Biocides Market By Product Type (Halogen-Based Biocides, Metallic Biocides, Organosulfur Biocides, Phenolic Biocides, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Isothiazolinones, Glutaraldehyde, Others), By Formulation (Liquid, Powder, Granules), By Mode of Action (Oxidizing Biocides, Non-Oxidizing Biocides), By Application (Water Treatment, Paints & Coatings, Wood Preservation, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Food & Beverage Processing, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Others), By Distribution Channel (Direct Sales, Distributors & Traders), By End User (Industrial Manufacturing, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, Construction, Marine Industry, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The biocides market accounted for USD 8.93 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 14.72 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 4.65% between 2025 and 2035. The biocides market features various chemical substances that function to restrict harmful or unwanted organisms between bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae, and pests. Commercial applications span across water treatment operations and extend to agriculture and healthcare, together with food processing and paint production, wood preservation systems, and oil and gas uses.

Biocides stop microbial growth, preventing the common problems of spoilage, material deterioration, health risks, and contamination. The biocide industry organizes itself into five major categories comprising halogen-based biocides and metallic biocides as well as organosulfur compounds and phenolic biocides with quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) as the fifth segment. The market provides biocides in liquid powder and granule forms that operate through oxidizing and non-oxidizing mechanisms. The biocides market is still expanding gradually. due to growing standards for water quality, concerns about health and safety, and demands for long-lasting materials.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Rising demand for clean water and wastewater treatment.

The biocides market finds its basis in the expanding need for superior wastewater treatment methods combined with adequate clean water supply systems. The fast pace of industrial expansion combined with urban development has led to water contamination, which presents significant health dangers to the public, so new environmental protection solutions must be established. The prevention of harmful microorganisms combined with algae and biofilm growth serves as an essential function of biocides during water treatment processes. Governments throughout the world maintain tight water quality standards that force industries, together with municipalities, to select effective biocidal solutions to meet requirements. The need for more efficient water reuse systems and purification technologies, which result from climate change effects on freshwater supplies, increases the market demand for biocides.

Research from the World Health Organization shows that numerous people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water, thus demanding rapid improvement in water treatment facilities. Industries across food and beverage production and pharmaceutical manufacturing, along with power generation systems, actively choose to use biocides for their high-quality water demands so their operations maintain success. The market expands due to improvements in biocidal formulation technologies that create sustainable, eco-friendly solutions that effectively protect against microorganisms while protecting the environment. The biocides market can sustain its growth trajectory due to the alignment of regulatory requirements, public health consciousness, and modern technology developments.

Expanding construction and wood preservation industries.

The growing demand from both construction and wood preservation industries makes up the main drivers behind the biocides market expansion. Currently, we observe an increased demand for building materials with endurance. because both urban growth and infrastructure progress continue at a fast pace. worldwide. The versatile and sustainable nature of wood makes it hard for decay. and mold, along with insect infestations, to eat through its structure; hence, biocides remain crucial to protect wood from natural degradation. The building market utilizes treated wood materials extensively for residential and commercial construction because of its focus on eco-friendly, energy-efficient projects.

Biocide treatment prolongs the life of wooden components by preventing moisture-induced deterioration, maintaining structure, and lowering maintenance costs. Manufacturers are being forced to develop new biocide formulations as a result of government rules requiring safer and more effective wood preservatives. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), treated wood and other forest products are regularly growing as a result of the growing reliance of the construction industry on preserved resources. The two primary goals of manufacturers' research in biocide formulation development are to meet sustainability demands by producing eco-friendly goods with strong biological threat resistance. The demand for biocidal solutions is continuously rising due to a combination of wood protection regulations, construction growth, and regulatory standards.

High R&D costs for sustainable alternatives.

The biocides market faces considerable challenges because sustainable alternatives Development demands high levels of research and development expenses. The rising environmental rules together with developing consumer preferences towards green alternatives create rising pressure on businesses to invent sustainable biocidal products. Developing effective microorganism-resistant Products that retain environmental and human safety need extensive research. while bearing the costs of regulatory approval and lengthy testing durations.

Performance and sustainability are challenges for small businesses. trade-offs, as well as the ensuing longer development periods and higher risk of investment. Compared to conventional chemicals used in formulations, the usage of bio-based components and raw substances that pose fewer risks may prove to be more expensive and difficult to get. Sustainable biocides typically face delayed market introduction following successful development because of higher prices, which make it difficult for manufacturers to achieve competitive profit margins. The high financial requirements hinder market expansion by delaying the delivery of modern solutions and limiting the advancement of innovation. The current commercial challenges brought on by high R&D costs limit the potential benefits of sustainable biocidal technology.

