Antiscalants Market by Type, Application (Power & Construction, Oil & Gas, Mining, Municipal Water Treatment & Desalination, Food & Beverage, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Pulp & Paper), Process Type, & Region - Global Forecast to 2029
Antiscalants Market
The global antiscalants market is valued at USD 4.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2029, growing at 5.4% cagr from 2024 to 2029. The antiscalants market is growing due to the diverse applications of these versatile materials across different sectors. Antiscalants are available in various types, such as phosphonates, carboxylates/carbonates, sulfonates, fluorides, and others. They serve various applications such as power & construction, oil & gas, mining, water treatment & desalination, food & beverage, chemical & pharmaceutical, pulp & paper, and others, all of which make use of the different properties of antiscalants to enhance their performance, particularly in terms of scale treatment capacities. The advanced properties and innovative technologies utilized in antiscalants propel the growth of the market. The antiscalants market is also segmented based on process type into scale inhibitors, crystal modification, dispersion, and others. Various sectors utilize antiscalants for different applications for their exceptional properties, including delaying nucleation, reducing precipitation rates, distorting crystal structures, and altering carbon dioxide concentrations.
Attractive Opportunities in Antiscalants Market
Source: Interviews with Experts, Secondary Research, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
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Antiscalants Market Dynamics
Driver: High growth in applications in end-use industries
The growing demand for applications, such as chemical & pharmaceutical, municipal water treatment & desalination, oil & gas, mining, power & construction, and pulp & paper, which make use of antiscalants due to their advantages and versatile properties, are leading to market growth. Demand for antiscalants in end-use industries is attributed to their compatibility with all types of membranes, effective inhibition of scale buildup, requirement for low dosages of chemicals, high recovery rates, cost-effectiveness, and the management of scale-causing minerals. In municipal water treatment and desalination, antiscalants work by sequestering scale-forming ions, such as calcium and sulfate, from crystallizing and depositing as solids on membranes and equipment. Antiscalants also have a particle dispersion quality that maintains particles in dispersion, reducing the tendency for scale formation. The three types of antiscalants commonly utilized in the seawater desalination industry are polyacrylic acid (CA), polyphosphonate (PP), and carboxylated dendrimeric (DN).
Restraint: Volatility in cost of raw materials
Raw material price volatility could significantly restrain the market due to the uncertainty and affect the profit margins of manufacturers. Restraints are attributed to the requirement of chemicals, which are the basic raw materials required for manufacture. To enable controlling these fluctuations, companies are required to increase operational costs, making it difficult to offer competitive prices and control their expenditures. For instance, if input prices rise unexpectedly, it is difficult to pass on such costs to consumers without affecting demand. This results in a squeeze in margins, in which escalation of costs takes place simultaneously with the fall in sales prices. This, therefore, affects profitability in the long term.
Opportunities: Increasing demand for oil & gas applications
Antiscalants help prevent scale deposition on diverse equipment and processes and are especially useful in the oil & gas industry. They find use in the petroleum and gas industries in applications in water injection systems, pipeline transmission, and pumping. Crystallization and the deposition of minerals is thus prevented. It enables the optimization of operational efficiency, reduction of maintenance costs to achieve high overall productivity, and high reliability of oilfield operations.
Challenges: Potential of membrane fouling threat to growing market
The use of antiscalants in reverse osmosis (RO) systems always comes bundled with challenges, as they could be fouling in nature. In fouling, undesirable materials, such as particles, microorganisms, and organic compounds, deposit on the surfaces and inside the pores of filtration membranes during filtration. This builds up a boundary layer in contact with the membrane and seriously affects it by reducing the permeate flow and modifying the filtration properties. Fouling can, however, be divided into reversible and irreversible fouling, depending upon the strength of attachment of these materials to membranes. While antiscalants are utilized to act as inhibitors for scaling, they often form complexes with constituents in the feed water that precipitate or deposit on membrane surfaces. This can be further accelerated by factors such as incorrect dosing, variation in water chemistry, and the presence of other contaminants.
Antiscalants Market: Ecosystem
Prominent companies in this market include well-established, financially stable manufacturers of antiscalants. These companies have been operating in the market for several years and possess diversified product portfolios and strong global sales and marketing networks. Prominent companies in this market include Dow (US), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab (US), Solenis (US), Kemira (Finland), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Japan), Syensqo (Belgium), Clariant (Switzerland), Veolia (France), and Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. (Italy).
Based on type, fluorides is projected to be the second-fastest-growing type in terms of volume, in the antiscalants market.
The fluorides segment is projected to be the second-fastest-growing type, in terms of volume, during the forecast period. Silica and silicate-based scales create operational problems in desalination, cooling, geothermal, and reverse osmosis systems. The water solubility of amorphous and crystalline silica materials is poor. Once scaling develops, removal is difficult, and frequently, aggressive mechanical or chemical cleaning is required. Fluorine-based acids, such as hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, and fluoroboric acid, help in the effective removal of silicate deposits. These fluorine compounds are highly resistant environmentally and may also bioaccumulate, multiplicatively affecting aquatic life and human health. The contribution of these compounds to the corrosion of equipment is well recognized. In addition, their incompatibility with most other water treatment chemicals limits their application.
