Filters Mkt. to Reach $58.3 Bil. by 2013

Freedonia says China is expected to post the biggest gains of any national market, enabling it to surpass Japan to become the second largest filter market in the world behind the United States in 2013. Sales growth is also expected to be strong in the other BRIC nations of India, Russia and Brazil, as well as in Indonesia, Turkey, Iran and South Africa.

Freedonia predicts sales of air purification filters will increase 5.8 percent annually through 2013, while the market for fluid filters will climb at a 4.9 percent annual pace, spurred by growth in nonagricultural water withdrawals, the implementation of stricter water pollution control standards, and an ongoing trend toward urbanization, resulting in greater spending for water and wastewater treatment. However, ICE and related filters will remain by far the largest product segment, expanding 4.8 percent per annum through 2013. Demand for these items will be driven by growth in the number of motor vehicles and other ICE-powered equipment in use (most notably in China), further increases in motor vehicle output and climbing demand for products like cabin air and diesel particulate filters.

Consumer- and utility-related sales will grow more quickly than demand for filtration products used in other applications, according to Freedonia. Consumer filter sales will be fueled by concerns about the quality of indoor air and drinking water supplies, population growth in rural and semi-rural areas where municipal supplies are not available, and higher per capita incomes in most parts of the world, helping make consumer filters more affordable. Utilities filter market gains will be stimulated by rising global demand for water and electric utility services. However, transportation equipment will remain the biggest single market for filters in 2013, benefitting from an expansion in the overall number of motor vehicles, motorcycles and other transportation equipment.