Market Overview
According to the Biocides Directive (98/8/EC), biocidal products are those that are intended to destroy, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means. Biocides are categorized into organic biocides and inorganic or metal biocides.
Metal biocides inhibit the microbial activities and their effectiveness varies with the concentration and duration of exposure. Metal biocides are produced in liquid and powder forms of various concentration. Metal biocides market find applications in various end-use industries such as agriculture, waste water treatment, pharmaceutical and personal care. Metal biocides are used for the treatment of drinking water, wastewater, ship ballast water, disinfectants in hospitals and as antifouling agents that prevent mollusks to accumulate in industrial pipes. Additionally, they find applications in inhibiting the growth of algae and fungi on applied paints such as varnishes and coatings.
Market Dynamics
The global metal biocides market is expected to growth during the forecast period (2017-2023) owing to the rapid growth of key industries such as paints and coatings, medical and textiles. Based on type, silver based metal biocide is expected to be the largest growing market segment during the forecast period. Based on end use industries, medical sector has accounted a significant growth over the past years; however, paints and coatings segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.
Trends
The key trend observed in the global metal biocides market is the growing demand from the shipping industries to curb the growth of fouling organisms on the military vessels. Additionally, the stringent government laws set to reduce the usage of toxic coatings in commercial and residential buildings is expected to propel the growth of the global metal biocides market during the forecast period. Moreover, rise in GDP, technological advancements and rise of better healthcare facilities is expected to bolster the overall market in Latin America. The government in Brazil is focusing on enhancing the infrastructure and healthcare systems. The government is also focusing on heavy investments in various industry verticals which is expected to propel the global metal biocides market in Brazil.
Growth Drivers
The key drivers of the global metal biocides market are the increasing demand from major end use industries such as paints and coatings, water treatment and medical industries. Metal biocides find application in automotive and transportation industries thus, increasing the use of metal biocides in the commercial vehicles during the forecast period.
Self-polishing coatings contain eco-degradable biocides which is a toxic foulant and is being rapidly replaced by metal biocides. Additionally, an increase in demand for metal biocides in household paints, varnishes, marine antifouling agents and others is expected to fuel the growth of overall market during the forecast period. The increased demand in household paints and varnishes is due to their effectiveness of metal biocides in inhibiting the growth of algae and fungi on applied paint.
The global metal biocides market gained traction from the exponential growth of the shipping industry due the rapid replacing of self-polishing coatings by metal biocides thereby, inhibiting the growth of large fouling organisms on the frame of large commercial and military vessels.
Silver-based metal biocides find applications in healthcare industry on account of their thermal stability, unsurpassed safety and effectiveness. These are eco-friendly, non-toxic and sustainable in nature and is approved by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
North America is expected to be the largest growing segment due to the building and infrastructural developments in the region thereby, increasing the demand from paints and coatings in residential and commercial application. Additionally, the presence of key market players such as Dow Chemical Company, Troy Corporation, Milliken Chemical Company and Noble Biomaterials Inc. have led to an intense competition which is followed by the stabilization of the metal biocides prices. Growing demand for metal biocides in the medical and foods and beverages industries in the U.S. would further drive the market in the region.
Growth Restraints
Stringent government regulations regarding the production and consumption of metal biocides may hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period. Moreover, high capital investment in regards with production cost may pose as a challenge for the new entrants in the market thereby, affecting the competition and overall market growth.
Competitive Landscape
The key players operating in the global metal biocides market are BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Lonza Group Ltd, Milliken Chemical Company, Noble Biomaterials Inc., Clariant AG, SANITIZED AG, Troy Corporation, SteriTouch Ltd, and Renaissance Chemicals Ltd.
Market Segmentation
By type
- Silver
- Copper and alloys
- Zinc
- Others
By application
- Paints and coatings
- Medical
- Textile
- Pesticides (Agriculture)
- Food preservation
- Food and beverages
By region
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Australia
- Japan
- India
- South Korea
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- U.K
- France
- Italy
- Rest of Europe
- Rest of World