Based on application, oil & gas is the largest segment, in terms of volume, in the antiscalants market.
Antiscalants are multipurpose and adaptable materials being used by the oil & gas industry for various applications. In the oil & gas industry, antiscalants are essential in inhibiting the formation of scales during the exploration, treatment, and transportation processes. Scaling deposits may occur due to the supersaturation of the produced water with dissolved ions such that the insoluble mineral salts start precipitating out. Such scaling leads to significant problems related to reducing flow rates, equipment damage, and loss of production time. These can be countered with the use of antiscalants, which are added to processes during various stages and operating conditions to prevent the formation of different types of scales. This prevents scale buildup in reservoir valves, pumps, pipelines, heat exchangers, and boilers used in downhole operations.
Based on process type, crystal modificators are projected to be the second-largest process type, in terms of volume, during the forecast period.
Antiscalants inhibit scale formation during the crystal modification process by altering the morphology of the forming crystals. They take up residence on developing crystal surfaces so that the normal crystal structure cannot form properly. As a result of this disruption, the softer, misshaped crystals are then able to attach to surfaces. At a more precise level, antiscalants disrupt the crystal growth process through the destabilization of the formation of a solid crystal lattice. This explains why the crystal modification process finds applications in a number of industries, from oil & gas to power generation and from water treatment to mining. Scaling problems that characterize these respective industries are highly complex, and hence demand advanced solutions such as crystal modification.
Asia Pacific to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period, in terms of volume.
The market in the Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing globally, owing to economic growth in countries, such as India, China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Australia. It is the leading consumer of antiscalants globally and has witnessed exponential growth in the consumption of antiscalants in recent years. The presence of highly populated countries, such as China and India, has benefited the antiscalants market owing to the increasing demand for applications such as power & construction, oil & gas, mining, municipal water treatment & desalination, food & beverage, chemical & pharmaceutical, pulp & paper, and others. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are among the world's most populous countries and require water for various purposes, consistently generating demand for antiscalant products in the municipal water treatment & desalination sector.
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Antiscalants Market Players
The antiscalants market is dominated by a few major players that have a wide regional presence. The key players in the antiscalants market are Dow (US), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab (US), Solenis (US), Kemira (Finland), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Japan), Syensqo (Belgium), Clariant (Switzerland), Veolia (France), and Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. (Italy).
During the last few years, companies have adopted growth strategies, such as product launches, investments, acquisitions, and expansions, to capture a larger share of the antiscalants market.
Antiscalants Market Report Scope
Report Metric |
Details |
Years considered for the study |
2021-2029 |
Base year |
2023 |
Forecast period |
2024-2029 |
Units considered |
Value (USD Million), Volume (Kilotons) |
Segments |
Type, Application, and Process Type |
Regions |
Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America |
Companies |
Dow (US), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab (US), Solenis (US), Kemira (Finland), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Japan), Syensqo (Belgium), Clariant (Switzerland), Veolia (France), and Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. (Italy) |
This report categorizes the global antiscalants market based on type, application, process type, and region.
On the basis of type, the antiscalants market has been segmented as follows:
- Phosphonates
- Carboxylates/Carbonates
- Sulfonates
- Fluorides
- Other types
On the basis of application, the antiscalants market has been segmented as follows:
- Power & construction
- Oil & gas
- Mining
- Municipal water treatment & desalination
- Food & beverage
- Chemical & pharmaceutical
- Pulp & paper
- Other applications
On the basis of process type, the antiscalants market has been segmented as follows:
- Threshold inhibitors
- Crystal modification
- Dispersion
- Other process types
On the basis of region, the antiscalants market has been segmented as follows:
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- North America
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
Recent Developments
- In July 2024, Kemira expanded its product portfolio by acquiring Norit's UK reactivation operations. This strategic move enables Kemira to offer activated carbon services, complementing its existing range of water treatment chemicals. This development has helped Kemira in enabling the removal of micropollutants, such as PFAS from water.
- In October 2023, Solenis acquired CedarChem LLC, which offers a diverse range of water and wastewater treatment products for the industrial and municipal markets with a focus on the US. The acquisition is supported by the company’s direct go-to-market strategy, enhancing its ability to offer improved water treatment chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What are the factors influencing the growth of the antiscalants market?
The growth of the antiscalants market is influenced by factors such as growing demand from the emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region, heightened demand for antiscalants driven by stringent environmental regulations, and increase in the use of antiscalant materials for their properties such as delaying nucleation, and others.
Which are the key types driving the antiscalants market?
The key types driving demand for antiscalants are phosphonates and carboxylates/carbonates.
Who are the major manufacturers?