Innovation in eco-friendly and biodegradable biocides.

The introduction of eco-friendly biodegradable biocides enables desirable growth opportunities within the biocides market. Sustainable solutions gain increasing market demand because environmental regulations tighten their control on harmful chemicals while global environmental issues deepen. Companies can establish their market position along with satisfying evolving customer demands by developing potent, environmentally sustainable biocides. Advanced biocide technologies provide emerging product opportunities to key industries that aim to lower their environmental footprints, including water treatment, agriculture, healthcare, and construction.

The market-wide acceptance of biodegradable biocides occurs through their ability to decompose safely with no hazardous residues since these products solve the problems researchers have with soil and water contamination. Teams that implement green chemistry methods using renewable materials gain the position as sustainability leaders that create lasting brand reputations. Academic institutions working together with research firms and companies accelerate the manufacturing process of safer biocidal innovation. Sustainable products act as base market growth factors because businesses need sustainable solutions to maintain positions within the emerging circular economy framework.

Technological advancements in biocide formulations.

The key area of opportunity for the biocides market is technological advancements in biocide formulations. Thus, the new research and technology allow manufacturers to develop more effective, targeted, and efficient biocides that will kill a wider range of microbial threats with greater accuracy. The advancements brought these formulations to a level where the impact on the environment, the toxicity, and the user’s safety for the users and the ecosystems is at a level. With improvements in nanotechnology, encapsulation methods, and controlled release performance of biocides, longer-lasting or smaller applications are being improved.

Furthermore, improvement in formulation technologies makes it possible for biocidal products to be formulated for particular industries such as food processing, healthcare, and water treatment, offering formulated products that satisfy strict regulatory standards. This also allows the incorporation of natural or bio-based ingredients into biocide formulations, which are sought after for better sustainability and biodegradability because they are demanded by an increasingly aware consumer and regulatory pressure. Such technological breakthroughs do more than solve today’s market’s problems; they open the door to the production of safer, more efficient, and cheaper biocidal products.

Industry Experts Opinion

"Biocides are crucial for preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases... However, biocides are not only harmful to the organisms they are meant to control but they can pose risks to people, animals, and the environment when used."

• Dr. Zoltán Noszticzius, a researcher at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Segment Analysis

Based on the product type, the biocides market is classified into halogen-based biocides, metallic biocides, organosulfur biocides, phenolic biocides, quaternary ammonium compounds, isothiazolinones, glutaraldehyde, and others. The most important segment of the biocides market from the wide list of product types is halogen-based biocides. With their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, effectiveness in different industries, and cost efficiency, these biocides, principally chlorine, bromine, and iodine compounds, have been widely used. In water treatment, disinfection, and halogen-based biocides are preferred because they kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi well.

However, by their ability to withstand high antimicrobial activity in various environmental conditions, they have become indispensable in the healthcare, manufacturing, and food processing industries. Standing contrary to the environmental and safety concerns, their impressive performance and relatively lower costs have hugely contributed to their overwhelming market share in the biocides market. In addition, market regulations are propelling the industry towards more environmentally friendly solutions, but halogenous biocides still have a considerable role, as they are well-proven. The high range of use, versatility, and widespread use of halogen-based biocides have continued to be the backbone of the biocide market.

Based on the Formulation, the Biocides market is classified into Liquid, Powder, and Granules. It is also the highest in the liquid formulation segment in the biocides market. Because of the ease of application, versatility, and effective distribution across surfaces or in solutions, liquid biocides are preferred for their use in a variety of applications. Such features are commonly used in industries such as water treatment and agriculture, as well as for critical ease of mixing, dilution, and fast reaction. Better stability and faster action are also offered by liquid formulations over powders and granules, and thus they are more appropriate in areas where ready microbial control is demanded. In addition to their ability to be incorporated into automated systems such as dosing systems for water treatment or spraying systems for agriculture, their demand further increases. Liquid biocides are also better in formulations for disinfectants, cleaning agents, preservatives, and so on because in such cases high concentrations of active ingredients must be present for effective performance. Growing worries about hygiene and microbiological resistance fueled the demand for liquid biocides that are likely to keep this substance at the helm of the market.

