Biocides For Industrial Water Market Size – By Product Type, Application, Forecast 2026 – 2035

Biocides For Industrial Water Market Size

The global biocides for industrial water market was valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2025. The market is expected to grow from USD 2.2 billion in 2026 to USD 3.7 billion in 2035, at a CAGR of 5.9% according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

• The industrial water treatment biocide market is expanding rapidly due to industrial developments, stricter regulations, and growing concerns about sustainability. Oxidizing biocides are the most widely used biocide types on the market because of their effectiveness in eliminating biofilms and microbes from the water supply. Non-oxidizing biocides have been gaining popularity as products for corrosion prevention and construction use.
   
• New eco-friendly biocides made from natural ingredients are expected to be commercially available soon, as existing biocide products are becoming increasingly regulated for their environmental impact.
   
• The cooling water treatment sector is the leading application sector for biocide use, accounting for more than 44% of total sales. Cooling water systems require consistent microbial control for their operation; thus, this segments sales will continue growing.
   
• Boiler treatments are considered high-value applications because they help prevent the formation of scale, corrosion and microbial fouling on system components. Other biocide applications include the treatment of process water and wastewater/effect treatment; as water reuse initiatives, environmentally friendly biocides and sustainability regulations continue to grow, these markets will see continued growth.
   
• The oil & gas industry is the largest end-use consumer of biocides, with close to 24% of total biocide sales going to that sector. Other end-use segments include power generation, pulp & paper, and chemical industries, which are all large consumers of biocides. Smaller, but still high-value segments include pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and mining, which utilize biocides to meet requirements related to compliance with regulatory standards, maximize operational efficiency, and develop products that are eco-friendly.
   
• Regionally, North America leads with established adoption of advanced and compliant biocides, while Europe accounts for nearly 30% of the market, driven by sustainability regulations. Asia-pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a projected CAGR of 7.4%, supported by industrialization and water scarcity. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are emerging markets, fueled by infrastructure expansion, desalination projects, and the adoption of green biocides.

Biocides For Industrial Water Market Trends

• Eco-friendly and plant-based biocide products are becoming more popular due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the environmentally friendly aspects of these products. Eco-friendly and plant-based biocide products reduce the ecological footprint associated with biocides and are used by many industries, including chemical, power and food/beverage.
   
• Artificial intelligence is now being used to dose chemicals based on predictive analytics, and the use of real-time monitoring will have an enormous effect on the water treatment industry's use of products, reducing the costs associated with treatment products and improving the compliance to regulatory standards for treating used waters. Industries will be able to reuse water while increasing their operational efficiency and reducing their environmental footprint.
   

Biocides For Industrial Water Market Analysis

Based on product type, the market is segmented into oxidizing agents, and non-oxidizing agents. Oxidizing agents dominated the market with an approximate market share of 58.7% in 2025 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.3% by 2035.
 

• Oxidizing biocides, including chlorine, bromine, chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, and ozone, dominate due to strong efficacy against biofilm and microbial contamination in cooling and boiler water.
   
• Non-oxidizing biocides, such as glutaraldehyde, isothiazolinones, quats, and DBNPA, are preferred for applications requiring corrosion control and material compatibility. It is estimated to value at USD 1.6 billion in 2035. Green or bio-based biocides are emerging, driven by environmental regulations.
   

Based on application, the biocides for industrial water market is segmented into cooling water treatment, boiler water treatment, process water treatment, wastewater & effluent treatment, and others. Cooling water treatment held the largest market share of 44.2% in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% during 2026-2035.
 

• Industrial cooling systems use cooling water treatment to provide consistent antimicrobial control. The segment will continue to see the same increase as the greater market through 2034 due to the ongoing development of emerging industrial countries and legislation requiring stringent water quality standards.
   
• The boiler water treatment is a higher-value category compared to the others, and is driven by the prevention of scale, corrosion, and microbial fouling. This category will see a projected growth rate of 6.4% CAGR due to higher demanding applications within the chemical industry, oil & gas, and power generation. High-temperature water systems require precise dosing of biocides.
   
• Within process water treatment, the safety of products and operational efficiency are critical, and are becoming increasingly important for companies in the food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemical sectors; thus, there is an increase in the amount of industrial water being reused and an increasing acceptance of 'eco-friendly' non-oxidizing biocides.
   
• Wastewater and effluent treatment are expected to have a 4.4% CAGR due to both sustainability driven regulations and global water shortages. Specialty applications include the use of desalination, municipal water treatment, and the cooling towers of specialized industries.
   

Based on end user, the biocides for industrial water market is segmented into oil & gas, power generation, pulp & paper, chemical & petrochemical, food & beverage, mining & metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, textile & leather, and others. Oil & gas segment dominated the market with an approximate market share of 23.7% in 2025 and is expected to grow with the CAGR of 6.7% by 2035.
 

• The Oil & Gas Industry is among the largest users of water treatment biocides in the Industrial Sector. This is largely due to the need for water treatment in large cooling systems, boilers, and the treatment of produced waters. Therefore, Oil & Gas Market growth is highly associated with the active participation of oil & gas drilling.
   
• In 2026 power generation market represent 19.3%. The market is driven by the need for consistent microbial control in both large cooling towers and high-pressure boilers. Continued capital investment in thermal and nuclear power plants provides a steady growth projection as the industry's focus on long-term reliability and sustainable practices for water management continues.
   
• The Pulp & Paper market is also considered a high-value segment of the Industrial Sector as significant amounts of water are used in the pulp production process and as a result requires effective microbial fouling and corrosion control. The industry has begun incorporating more environmentally friendly and biodegradable biocides in order to meet environmental regulation standards.
   
