Surface Treatment Chemical Market by Product Type (Plating Chemicals, Conversion Coating, Anodizing Chemicals, Passivation Chemicals, Paint Strippers, Cleaners), Treatment Method, Base Material, End-Use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2032

The surface treatment chemical market is projected to grow from USD 15.82 Billion in 2025 to USD 23.64 Billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period.

Paint strippers is expected to be fourth fastest growing product type in the surface treatment chemical market due to their critical role in removing coatings, paints, and surface residues from metal, wood, and composite substrates across multiple industries. They are widely used in automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial maintenance for surface preparation before painting, coating, or repair. The effectiveness of chemical paint strippers in dissolving tough coatings quickly and uniformly reduces labor time and ensures high-quality finishing, making them indispensable in large-scale manufacturing and refurbishment operations. Technically, modern paint strippers leverage solvents, alkaline solutions, and innovative bio-based chemistries that penetrate and break down polymeric coatings without damaging the substrate. This versatility allows them to handle diverse materials—steel, aluminum, composites, and plastics—while meeting stricter environmental and safety regulations, such as low-VOC and chromium-free formulations. The combination of high efficiency, broad material compatibility, and regulatory compliance drives strong demand, maintaining paint strippers as the second-largest segment in the surface treatment chemical market..

‘‘In terms of value, plastic as base material is expected to be the fastest growing of the overall surface treatment chemical market.’’

Plastics hold the fastest growing market as a base material in the surface treatment chemical market due to several unique technical and industrial factors. The rapid adoption of high-performance engineering plastics (such as PEEK, Nylon, and polyimides) in sectors like automotive, electronics, and medical devices has increased the need for specialized chemical treatments to enhance surface functionality, such as scratch resistance, chemical resistance, and thermal stability.

Plastics often require anti-static, hydrophobic, or hydrophilic surface properties, depending on the application—necessitating advanced chemical treatments like plasma-assisted or chemical etching processes. As industries shift toward lightweighting and flexible components, more intricate plastic geometries are used, demanding precise and uniform surface treatments that only specialized chemical solutions can achieve. Increasing regulatory pressure for environmentally safe and non-toxic surface treatment solutions in consumer-facing plastic products has encouraged the use of engineered chemicals that provide performance without compromising safety or compliance.

“During the forecast period, electrical & electronics end use industry is projected to have fastest growing market.”

The Electrical & Electronics sector accounts for the fastest growing end-use segment in the surface treatment chemical market, driven by the increasing complexity, miniaturization, and performance requirements of modern electronic devices. Surface treatment chemicals play a critical role in ensuring reliable adhesion, corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation for components such as printed circuit boards, connectors, semiconductors, and housings. Demand is underpinned by the need for precise coating deposition on high-density components, enhanced thermal management and dielectric properties, and compliance with global environmental and safety regulations, including low-VOC, halogen-free, and RoHS standards. The rapid adoption of high-value applications, including 5G infrastructure, IoT devices, EV electronics, and industrial automation, further drives the use of specialized surface treatment chemistries tailored to diverse substrates. Collectively, these technical and regulatory factors solidify Electrical & Electronics as the third-largest end-use segment in the surface treatment chemical market.

“During the forecast period, the surface treatment chemical market in Europe region is projected to have second largest market share.”

Europe holds the second-largest share of the global surface treatment chemical market, supported by its well-established automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, and electronics sectors. The region is home to leading OEMs such as Volkswagen, Airbus, BMW, and Siemens, all of which require advanced surface treatment solutions for corrosion protection, wear resistance, and improved aesthetic finishes. The aerospace hubs in France, Germany, and the UK are particularly significant, as the stringent performance and safety standards in aviation necessitate the use of high-performance coatings and plating chemicals. Another driver is Europe’s strict regulatory framework, such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) and ELV (End-of-Life Vehicles) directives, which have accelerated the adoption of eco-friendly, low-VOC, and hexavalent-chromium-free surface treatment formulations. This has prompted innovation from major players like Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, BASF SE, Chemetall GmbH, and PPG Industries, positioning Europe as a hub for sustainable and advanced solutions.

This study has been validated through primary interviews with industry experts globally. These primary sources have been divided into the following three categories:

• By Company Type- Tier 1- 60%, Tier 2- 20%, and Tier 3- 20%
• By Designation- C Level- 33%, Director Level- 33%, and Managers- 34%
• By Region- North America- 20%, Europe- 25%, Asia Pacific- 25%, Middle East & Africa- 15%, and Latin America- 15%

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of company profiles:

Prominent companies Chemetall gmbH (Germany), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. (US), Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. (Japan), MKS Atotech (Germany), Element Solutions Inc (US), Axalta Coating Systems , LLC (US), Dow (US), The Sherwin-Williams Compant (US), AkzoNobel (Netherlands).

Research Coverage

This research report categorizes the surface treatment chemical market by product type (Plating Chemicals, Conversion Coating, Anodizing Chemicals, Passivation Chemicals, Paint Strippers, Cleaners Others), by treatment Method (Electroplating, Chemical Treatment, Thermal Spraying, Hot Dipping and Other), by Base Material (Metals, Plastics, Wood, Glass and Composites). End-Use Industry Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America). The scope of the report includes detailed information about the major factors influencing the growth of the surface treatment chemical market, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. A thorough examination of the key industry players has been conducted in order to provide insights into their business overview, solutions, and services, key strategies, contracts, partnerships, and agreements. Product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and recent developments in the surface treatment chemical market are all covered. This report includes a competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the surface treatment chemical market ecosystem.

Reasons to buy this report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall surface treatment chemical market and the subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

• Analysis of key drivers (Robust demand from automotive sectors, Semiconductor growth creating demand in the market), restraints (Stringent compliance standards pose barriers to surface treatment chemical market), opportunities (Technological advancements in smart treatments, Growing adoption of lightweight aluminum alloys in EVs driving need for specialized pretreatment and coating solutions) and challenges (High costs and technical hurdles in adopting surface treatment chemicals)
• Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and service launches in the surface treatment chemical market.
• Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets – the report analyses the surface treatment chemical market across varied regions.
• Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the surface treatment chemical market
• Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies and service offerings of leading players like Chemetall gmbH (Germany), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. (US), Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. (Japan), MKS Atotech (Germany), Element Solutions Inc (US), Axalta Coating Systems , LLC (US), Dow (US), The Sherwin-Williams Compant (US), AkzoNobel (Netherlands) among others in the surface treatment chemical market.

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