The major manufacturers include Dow (US), BASF SE (Germany), Ecolab (US), Solenis (US), Kemira (Finland), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Japan), Syensqo (Belgium), Clariant (Switzerland), Veolia (France), and Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. (Italy).
What will be the growth prospects of the antiscalants market?
The antiscalants market is expected to witness robust growth due to the rising demand for applications in end-use industries and high demand from the Asia Pacific region.
What will be the growth prospects of the antiscalants market in terms of CAGR in the next five years?
The CAGR of the market is expected to be 5.4%, in terms of value, for the next five years. .
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The study involved four major activities in estimating the market size of the antiscalants market. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, the peer market, and the parent market. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. Thereafter, the market breakdown and data triangulation procedures were used to estimate the market size of the segments and subsegments.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various secondary sources have been referred to for identifying and collecting information for this study. These secondary sources include annual reports, press releases, investor presentations of companies, corporate documents, white papers, certified publications, trade directories, certified publications, articles from recognized authors, associations, gold standard and silver standard websites, and databases.
Secondary research has been used to obtain key information about the value chain of the industry, monetary chain of the market, the total pool of key players, market classification and segmentation according to industry trends to the bottom-most level, and regional markets. It was also used to obtain information about the key developments from a market-oriented perspective.
Primary Research
The antiscalants market comprises several stakeholders in the value chain, which include raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, manufacturers and end consumers. Various primary sources from the supply and demand sides of the antiscalants market have been interviewed to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. The primary interviewees from the demand side include key opinion leaders in end-use sectors. The primary sources from the supply side include manufacturers, associations, and institutions involved in the antiscalants industry.
Primary interviews were conducted to gather insights such as market statistics, data of revenue collected from the products and services, market breakdowns, market size estimations, market forecasting, and data triangulation. Primary research also helped in understanding the various trends related to type, application, process type and region. Stakeholders from the demand side, such as CIOs, CTOs, and CSOs were interviewed to understand the buyer’s perspective on the suppliers, products, component providers, and their current usage of antiscalants and future outlook of their business which will affect the overall market.
The breakdown of profiles of the primary interviewees is illustrated in the figure below:
Note: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 companies are classified based on their market revenue in 2023 available in the public domain, product portfolios, and geographical presence.
Other designations include sales representatives, production heads, and technicians.
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure
Market Size Estimation
The top-down approach was used to estimate and validate the size of various submarkets for antiscalants for each region. The research methodology used to estimate the market size included the following steps:
- The key players in the industry have been identified through extensive secondary research.
- The supply chain of the industry has been determined through primary and secondary research.
- The global market was then segmented into five major regions and validated by industry experts.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns based on type, application, process type and region were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
- All possible parameters that affect the markets covered in this research study were accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to get the final quantitative and qualitative data. This data was consolidated and added with detailed inputs and analysis and presented in this report.
Antiscalants Market: Bottom-Up Approach
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, Request for Free Sample Report
Antiscalants Market: Top-Down Approach
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the total market size from the estimation process of antiscalants above, the overall market has been split into several segments and sub-segments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all the segments and sub-segments, the data triangulation and market breakdown procedures have been employed, wherever applicable. The data has been triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply sides. Along with this, the market size has been validated by using both the top-down and bottom-up approaches and primary interviews. Hence, for every data segment, there have been three sources—top-down approach, bottom-up approach, and expert interviews. The data was assumed correct when the values arrived from the three sources matched.
Market Definition
Antiscalants are chemical additives that inhibit the formation and deposition of mineral scaling which occurs because of industrial processes and during water treatment in water treatment systems. They function by interfering with the crystallization by scale-forming salts such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, and silica, preventing scaling and keeping them in solution form. Antiscalants find applications in power & construction, oil & gas, mining, municipal water treatment & desalination, food & beverage, chemical & pharmaceutical, and pulp & paper, among other industrial operations aimed at system efficiency, reduction of energy consumption, and extension of equipment life.
Key Stakeholders
- Antiscalants Manufacturers
- Raw Material Suppliers
- Manufacturing Technology Providers
- Industry Associations
- Manufacturers in End-Use Industries
Report Objectives
- To define, describe, and forecast the size of the antiscalants market, in terms of value and volume.
- To provide detailed information regarding the major factors (drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges) influencing the growth of the market.
- To estimate and forecast the market size based on type, application, process type, and region.
- To forecast the size of the market with respect to major regions, namely, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America, along with their key countries.
- To strategically analyze micromarkets1 with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the overall market.
- To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape of market leaders.
- To track and analyze recent developments such as expansions, new product launches, partnerships & agreements, and acquisitions in the market.
- To strategically profile key market players and comprehensively analyze their core competencies.
Available Customizations
Along with the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to the company’s specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:
Regional Analysis
- Further breakdown of a region with respect to a particular country or additional application
Company Information
- Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players
Tariff & Regulations
- Regulations and impact on antiscalants market
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Antiscalants Market
Antiscalant market share analysis.
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