World Water, Wastewater Treatment Chemical Sales Will Exceed $15 Billion in 2001
As the world's energy and water needs expand the demand for treatmentchemicals also increases. In 2001, worldwide sales of water and wastewater treatment chemicals will exceed $15 billion. This is the conclusion in the continually updated on line McIlvaine report Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals, World Market.
Corrosion inhibitors will be the top selling category. Over $3.7 billion will be spent to protect pipes, boiler tubes, and process equipment with these additives. Organic flocculants will capture 2nd place with sales of $2.6 billion. Scale inhibitors will be the third largest selling category followed by (4) inorganic flocculants and coagulants and (5) oxidizers and biocides.
Power plants will be the largest purchasers ($5.4 billion) followed by municipal water treatment plants ($3.3 billion). Rounding out the top 5 are (3) municipal wastewater facilities (4) oil and gas producers and refineries and (5) pulp and paper mills.
Growth over the next several years will be driven by construction of new water and wastewater facilities and power plants. China will experience the greatest growth. It is building power plants at a faster rate than any other country. By the end of the decade 40% of China's population will be urban. Most cities will need to increase water delivery and wastewater treatment facilities by 50% to 70%.
The U.S. represents some unusual opportunities. The renovation of existing coal-fired plants and the construction of new ones presents an opportunity that was unanticipated a few years ago. But the soaring price of natural gas has made coal-fired power generation attractive. Coal-fired plants require water and wastewater treatment chemical expenditures more than four times larger than gas turbine generators of the same capacity.
India is presently one of the smaller markets but has great potential. The market for municipal wastewater coagulants and flocculants will be only $43 million this year. The power industry will only spend $61 million for corrosion inhibitors. However, the country expects to double its generation capacity over the next decade. Because it is the world's 3rd largest producer of coal, this fuel will provide much of the energy for power generation.
Source: McIlvaine Co.
