Global 2-Mercaptoethanol Market Growth 2025-2031

The global 2-Mercaptoethanol market size is predicted to grow from US$ 80.2 million in 2025 to US$ 115 million in 2031; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2025 to 2031.

2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME), also known as β-mercaptoethanol, is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula C₂H₆OS. It contains both hydroxyl (-OH) and thiol (-SH) functional groups, making it highly reactive and widely used as a reducing agent. 2-ME is commonly applied in biochemical research, particularly in protein denaturation and cell culture applications. Additionally, it serves as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and polymer additives. Its strong ability to break disulfide bonds and prevent oxidation makes it an essential compound in various industrial and laboratory processes.

Market Dominance and Production Trends

China has established itself as the world's largest producer of 2-ME, accounting for approximately 59% of global production in 2024. The country’s rapid market expansion is driven by strong domestic demand and significant advancements in production technology and capacity. The market revenue in China is growing at a faster pace than global averages, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.17% by 2031. This dominance is largely attributed to China’s technological advancements in 2-ME synthesis, which have improved production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Among various manufacturing methods, the atmospheric pressure process has become the industry standard due to its lower production costs and higher efficiency. Leading Chinese producers, such as Guangdong Zhonghe Huasu and Yifeng New Materials, have solidified their market positions through the adoption of this process, with Guangdong Zhonghe Huasu emerging as a global industry leader.

Market Structure and Competitive Landscape

The global 2-ME market is highly concentrated, with key producers from China and Europe controlling the majority of the supply chain. This industry structure indicates that while the market is expanding rapidly, high technological and environmental barriers limit the entry of new players. As a result, existing manufacturers benefit from stronger bargaining power and higher profit margins. Furthermore, increasing regulatory scrutiny on environmental and safety standards is pushing companies to invest in greener and more sustainable production processes. Looking ahead, market growth will be driven by rising demand from pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and polymer industries, with established producers continuing to strengthen their competitive edge through technological innovation and capacity expansion.

LP Information, Inc. (LPI) ' newest research report, the “2-Mercaptoethanol Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world 2-Mercaptoethanol sales in 2024, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected 2-Mercaptoethanol sales for 2025 through 2031. With 2-Mercaptoethanol sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world 2-Mercaptoethanol industry.

This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global 2-Mercaptoethanol landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on 2-Mercaptoethanol portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms’ unique position in an accelerating global 2-Mercaptoethanol market.

This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for 2-Mercaptoethanol and breaks down the forecast by Type, by Application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global 2-Mercaptoethanol.

This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of 2-Mercaptoethanol market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.

Segmentation by Type:
High Pressure Method
Atmospheric Pressure Method

Segmentation by Application:
Consumer & Industrial Applications
Agrochemicals
Polymers and Rubber Applications
Water Treatment Applications
Superplasticizer
Others

This report also splits the market by region:
Americas
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
APAC
China
Japan
Korea
Southeast Asia
India
Australia
Europe
Germany
France
UK
Italy
Russia
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Israel
Turkey
GCC Countries

The below companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analysing the company's coverage, product portfolio, its market penetration.
Chevron Phillips Chemical
BASF
Sunion Chemical & Plastics
EFIRM

Key Questions Addressed in this Report

What is the 10-year outlook for the global 2-Mercaptoethanol market?

What factors are driving 2-Mercaptoethanol market growth, globally and by region?

Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?

How do 2-Mercaptoethanol market opportunities vary by end market size?

How does 2-Mercaptoethanol break out by Type, by Application?

Please note: The report will take approximately 2 business days to prepare and deliver.