The Global Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market was valued at USD 5.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to approximately USD 15 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%.
The Global Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market involves the production and sale of specialized chemical compounds used to maintain the efficiency, safety, and longevity of industrial boiler systems. These chemicals are essential for preventing common problems like corrosion, scaling, and the formation of sludge and deposits that can lead to equipment failure, reduced heat transfer efficiency, and higher operational costs. The market includes various product types, such as corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, oxygen scavengers, and pH boosters, and serves a wide range of industries including power generation, oil and gas, food and beverage, and manufacturing. Driven by the need for increased energy efficiency and stringent environmental regulations, this market is a crucial component of modern industrial operations worldwide.
The global boiler water treatment chemicals market is being shaped by several key trends. A major shift is the growing emphasis on sustainability, with industries demanding more environmentally friendly and biodegradable chemical solutions to reduce their ecological footprint and comply with stricter regulations. This has led to a rise in bio-based and non-phosphate formulations. Another significant trend is digitalization, as companies are increasingly integrating smart technologies like IoT-enabled sensors, AI, and predictive analytics into their boiler systems. This allows for real-time monitoring and automated chemical dosing, optimizing efficiency, reducing waste, and preventing costly downtime. Finally, the market is seeing a push towards specialty chemicals and customized solutions, as companies seek to address specific water quality challenges and maximize the performance of their boiler systems.
Segmentation: The Water Treatment Chemicals Market is Segmented by Product (Coagulants & Flocculants, Biocide & Disinfectant, Defoamer & Defoaming Agent, pH & Adjuster & Softener, Scale & Corrosion Inhibitor, and Other Products), End-use (Power, Oil & Gas, Chemical Manufacturing, Mining & Mineral Processing, Municipal, Food & Beverage, Pulp & Paper, and Others), Application (Raw Water Treatment, Water Desalination, Cooling, Boiler, Effluent Water Treatment and Others) and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South Africa and Middle-East). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).
Market) Drivers:
The market is significantly driven by the increasing need for enhanced energy efficiency and operational safety in industrial boilers. As industries, particularly power generation, oil & gas, and manufacturing, face pressure to reduce energy consumption and lower operational costs, the role of boiler water treatment chemicals becomes crucial. These chemicals prevent scaling, corrosion, and deposits that reduce a boiler's heat transfer efficiency, thereby increasing fuel consumption and maintenance requirements.
The growing trend of using high-pressure boilers, which are more susceptible to these issues, further amplifies the demand for effective chemical solutions to ensure equipment longevity, prevent costly downtime, and maintain high thermal efficiency. Moreover, the growing investments by industry’s major player is also fueling the market growth. For instance, in September 2022, SUEZ unveiled its 2027 strategic plan with the goal of becoming a leading partner in circular water and waste solutions. The company aims to achieve 4-5% annual revenue growth by 2027 by focusing on enhanced innovation, increased investment, and providing proven solutions to address its clients' environmental challenges. The plan is backed by a notable 50% increase in research and development efforts, demonstrating SUEZ's commitment to achieving its ambitious growth targets.
The another key driver is the rapid industrialization and expansion of end-use sectors in emerging economies, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Countries like China and India are witnessing a surge in industrial activity, including new power plants, food processing facilities, and textile manufacturing. This growth has created a substantial and continuous demand for new boiler installations and the chemicals required to maintain them. For instance, in January 2023, Kemira, a provider of chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, completed its full acquisition of SimAnalytics. This strategic move strengthens Kemira's capabilities in data-driven services, allowing it to offer advanced predictive and machine learning solutions to its clients. The acquisition reinforces Kemira's commitment to delivering tailored, technology-enhanced solutions to meet evolving industry demands.
The increasing focus on infrastructure development and manufacturing output in these regions directly translates into a larger installed base of boilers, driving the consumption of water treatment chemicals to ensure efficient and reliable operations. Thus, such factors are fuelling the growth of studied market over the forecast period.
