revenue contribution.
• Asia Pacific microbial control chemical market growth is driven by rapid industrialization in China and India.
• Among the method segments in the global microbial control chemical market, the disinfection segment is expected to account for largest revenue share.
• The alcohol segment is expected to account for largest revenue share among the various type segments over the forecast period.
• The healthcare segment is expected to dominate other end-use industry segments in terms of revenue share over the forecast period.
• The competitive landscape of the global microbial control chemicals market is intense, with major companies leveraging various strategies to maintain their positions and expand consumer base.  

Company List:

• BASF SE
• The Dow Chemical Company
• Lonza Group AG
• AkzoNobel N.V.
• Evonik Industries AG
• Clariant AG
• Solvay SA
• Nouryon
• Troy Corporation
• Thor Group Limited
• LANXESS AG
• Merck KGaA
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• Stepan Company
• Kemira Oyj
• GE Water & Process Technologies (Suez SA)

Recent Developments:

April 4, 2024: Specialty chemicals company LANXESS announced launch of Aqucar A 20, which also expands the company’s offering of microbial control products for the oil and gas industry. Aqucar A 20 is a water treatment microbiocide and has been approved by the U.S. EPA for use as an oilfield biocide to control or eliminate the growth of microorganisms in oil and gas production systems.

October 2, 2023: Solenis, which is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, announced completion of acquisition of CedarChem LLC. As part of the acquisition, Solenis will acquire all CedarChem operating assets. CedarChem offers a full suite of water and wastewater treatment products for industrial and municipal markets, primarily in the southeastern U.S. This acquisition aligns enables Solenis to offer customers improved chemical and wastewater treatment product and services.

January 05, 2022: Specialty chemicals company Arxada announced completion of merger with Troy Corp., which is a global leader in microbial control solutions and performance additives. The combination was initially announced at the end of 2021, and allows for creation of a comprehensive and innovative offering in Arxada’s Microbial Control Solutions business. Through this development, Arxada will benefit from Troy’s technical expertise and customer base, and access its broad portfolio of performance products.

Microbial Control Chemical Market Segmentation:

By Method:

• Sterilization
• Disinfection
• Antisepsis

By Type:

• Phenolics
• Halogens
• Aldehyde
• Alcohol
• Heavy Metal

By End-Use Industry:

• Water Treatment
• Healthcare
• Personal Care
• Food and Beverage
• Oil and Gas

Regional Segmentation: 

North America

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

Europe

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America 

Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Israel
• Rest of MEA