Wastewater Chems Mkt to Hit $23 Bil. by 2010

The world market for water and wastewater treatment chemicals in the power sector will rise from $3.4 billion in 2006 to $4 billion in 2010, while other industries will account for $19 billion, raising the total market to $23 billion in 2010, according to a report by the McIlvaine Company (www.mcilvainecompany.com).

Growth in the power market will be driven primarily by the continued switch from gas to coal as the fuel for new plants. Coal-fired plants are large purchasers of treatment chemicals, whereas gas turbine plants are only modest users. McIlvaine cites the U.S. ethanol industry in particular as a high growth market for treatment chemicals, as ethanol plants are largely coal-driven facilities.

McIlvaine says Asia will also show rapid growth in the sale of treatment chemicals in a number of industries. With millions of people moving from rural areas to cities in Asia, there is a boom in the construction of water and wastewater plants. As a result, McIlvaine predicts Asia will increase treatment chemical purchases for wastewater plants from $1 billion in 2006 to $1.6 billion in 2010.

According to McIlvaine, corrosion inhibitors will continue to be the leading product category with sales approaching $5 billion by 2010. Organic flocculant sales will rise to just under $4 billion in 2010. Other major categories are inorganic flocculants, scale inhibitors, pH adjusters, and oxidizers and biocides. Relatively small segments include activated carbon, chelants, defoamers, and ion exchange resins.

For more information on McIlvaine’s "Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World Market" report, visit: www.mcilvainecompany.com/water.html#NO26.