Biocides Market

Market Overview

The global biocides market size was valued at USD 11.1 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 16.06 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Biocides are vital in the global chemical industry, providing solutions for controlling or eliminating harmful organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae. Biocides are used in various industries and applications, including water treatment, healthcare, agriculture, food and beverage, and household products. They play a crucial role in ensuring public health, hygiene, and the preservation of products and materials.

The foundation of the global market lies in the principle of customized solutions. Biocides can be tailored to the unique needs of different industries or applications. For example, specific biocides may be developed to target microbial threats in water treatment, combat specific pests or diseases in agriculture, or control specific pathogens in the healthcare industry. This customized approach ensures optimal efficacy and efficient control of harmful organisms.

Highlights

• Antimicrobial agents are the dominant product segment in the biocides market, widely used across various industries.
• Water treatment is a significant application area for biocides, ensuring the quality and safety of water.
• North America holds the largest market share in the global market, driven by stringent hygiene and disinfection regulations.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Awareness and Concerns about Public Health

The demand for biocides is driven by the growing emphasis on hygiene and preventing infection spread. With the rise in infectious diseases and the need for effective disinfection and sanitization, biocides are widely used in different sectors, such as healthcare, water treatment, and food processing. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant attention to the importance of biocides in maintaining public health. The outbreak underscored the need for stringent sanitization and disinfection practices in healthcare facilities, public spaces, transportation, and households. Biocides, such as disinfectants and sanitizers, have played a critical role in reducing the transmission of the virus and protecting individuals from infection.

Growing Demand for Eco-Friendly Biocides

The growing demand for eco-friendly biocides is a significant driver in the global market. With rising environmental awareness and concerns about the impact of chemical substances on ecosystems, there is a strong push for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives in various industries. Bio-based and natural biocides have emerged as viable options that offer effective microbial control while minimizing the negative environmental impact. These biocides are derived from renewable resources such as plants, microbes, or other organic materials. They are often biodegradable, meaning they can break down naturally without leaving harmful environmental residues.

Market Restraint

Strict Regulatory Environment

The biocides industry is subject to a complex and ever-evolving regulatory framework that varies across regions and countries. Regulatory bodies set stringent requirements for the approval, registration, and use of biocidal products to ensure their safety and efficacy. Manufacturers, especially smaller businesses with limited resources, might be forced to spend time and money complying with these requirements. The rigorous testing and documentation processes required for regulatory approvals can lead to delays in product launches and increased costs.

Market Opportunities

Development of Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Biocides

The rising awareness of environmental sustainability and the preference for eco-friendly products present an opportunity for the development and adoption of eco-friendly and sustainable biocides. Bio-based, natural, and biodegradable biocides are gaining traction as alternatives to conventional chemical-based biocides. Manufacturers investing in the research and development of eco-friendly biocidal solutions can capitalize on this growing demand and align with sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, eco-friendly biocides derived from bio-based, natural, and renewable sources are gaining traction as alternatives to conventional chemical-based biocides. These eco-friendly options offer several advantages, including reduced ecological footprint in production, use, and disposal. They address the growing consumer preference for sustainable products and allow consumers to align their purchasing decisions with sustainability values. These factors are expected to provide opportunities for market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Dominate the Global Market

Based on region, the global market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global biocides market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.4% over the forecast period. The region is the biggest consumer in the global market, owing to the presence of key developing economies which registered the highest market share in the biocides market in 2018. Biocides are used in the Asia-Pacific region in various applications such as paints and coatings, water treatment, personal care ingredients and cosmetics, and adhesives and sealants. Developing nations like China, Japan, India, and Australia are the key proponents of the biocides market in the Asia-Pacific region. This is because these nations have many important actors and manufacturing facilities.

In addition, the demand for paints and coatings is rising due to the urbanization and industrialization of Asia-Pacific regions, which will further fuel the expansion of the biocides market over the coming years. The demand for biocides in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China and India, is due to the need for potable water in domestic and industrial applications due to the increasing population and is expected to fuel the demand for biocides in water treatment applications. Furthermore, biocides are increasingly used in water treatment applications to prevent contamination in industrial products and remove waterborne diseases, which will drive the biocide market in the upcoming years.

