Persulfates Market

Market Overview

The global persulfates market size was valued at USD 520.7 million in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 816.85 million by 2026 with a CAGR of 5.79% during the forecast period, 2019–2026.

A persulfate is an organic compound that contains either a peroxomonosulfate or a peroxymonosulfate ion, and the most typically manufactured salts are sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts. Sodium salts are produced by the electrolysis of their analogous sulfates at high current density and low temperatures and are commonly used in environmental applications.

Persulfates act as strong oxidants, exhibit exceptional shelf life and are inexpensive to use when stored correctly. Dissolving persulfates in water produces an acidic solution due to the oxidation of water. Attributing to their desirable properties, persulfates are extensively used for initiating emulsion hair bleaching, polymerization reactions, and clarifying swimming pools. Further, persulfates are key initiators for water-based polymerization, and are used in an array of applications beyond polymers.

Rapid growth and development in the polymers industry, against the backdrop of the growing cosmetics and personal care industry, are expected to drive the growth of the persulfates market during the forecast period. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2016, 45% of Indian consumers purchased cosmetics and personal care products. Additionally, the grooming market for men has also witnessed significant growth of more than 42% in the last five years. The demand for persulfates from paper and pulp, and textile industries is also witnessing a considerable rise on account of the oxidizing and bleaching properties of these compounds. The increasing use of persulfates in skincare and hair care products as well as clearing agents for soil remediation is expected to propel the growth of the persulfates market during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

The global persulfate market, on the basis of geography, can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.

Asia Pacific is expected to hold a significant share in the persulfates market, owing to the increasing demand from end-use industries such as personal care & cosmetics, and paper & pulp, among others. China is witnessing significant market growth, largely driven by government initiatives that aim to promote the country as a net exporter of polymer-based products. China’s prominent players such as PeroxyChem and Fujian Zhanhua Chemical Company are engaged in R&D activities to innovate and develop products that can open avenues for new applications. For instance, PeroxyChem launched its new product in the Klozur Series, Klozur One, a sodium persulfate -based activated persulfate in May 2017.

North America is projected to witness substantial growth in the persulfates market, owing to the region’s expanding electronics, paper & pulp, textile and polymer industries. PeroxyChem is the leading producer of peroxygen chemicals and North America's only producer of persulfates.

Europe is expected to witness healthy market growth, owing to the extensive use of persulfates in personal care products, and plastics and polymers. According to United Initiators, a leading persulfate producer worldwide with production sites in Europe, persulfates are ideally suited for polymer initiation and the polymer industry is expected to gain significant traction in years to come.

The Middle East & Africa region is expected to witness gradual growth, owing to the relatively steady growth of various end-use industries such as cosmetics, and paper & pulp. Rapid urbanization and expanding manufacturing bases in this region are expected to boost persulfates market growth in the future.

Latin America is likely to witness noteworthy growth in the persulfates market, owing to use of products as polymerization initiators in the plastics & polymer industry. According to The Brazilian Plastics Association, Brazil is the seventh largest plastics consumer in the world with annual sales of around USD 13 billion in 2017.

Segmental Analysis

The global persulfates market has been segmented by type and end-user.

Based On Type

The persulfates market can be segmented into ammonium persulfates, sodium persulfates, and potassium persulfates. The ammonium persulfates segment is expected to account for a prominent market share as these compounds are strong oxidizing agents that find extensive applications in the polymer industry, and as bleaching agents. Ammonium persulfates are safe, easy to handle, and exhibit outstanding storage stability due to their high purity.

Based On End-User

The persulfates market can be segmented into plastics & polymers, electronics, cosmetics & personal care, pulp, water treatment, paper & textiles, oil & gas, soil remediation, and others. The electronics sector is expected spearhead market growth, owing to the growing applications in this end-use sector such as in cleaning agents and etchants for printed circuit board manufacturing. Persulfates are used as oxidizing agents to clean and microetch a variety of printed circuit board substrates. The plastics & polymers segment is expected to significantly contribute to market growth due to the growing use of persulfates as initiators in the polymerization of latex and synthetic rubber. Further, persulfates are used as initiators in polymeric concrete formulations and for polymeric coatings of graphite filaments.