World Water Treatment Chemicals

World Water Treatment Chemicals Demand will be driven in part by rising water quality standards in manufacturing and other industrial applications, and expanding access to safe drinking water in underserved regions.

World demand to rise 5.8% annually through 2017 World demand for water treatment chemicals is forecast to rise 5.8 percent per year to $30.6 billion in 2017. Demand will be driven by rising water quality standards in manufacturing and other industrial applications, expanding access to safe drinking water in underserved regions, and a shift toward higher value chemicals with improved performance and/or environmental profiles, particularly in developed countries. Advances will be the fastest in developing parts of the world -- particularly the Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions -- due to healthy economic growth and tightening environmental regulations. However, despite the shift in demand toward higher cost products, increases in developed countries will be tempered by greater competition between water treatment chemicals and equipment in some applications, reflecting a more complex industry response to environmental concerns.

Advances to be fastest in developing countries

In countries in developing regions, rising standards for industrial water quality and the adoption of more complex manufacturing processes, along with healthy economic expansion, will drive strong growth in demand for water treatment chemicals. In many developing countries, the use of water treatment chemicals has historically been low relative to use rates seen in manufacturing and industrial markets in more affluent areas, and rising water treatment chemical use rates will be reflective of greater reliance on both commodity-type chemicals and specialty chemicals. The increased use of water treatment chemicals in these regions will be supported by manufacturers’ efforts to remain competitive by improving the quality of finished products, which can be directly impacted by water quality.

Tighter quality controls to boost chemical demand

Growing environmental concerns and increased efforts to modernize municipal water treatment facilities will also support demand for water treatment chemicals in developing areas, as regulations regarding wastewater management and municipal water standards become more stringent. In many developing areas, where wastewater management has historically received less attention than process or supply water treatment, new wastewater quality requirements will promote increased use of water treatment chemicals to remove pollutants before wastewater is discharged to the environment or is reused. Increased investment in municipal water infrastructure in developing countries will also support higher demand for water treatment chemicals, as governments seek to improve access to safe drinking water supplies and sanitation facilities.