North America is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period. This is because the area's food and beverage, personal care, and water treatment businesses strongly demand biocides. The F&B sector is one of North America's largest consumers of biocides. Biocides are used in the food and beverage industry to control the growth of microorganisms that can spoil food and beverages. The water treatment industry is another major consumer of biocides in North America. Biocides are used in the water treatment industry to kill microorganisms that can cause waterborne diseases. The personal care industry is also a major consumer of biocides in North America. These are used in the personal care industry to kill microorganisms that can cause skin infections.

Segmental Analysis

The global biocides market is bifurcated into product type, application, and end-user.

Based on the product, the global market is segmented into halogen compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, metallic compounds, phenolic, organic acids, organosulfur, and others.

The metallic and halogen compounds segment dominates the global market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period. Metallic compounds such as copper, mercury, magnesium, and others are used as a biocide. They are effectively used to preserve metalworking fluids and hydraulic fluids to minimize the growth of bacteria. In addition, various metals such as tin, zinc, and tellurium and their compounds are used as biocides in industries for cooling water towers and water treatments. In addition, metallic compounds have proved effective in removing various corrosion levels in boilers. For instance, zinc-containing biocides find crucial applications among PVCs in plastisols formulations leading to thermal stability and antimicrobial activity retention.

Halogen-based biocides are produced using halogen elements such as bromine, chlorine, and iodine. Halogen-based biocides are used in various applications such as water treatment, wastewater treatment, cooling towers, boiler water, etc. They are massively used, owing to their need to control harmful organisms’ effects or destroy disease-causing germs and bacteria. Chlorine and bromine-based biocides are the most used halogen-based biocides in the cooling tower owing to their effective oxidization.

Based on application, the global market is segmented into water treatment, healthcare, agriculture, industrial, and consumer products.

The water treatment segment owns the highest share and is anticipated to expand significantly over the forecast period. Biocides are extensively used in water treatment to control and eliminate microbial growth, including bacteria, algae, and fungi. Effective water treatment is crucial for maintaining water quality and preventing the spread of waterborne diseases. Biocides are vital in ensuring safe and clean water for various purposes, including drinking water, industrial processes, and recreational activities like swimming pools.

The healthcare application segment is another important sector in the global market. Biocides are utilized in healthcare facilities to maintain a sterile environment, prevent the spread of infections, and ensure patient safety. They are employed for surface disinfection, medical instrument sterilization, hand sanitization, and other healthcare-associated applications. The healthcare industry's stringent hygiene standards and the increasing focus on infection control drive the demand for biocides in this sector.

Biocides are crucial in crop protection and pest management in the agricultural domain. They control pests, fungi, and other harmful organisms that can damage crops and reduce yields. Biocides help maintain the quality and productivity of agricultural produce, ensuring food security and sustainability. The agriculture segment of the biocides market is driven by the need to enhance agricultural efficiency, protect crops from diseases, and minimize post-harvest losses.

The industrial application segment of the biocides market encompasses various industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and food processing. Biocides are employed in industrial processes to prevent microbial growth, biofilm formation, and product degradation. They ensure the quality and integrity of products, prevent contamination, and maintain the efficiency and durability of equipment and systems. Industrial biocides find applications in cooling towers, metalworking fluids, paints and coatings, and other industrial processes that require microbial control.

Based on end-user, the global market is divided into food and beverages, agriculture, commercials, industry, healthcare, and others.

The food and beverages segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period. Biocides are being heavily used in the food and beverage industry to control the biological growth of organisms. They are of critical importance owing to their impact on microbial treatment. Biocides used in the food and beverages industry include organic acids, esters of organic acids, aldehydes, amines, phenol-based biocides, halogen-based compounds, and others. These are used to prevent food spoilage and food-borne diseases or illness.

Recent Developments

• January 2022- The European Commission (EC) approved using hydrogen peroxide as a biocide for food contact materials. This is a significant development, as hydrogen peroxide is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly biocide that can kill many microorganisms.
• April 2022- The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new report on the use of biocides in healthcare settings. The report guides the safe and effective use of biocides in healthcare settings and discusses the potential risks associated with using them.
• May 2022- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a new standard on the testing of biocides. The standard guides the methods that can be used to test biocides’ efficacy against various microorganisms.