Market Restraints:
A significant restraint for the boiler water treatment chemicals market is the increasing stringency of environmental regulations. Governments worldwide are imposing stricter rules on industrial wastewater discharge and the use of certain chemical compounds, particularly those containing phosphates, which are known to cause eutrophication in water bodies. This regulatory pressure forces manufacturers to invest heavily in developing more environmentally friendly and biodegradable chemical formulations, a process that is both costly and time-consuming. Additionally, these regulations can make some traditional chemical treatments less viable, pushing end-users to consider alternative, non-chemical water treatment technologies, such as membrane filtration and reverse osmosis, which can compete with conventional chemical solutions and dampen market growth.
The Global Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market has a significant socio-economic impact, primarily by enhancing the efficiency and longevity of industrial infrastructure. Economically, these chemicals are critical for preventing equipment damage, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing costly unplanned downtime, which collectively boosts productivity and profitability for a wide range of industries, including power generation and manufacturing. Socially, the market contributes to job creation in chemical manufacturing, R&D, and service sectors. It also plays a crucial role in environmental protection by enabling industries to use water more efficiently, reduce water waste, and comply with strict regulations on chemical discharge, thereby safeguarding local water resources and public health. This balance of economic benefit and environmental responsibility is central to the market's role in a sustainable industrial society.
Segmental Analysis:
The biocide and disinfectant segment is poised for significant growth, driven by the increasing need to control microbiological activity in industrial boiler systems. Microbes, algae, and bacteria can form biofilms on boiler surfaces, leading to biofouling, reduced heat transfer efficiency, and microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC). These issues not only increase operational costs but also pose a risk to equipment integrity and safety. As industries become more aware of the importance of maintaining water quality to prevent such problems and comply with stricter water safety regulations, the demand for effective biocides and disinfectants to ensure clean and safe boiler operations is rising steadily.
The Oil & Gas segment is anticipated to witness substantial growth due to the critical and extensive use of boilers in both upstream and downstream operations. Boilers are essential for a variety of processes, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), steam generation for refineries, and heating for processing plants. The demand for boiler water treatment chemicals in this sector is driven by the need to protect expensive and high-pressure equipment from scaling and corrosion, which could lead to catastrophic failure, safety hazards, and significant financial losses from unplanned downtime. As global energy demand continues to grow, so does the reliance on boiler systems in the Oil & Gas industry, ensuring a sustained need for these specialized chemicals.
The raw water treatment segment is forecast to see significant growth as it forms the foundational step for effective boiler operation. The quality of raw water from sources like rivers, lakes, and borewells can vary widely, containing impurities such as suspended solids, organic matter, and hardness-causing minerals. Treating this water before it enters the boiler is crucial for preventing a host of problems, including scaling, foaming, and corrosion, which can severely damage the boiler system. The increasing scarcity of high-quality water and the growing use of non-conventional sources necessitate comprehensive raw water treatment, driving a continuous and expanding demand for the chemicals required to precondition water for industrial use.
The North American region is expected to maintain significant growth in the boiler water treatment chemicals market, underpinned by its large and established industrial base. The region's power generation, manufacturing, and oil & gas sectors are key consumers of these chemicals.
Growth is fueled by a strong emphasis on maintaining existing aging infrastructure, increasing investments in upgrading industrial facilities to meet modern energy efficiency standards, and strict environmental regulations on industrial water discharge. For instance, Wyckomar Inc., a Canadian water treatment manufacturer and subsidiary of Energy Resource Abundance, Inc., has launched the AquaFlow™ Descaler. This new product is a non-invasive and salt-free solution designed to reduce scale buildup from hard water in residential, agricultural, and light industrial systems. The AquaFlow™ Descaler operates without chemicals or electricity, offers a maintenance-free design, and is compatible with common plumbing systems like PEX, PVC, and copper. The product aims to protect pipes and appliances from hard water damage without altering water's chemical composition
Thus, the market also benefits from a robust focus on technological advancements, with companies adopting smart monitoring systems and data analytics to optimize chemical dosing and improve overall boiler performance and compliance.
