- Summary
- Table Of Content
- Methodology
Glutaraldehyde Market Introduction :
Consegic Business Intelligence analyzes that the glutaraldehyde market is growing with a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period (2023-2031). The market accounted for USD 547.22 million in 2022 and USD 566.58 million in 2023, and the market is projected to be valued at USD 797.68 Million by 2031.
Glutaraldehyde Market Definition & Overview:
Glutaraldehyde is an organic compound with the formula (CH2)3(CHO)2. Glutaraldehyde is a colorless, oily liquid with a sharp, pungent odor. It is a saturated dialdehyde and is used for disinfecting and sterilizing surfaces and equipment. It is used for cold sterilization of dental and medical equipment and as a preservative, biocide, hardener, and tanning agent.
As a disinfectant, it is used to eliminate harmful microorganisms on surgical instruments and has other uses as a fixative or preservative in other parts of a healthcare facility. Glutaraldehyde is also used as a fixative in biochemical procedures and electron microscopy. It can also be used as a cross-linking and tanning agent and as a biocide in metalworking fluids and oil and gas pipelines.
Glutaraldehyde Market Insights :
Glutaraldehyde Market Dynamics - (DRO) :
Key Drivers :
Significant growth in the healthcare industry in emerging economies
Glutaraldehyde is commonly used to disinfect and sterilize critical and semi-critical medical instruments such as endoscopes, surgical instruments, and dental equipment. It effectively kills a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is particularly valuable for achieving high-level disinfection, which is necessary for items that come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. This ensures that medical instruments are safe for reuse between patients. Furthermore, in healthcare facilities, glutaraldehyde solutions are used for surface disinfection, including counterparts, medical equipment surfaces, and other high-tough areas. Significant growth in the healthcare industry across the globe is driving the demand for glutaraldehyde for disinfection and sterilization applications. For instance, according to the report by the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency report, the hospital industry in India was valued at USD 61.79 billion in 2017 & and is expected to reach USD 132 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 16%-17%. Hence, the high demand for glutaraldehyde in the healthcare industry is driving the growth of the global glutaraldehyde market.
Increasing demand for preservatives and biocides in various industries
Glutaraldehyde is primarily used as a preservative and biocide in various end-user industries. It is used as a preservative in biological specimens preservative, histopathology, archival and museum preservation, textile and paper preservation, oilfield chemicals, and others. Glutaraldehyde is added to oil and gas pipelines to act as a corrosion inhibitor. It helps protect the metal infrastructure from degradation caused by microorganisms, especially sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) that can contribute to corrosion. Glutaraldehyde is also used in cooling water systems, such as those in industrial facilities and power plants, to control the growth of algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms that can foul and damage equipment.
In paper and pulp mills glutaraldehyde is employed as a biocide to control microbial contamination in the papermaking process. It helps maintain the quality of the paper products and prevents spoilage. Significant growth in the production of paper and the growing focus of various paper manufacturers on the development of their manufacturing facilities are driving the demand for glutaraldehyde as a preservative and biocide. For instance, in February 2022, Sappi, a leading provider of sustainable, paper-based packaging solutions, is further expanding its capabilities to produce recyclable high-barrier papers. The high benefits of glutaraldehyde in the paper & and pulp industry are driving the market growth worldwide.
Key Restraints :
Toxic and hazardous nature of glutaraldehyde
Glutaraldehyde is a strong chemical used in various industrial applications, primarily as a disinfectant and sterilizing agent in healthcare as a crosslinking agent in healthcare, and as a crosslinking agent in oil and gas production. However, its adverse characteristics have raised concerns and limited its market expansion. Glutaraldehyde is known to be highly toxic and can cause serious health problems upon exposure. Inhalation or skin contact with the chemical can result in respiratory distress, skin irritation, and, eye damage. Prolonged or repeated exposure can lead to chronic health issues, making it a hazardous substance for workers and the environment.
