Defoamers Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2033

Defoamers Market Size

The global defoamers market size was valued at USD 3.52 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach from USD 3.69 billion in 2025 to USD 5.42 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.90% during the forecast period (2025-2033).

Defoamers are chemical additives that prevent the production of foam in industrial settings. Defoamers prevent macro-foam formation and significant air occlusions in waterborne formulations. Foams typically form when gas is dispersed in liquids during various industrial processes. Most of the time, defoamers have surface-active properties and are insoluble in the foaming medium. Consequently, they are extensively used in a variety of industries, including paper and pulp, paints and coatings, and automotive. Due to the numerous established properties of defoamers, it is anticipated that the global market for defoamers will expand quickly during the forecast period. Low viscosity defoamers spread quickly on a foamy surface, adhering to the air-liquid interfaces and endangering foam lamellas.

In order to spread quickly along the surface interface and achieve the highest level of froth cooperation, defoamers should also have low surface forces per unit area. In addition to silicone oil, oil-based defoamers use another oil insoluble in the frothing medium as an oil transporter, such as mineral oil, white oil, vegetable oil, or another oil. The frequently employed waxes paraffin, ethylene bis stearamide (EBS), greasy alcohol, and ester are also included in these defoamers to increase efficiency.

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Defoamers Market Growth Factors

Rising Advantages and Benefits in Various Industries

Unwanted foam can significantly affect volume outputs, total capacity production volumes, and operational costs in drilling muds, refinery, and production applications. Industries are creating a massive demand for defoamers or antifoaming agents to help mitigate these problems. The increased emphasis on efficiency and cost-cutting in industrial processes will lead to greater use of defoamers. Additionally, environmental regulations that have increased the use of solvent-free defoamers because of their low VOC content will increase their market share.

Market Restraining Factors

High Costs Associated with Production and Quality Control

Regulatory agencies such as the FDA, the EPA in the United States, the USDA, and the European Commission specified the usage limits for the various components while developing the product. It is anticipated that stringent regulations by governing bodies, particularly in developed countries, will challenge the market for defoamers. Manufacturers' constant effort to conform to increasingly stringent regulatory standards contributes significantly to the high costs associated with production and quality control. On the other hand, high loading levels of the anti-foaming agents in the industrial process and worries regarding the product's side effects are expected to impede the market's growth.

Market Opportunities

Growing Demand for Paper-Based Products from Packaging Industry

Using a defoamer helps reduce the amount of broken paper, which contributes to the high performance of the paper machine. In addition, defoamers improve the quality of the fiber and boost overall productivity. It is anticipated that an increase in the utilization of paper-based products within the packaging industry will also drive the defoamers market during the forecast. Additionally, the demand from subsectors such as specialty paper, packaging paper, and industrial paper would continue to provide significant opportunities for expanding the market.

Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific: Dominant Region

Asia-Pacific is the largest shareholder in the global defoamers market. Strong economic growth in the region has led to positive trends in key end-user industries, which reflect the market's steady growth. In addition to China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia are the leading contributors to the market's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Europe held a significant share of the revenue due to the presence of pulp and paper manufacturers in Western Europe and the substantial demand for water treatment. The government has increased the number of municipal and industrial applications for treated water, supporting market growth.

Segmental Analysis

By Product

The silicone-based segment is the most dominant in the global defoamers market. This is attributed to silicone-based defoamers' process friendliness, which allows for their use in various applications. Poly-dimethyl siloxane molecules of various molecular weights make up the majority of silicon-based defoamers. The water-based segment is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. This is explained by the fact that they contain biodegradable, environmentally friendly components. Water-based defoamers do not cause deposit issues or dirt counts when used in pulp and paper mills. Additionally, they have no impact on the finished products' sheet strength and sizing effectiveness.

By Application

The paper and pulp segment contributes the largest revenue share because the product's reduced paper breaking improves the efficiency of the paper machine. Defoamers result in more production and better-quality fiber, raise the liquor solids and enhance the drainage and washing of the brown stock from the Kraft pulp mill. The Agrochemicals segment is expected to increase at the highest rate during the forecast period. This is attributed to the rise in high-value crop demand and farmers' increasing awareness of crop protection.

List of key players in Defoamers Market

1. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
2. Ashland Inc.
3. Dow Corning Corporation
4. Evonik Industries AG
5. BASF SE
6. Elementis Plc
7. Clariant AG
8. Eastman Chemical Company

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Recent Developments

• May 2022- Ashland launched Polyclar™ brewbrite granules, a more straightforward solution for upstream clarification. Innovation provided clarification and stabilization in one product.
• May 2022- Ashland introduced Vialose™ trehalose dihydrate, a high purity lyoprotectant and stabilizer for biologic medicines and other parenteral formulations.