The competitive landscape of the global boiler water treatment chemicals market is highly fragmented and dynamic, featuring a mix of major global players and numerous regional and local companies. Leading the market are multinational corporations such as Ecolab, SUEZ, Kurita Water Industries, Solenis, and Veolia. These established giants leverage their extensive R&D capabilities, comprehensive service portfolios, and integrated supply chains to offer a wide range of products, from commodity chemicals to highly specialized, custom formulations. Competition is intensifying as companies vie to secure long-term contracts with large-scale industrial customers in the power generation, oil & gas, and manufacturing sectors. The landscape is also being shaped by a growing focus on sustainability, with players racing to innovate and develop environmentally friendly, biodegradable chemicals that meet increasingly stringent regulations and consumer demands. This has created opportunities for new, specialized companies to enter the market with niche, green solutions. Strategic mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures are also a key feature, as companies seek to expand their product portfolios and geographical reach to gain a competitive edge.
Key Water Treatment Chemicals Companies:
Recent Developments:
Q1. What are the main growth-driving factors for this market?
The market is driven by increasing industrialization, rising power generation, and growth in manufacturing and chemical industries that rely on boilers. Stringent regulations for boiler safety, efficiency, and equipment longevity further boost demand for water treatment chemicals to prevent scaling, corrosion, and fouling, ensuring optimal boiler performance.
Q2. What are the main restraining factors for this market?
High costs of advanced water treatment chemicals, coupled with stringent environmental regulations on chemical discharge, restrain market growth. Additionally, fluctuating raw material prices and limited awareness in developing regions hinder adoption. The need for specialized equipment and skilled personnel for treatment processes further adds to operational and maintenance challenges.
Q3. Which segment is expected to witness high growth?
The phosphates and oxygen scavengers segment is expected to witness high growth due to its effectiveness in preventing corrosion, scaling, and oxygen-related damage in boilers. Rising adoption in power plants, manufacturing, and chemical industries for enhanced boiler efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations is driving the demand for these chemical treatments.
Q4. Who are the top major players for this market?
Key players in the global boiler water treatment chemicals market include Ecolab Inc., Solenis, Kemira Oyj, Thermax Ltd., Kurita Water Industries, SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, and Nouryon Chemicals. These companies focus on product innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships to strengthen their global presence and maintain competitive advantage.
Q5. Which country is the largest player?
The United States is the largest market for boiler water treatment chemicals, driven by its extensive industrial base, high energy consumption, and advanced power generation infrastructure. Strict environmental and safety regulations, coupled with widespread adoption of boiler efficiency practices, reinforce the country’s leading position in the global market.
Data Library Research are conducted by industry experts who offer insight on industry structure, market segmentations technology assessment and competitive landscape (CL), and penetration, as well as on emerging trends. Their analysis is based on primary interviews (~ 80%) and secondary research (~ 20%) as well as years of professional expertise in their respective industries. Adding to this, by analysing historical trends and current market positions, our analysts predict where the market will be headed for the next five years. Furthermore, the varying trends of segment & categories geographically presented are also studied and the estimated based on the primary & secondary research.
In this particular report from the supply side Data Library Research has conducted primary surveys (interviews) with the key level executives (VP, CEO’s, Marketing Director, Business Development Manager and SOFT) of the companies that active & prominent as well as the midsized organization
FIGURE 1: DLR RESEARH PROCESS
Extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The analysis is based on both primary and secondary research as well as years of professional expertise in the respective industries.
In addition to analysing current and historical trends, our analysts predict where the market is headed over the next five years.
It varies by segment for these categories geographically presented in the list of market tables. Speaking about this particular report we have conducted primary surveys (interviews) with the key level executives (VP, CEO’s, Marketing Director, Business Development Manager and many more) of the major players active in the market.
Secondary ResearchSecondary research was mainly used to collect and identify information useful for the extensive, technical, market-oriented, and Friend’s study of the Global Extra Neutral Alcohol. It was also used to obtain key information about major players, market classification and segmentation according to the industry trends, geographical markets, and developments related to the market and technology perspectives. For this study, analysts have gathered information from various credible sources, such as annual reports, sec filings, journals, white papers, SOFT presentations, and company web sites.
Market Size EstimationBoth, top-down and bottom-up approaches were used to estimate and validate the size of the Global market and to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall Extra Neutral Alcohol. The key players in the market were identified through secondary research and their market contributions in the respective geographies were determined through primary and secondary research.
Forecast Model