Governments and regular bodies across the world have imposed strict regulations on the use, handling, and disposal of glutaraldehyde due to its harmful effects. Compliance with these regulations adds significant operational costs and complexities for industries that rely on glutaraldehyde, such as healthcare and oil and gas. Thus, glutaraldehyde plays a crucial role in various industries, its toxic and hazardous nature has become a significant hindrance to the growth of the global glutaraldehyde market.
Future Opportunities :
High demand for glutaraldehyde from various end-user industries
Glutaraldehyde is used in various end-user industries such as healthcare, oil and gas, water treatment, and others. The chemical is used in laboratories and research facilities as a fixative for biological specimens. With continued research and development activities, the demand for glutaraldehyde in the research sector is growing significantly. Glutaraldehyde finds extensive use in the oil and gas sector for the treatment of drilling fluids and to control microbial growth in oilfield operations. As the global energy demand continues to rise, the oil and gas industry's reliance on glutaraldehyde for effective biocide treatment presents substantial growth opportunities for the glutaraldehyde market. For instance, according to a report by the International Energy Agency in June 2023, the global oil demand will rise by 6% between 2022 and 2028 to reach 105.7 million barrels per day (mb/d) supported by robust demand from the petrochemical and aviation sectors. Thus, significant growth in these end-user industries is expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the glutaraldehyde market worldwide over the forecast period.
Glutaraldehyde Market Report Insights :
| Report Attributes | Report Details |
| Study Timeline | 2017-2031 |
| Market Size in 2031 | USD 797.68 Million |
| CAGR (2023-2031) | 4.4% |
| By Type | Glutaraldehyde 2%, Glutaraldehyde 25%, Glutaraldehyde 50%, and Others |
| By Application | Sterilization, Disinfection, Tanning, Preservatives, Biocides, and Others |
| By End-user Industry | Healthcare and Life Sciences, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Textile & Leather, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Research and Development, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, and Others |
| By Region | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa |
| Key Players | LANXESS, TIMAC, AGRI International, Finoric LLC, Neogen Corporation, Surfachem Group Ltd., Dow Chemicals, Union Carbide, BASF SE, and Electron Microscopy Sciences |
Glutaraldehyde Market Segmental Analysis :
Based on the Type :
The type segment is categorized into glutaraldehyde 2%, glutaraldehyde 25%, glutaraldehyde 50%, and others. In 2022, the glutaraldehyde 50% segment accounted for the highest market share in the glutaraldehyde market, and it is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Glutaraldehyde 50% is a colorless, oily liquid with a pungent odor. It is used for a variety of applications, including disinfecting and sterilizing surfaces and equipment, fixing samples for electron microscopy, disinfecting medical equipment, producing antioxidants, emulsifiers, and lubricant oil additives, and disinfecting equipment that cannot be heat sterilized, such as surgical instruments, suction bottles, and endoscopes. Glutaraldehyde 50% is used as a microbicide in cooling towers and air conditioning systems to reduce the infectivity of microbes, such as viruses or bacteria and it is also used in leather tanning processes. The significant growth in the leather processing industry is driving the segment growth globally. For instance, according to the report by the Government of China in June 2022, the leather processing industries in China accounted for a total profit of USD 2.26 billion in the January-April period in 2021, rising 1.6% from the same period last year in 2020. Thus, the above-mentioned factors are contributing to the segment growth worldwide.
Based on the Application :
The application segment is categorized into sterilization, disinfection, tanning, preservatives, biocides, and others. In 2022, the disinfection segment accounted for the highest market share in the overall glutaraldehyde market. Glutaraldehyde is used for several applications in healthcare facilities for disinfectant and sterilization of surfaces and equipment. The significant growth in the demand for surface disinfectants in the healthcare industry is driving the segment growth. For instance, according to the report by the International Sanitary Supply Association in April 2021, the sale of surface disinfectants has greatly increased over the last few years due to growing awareness of the importance of proper hygiene in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The surface disinfectants market will register growth at 8.8% CAGR, sales are expected to surge amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, the sterilization segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period in the glutaraldehyde market. Glutaraldehyde is used as a cold sterilizer to disinfect and clean heat-sensitive equipment such as dialysis instruments, surgical instruments, suction bottles, bronchoscopes, endoscopes, and ear, nose, and throat instruments. Growing demand for glutaraldehyde in the healthcare industry for the stabilization of healthcare equipment is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.