Regional Analysis

The biocides market in North America is witnessed to have a strong supply chain because industries of water treatment, paints, and coatings, as well as personal care products, are present in the market. The regional conditions in terms of the safety and effectiveness of the use of biocides provide a stringent regulatory framework for which it benefits and makes it easier for innovation and compliance within the market. High biological disinfection needs of biocides in industrial, residential, water treatment, and agriculture make the United States the leading contributor with significant demand in other application areas.

As more people start to realize the value of environmental sustainability, biodegradable biocides are gaining popularity as green chemistry solutions. There is also the rise of health and hygiene products, most of which have emerged as a result of global health issues, to also add to market growth. Advancements in technology have led to the development of more specialized biocides in concentrated forms by North American companies, which are being used in specialized applications. The future landscape of the biocides market in North America is still being shaped by environmental regulations, as well as the shift toward more sustainable products.

High industrialization and urbanization in most of the major economies, i.e., China and India in the Asia Pacific region, drive the growth of the biocides market globally. Biocide demand is increased in sectors such as agriculture, paints and coatings, water treatment, and personal care, among others. As the industries across the region continue to grow, deciding to meet the hygiene, preservation, and contamination problems through antimicrobial Solutions has become quite urgent. The agricultural sector plays an important and manifest role, in which biocides are needed for pest management and protection against crops.

Additionally, ecological and environmentally friendly Biocides have been adopted as environmental consciousness in the region is magnifying. Countries such as China and India are beginning to enforce stricter regulations, so governments are promoting more regulated and safe biocides. The market is being pushed forward by the diversities of its applications across the sectors, a burgeoning middle class, and the trend of bringing in more focus on health and safety by the consumers. Furthermore, the dynamic growth of the market in Asia-Pacific is also being propelled by innovations in biocidal formulation and the rising demand for industrial cleaning products.

Competitive Landscape

The biocides market functions as a competitive field because major organizations attempt to expand their market presence in the agricultural, healthcare, and industrial sectors. Through establishing BASF and other major entities like Lonza Group, Clariant, and AkzoNobel, they have established themselves as leaders in the production of biocidal products for disinfection and preservation and pest control markets. Strict global laws in which harmful substances are prohibited control the application of harmful substances; manufacturers have increased their efforts to develop environmentally sound biocides.

It is seen that many businesses allocate funds to R&D efforts to develop novel, effective, and workable formulations in adapting their strategy to regulatory requirements to produce nontoxic, eco-friendly products. Acquisitions and partnerships serve as significant elements for companies to enhance their product ranges and distribution systems since they can tap into bigger customer bases and access newly demanding sanitation markets. Sanitation product manufacturers can expect rising competition because people increasingly focus on health and hygiene concerns.

Biocides Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In January 2025, AkzoNobel presented a plan to its employee representatives and its employees in France that includes a €22 million investment to establish the Montataire site as a flagship for decorative paint production. This initiative reflects the company’s long-term commitment to industrial excellence and to its operations in France.
• In January 2025, Arxada, a global leader in specialty chemicals and innovative solutions, announces a solid achievement in its intellectual property strategy, having doubled its patent filings in 2024 compared to the previous year. This milestone underscores the company's commitment to innovating for a more sustainable future and highlights the successful collaboration between its Research & Development (R&D) and Intellectual Property (IP) teams.

Report Coverage:

By Product Type

• Halogen-Based Biocides
• Metallic Biocides
• Organosulfur Biocides
• Phenolic Biocides
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
• Isothiazolinones
• Glutaraldehyde
• Others

By Formulation

• Liquid
• Powder
• Granules

By Mode of Action

• Oxidizing Biocides
• Non-Oxidizing Biocides

By Application

• Water Treatment
• Paints & Coatings
• Wood Preservation
• Personal Care & Cosmetics
• Food & Beverage Processing
• Oil & Gas
• Healthcare
• Others

By Distribution Channel

• Direct Sales
• Distributors & Traders

By End-user

• Industrial Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Pharmaceuticals
• Construction
• Marine Industry
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Albemarle Corporation.
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• Arxada AG
• Baker Hughes Company
• BASF
• Clariant
• Dow
• Ecolab
• Kemira
• LANXESS
• Lonza.
• Merck KGaA
• Nouryon
• Solvay
• Stepan Company
• The Lubrizol Corporation
• Arxada

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)