Based on the End-Use-Industry :
The end user segment is categorized into healthcare and life sciences, water and wastewater treatment, textile & leather, cosmetics & personal care, research and development, oil & gas, agriculture, and others. In 2022, the healthcare and life sciences segment accounted for the highest market share of 26.79% in the overall glutaraldehyde market. Glutaraldehyde is widely used for the high-level disinfection and sterilization of heat-sensitive medical instruments and equipment. It effectively kills a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, making it essential for infection control. It is also used to disinfect dental instruments, wound care, tissue fixation, laboratory disinfection, infection control, and others. Healthcare facilities use glutaraldehyde-based disinfectants for surfaces and equipment to control healthcare-associated infections effectively. Glutaraldehyde is employed in pharmaceutical research and development to cross-link proteins. This process stabilizes protein structures making them more resistant to degradation. Increasing government initiatives to promote research in the pharmaceutical industry is driving the segment growth worldwide. For instance, in February 2023, Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of a new program to promote research in pharmaceuticals to promote the growth of the sector.
Moreover, the water and wastewater treatment segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period in the glutaraldehyde market. Glutaraldehyde in the water and wastewater treatment industry is used for microbial control, biocide and disinfection, algae control, oil and grease removal, odor control, biological nutrient removal, membrane biofouling control, cooling water treatment and others. The growing water and wastewater treatment industry is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.
Based on the Region :
The regional segment includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.
In 2022, North America accounted for the highest market share at 36.11% valued at USD 197.60 Million in 2022 and USD 203.63 Million in 2023, it is expected to reach USD 278.31 Million in 2031. In North America, the U.S. accounted for the highest market share of 89.23% during the base year of 2022. The increasing spending on pharmaceutical research and development activities in the region is driving the demand for glutaraldehyde for pharmaceutical research activities. For instance, according to the report by the Congressional Budget Office in April 2021, 2019, the pharmaceutical industry spent USD 83 billion on research and development. Adjusted for inflation, that amount is about 10 times what the industry spent per year in the 1980s.
Furthermore, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during 2023-2031. The significant growth in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and leather industries across the region is increasing the demand for glutaraldehyde for disinfection and sterilization applications. Furthermore, the significant growth in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment activities across the region is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the glutaraldehyde market over the forecast period.
Top Key Players & Market Share Insights:
The glutaraldehyde market is highly competitive, with several large players and numerous small and medium-sized enterprises. These companies have strong research and development capabilities and a strong presence in the market through their extensive product portfolios and distribution networks. The market is characterized by intense competition, with companies focusing on expanding their product offerings and increasing their market share through mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. The key players in the market include-
- Neogen Corporation
- AGRI International
- Finoric LLC
- Surfachem Group Ltd.
Recent Industry Developments :
- In July 2022, German specialty chemicals company Lanxess acquired the microbial division of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) for about USD 1.3 billion. The acquisition made Lanxess one of the world's largest suppliers of microbial control products.
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What was the market size of the glutaraldehyde industry in 2022? +
In 2022, the market size of glutaraldehyde was USD 547.22 Million.
What will be the potential market valuation for the glutaraldehyde industry by 2031? +
In 2031, the market size of glutaraldehyde will be expected to reach USD 797.68 Million.
What are the key factors driving the growth of the glutaraldehyde market? +
Significant growth in the healthcare industry in emerging economies across the globe is fueling market growth at the global level.
What is the dominating segment in the glutaraldehyde market for the end-user industry? +
In 2022, the healthcare & life sciences segment accounted for the highest market share of 26.79% in the overall glutaraldehyde market.
Based on current market trends and future predictions, which geographical region is the dominating region in the glutaraldehyde market? +
North America accounted for the highest market share in the overall glutaraldehyde market.