• Chemical and petrochemical industries need specialized water treatment and are subject to corrosive environments. The growth of this sector will continue to increase over time through technology advancements, regulation compliance, and the realization of customized high-performance biocides that reduce disruptions to operations.
   
• The food and beverage industry needs non-toxic biocides that are compliant with regulations in order to protect their products from microbial contamination and create a safe product. Growth will be fueled by water re-use, zero liquid discharge initiatives, and an increasing number of water-based bio-solutions, which means that this segment is growing quickly and offers a premium segment.
   
• The mining and metallurgy industry has a rapidly increasing need for industrial water treatment and pharmaceuticals is considered a niche but highly profitable sector. Process water quality is critical, especially with the increase in regulations, which translates into more eco-friendly and highly effective biocides being used. It is expected that this segment will continue to grow steadily with many of the premium solutions available.
   

North America biocides for industrial water market leads the industry with revenue of USD 498.2 million in 2025 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

• North America represents an established market where regulatory compliant and advanced technology biocides have been adopted. The growth of this market has seen an increase due to increasing EPA regulations, industrial water reuse projects, and sustainability mandates in power generation, chemical manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing.
   
• There is an increasing demand for green and environmentally friendly biocides. Digital water treatment solutions are helping water treatment operations improve efficiencies.
   

The Europe biocides for industrial water market is growing rapidly on the global level with a market share of 29.5% in 2025.
 

• In Europe, sustainable water treatment has been a primary focus of the market; therefore, this is supported by many environmental regulations which has led to the widespread adoption of "green", biodegradable, and low impact biocides in the power generation, chemical manufacturing and municipal water treatment industries.
   
• Advanced dosing technology and water reuse systems also support the continued growth of the market in Europe. Although the total volume growth has been moderate, the emergence of premium solutions.
   

The Asia Pacific biocides for industrial water market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% during the analysis timeframe.
 

• Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, fueled by rapid industrialization, expanding power generation, and increasing infrastructure development. High water scarcity and growing environmental awareness are driving adoption of advanced biocides, including green and smart dosing solutions.
   
• China, India, and Japan dominate consumption, while smaller economies are increasingly investing in wastewater and effluent treatment. Demand spans cooling, boiler, process, and wastewater applications, making the region a key growth engine for global market expansion through 2034.
   

Latin America biocides for industrial water market accounted for 4.4% market share in 2025 and is anticipated to show highest growth over the forecast period.
 

• Latin America has moderate growth due to industrial water treatment investment from Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Water scarcity, compliance with regulatory requirements, and increasing industrial infrastructure drive demand for oxidizing / non-oxidizing biocides. Increasingly, green formulations are being utilized with support from sustainability initiatives.
   

Middle East & Africa biocides for industrial water market accounted for 3.4% market share in 2025 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

• The MEA region is emerging as a market due to the industrial expansion, scarcity of water, and desalination projects; Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are leading in the adoption of biocides for cooling water, boiler systems, and wastewater treatment.
   
• Demand is growing for green and biodegradable biocides as environmental regulation and sustainability initiatives slowly establish market. The market is characterized by high value projects, premium products, and investment in smart water treatment technologies
   

Biocides For Industrial Water Market Share

The top 5 companies in biocides for industrial water industry include Ecolab Inc. (Nalco Water), BASF SE, Solenis LLC, Kemira Oyj, and DuPont de Nemours, Inc. .These are prominent companies operating in their respective regions covering approximately 71.6% of the market share in 2025. These companies hold strong positions due to their extensive experience in biocides for industrial water market. Their diverse product portfolios, backed by robust production capabilities and distribution networks, enable them to meet the rising demand across various regions.
 

Ecolab, through Nalco Water, provides advanced water treatment solutions, including oxidizing, non-oxidizing, and green biocides. Its focus on industrial water systems, cooling towers, boilers, and wastewater ensures operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. The company emphasizes digital dosing technologies and tailored solutions for global industrial applications.
 

BASF SE delivers a diverse portfolio of chemical and biocide solutions for industrial water treatment. Its offerings include oxidizing, non-oxidizing, and bio-based biocides for cooling, boiler, process, and wastewater applications. The company leverages R&D innovation and global supply networks to meet stringent environmental and regulatory standards across multiple industries.
 

Solenis specializes in water treatment chemistries, including biocides for industrial cooling, boiler, and wastewater systems.It provides tailored solutions for microbial control, scale, and corrosion management. Strong emphasis on sustainability, digital monitoring, and industry-specific expertise enables Solenis to serve power, chemical, pulp & paper, and food & beverage sectors globally.

 

Kemira Oyj offers comprehensive water treatment solutions, including oxidizing, non-oxidizing, and eco-friendly biocides. Focused on cooling, boiler, and industrial process water systems, Kemira integrates innovation, digital monitoring, and regulatory compliance to optimize microbial control, corrosion management, and efficiency for chemical, pulp & paper, and power generation industries worldwide.
 

DuPont provides industrial water biocide solutions targeting microbial control, scaling, and corrosion prevention. Its portfolio includes oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides, serving power, chemical, and food & beverage industries. The company emphasizes R&D-driven innovations, regulatory compliance, and sustainable solutions to enhance water treatment efficiency and environmental performance globally.
 

Biocides For Industrial Water Market Companies

Major players operating in the biocides for industrial water industry include:

• B&V Chemicals Ltd.
• BASF SE
• Dupont
• Ecolab Inc. (Nalco Water Division)
• Italmatch Chemicals SpA (Advanced Water Solutions)
• Kemira Oyj
• Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Kurita-GK Chemical)
• Lanxess AG
• Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V.
• Solenis LLC
   

Biocides For Industrial Water Industry News

• In January 2025, BASF completed a EUR 180 million expansion at its Ludwigshafen site, increasing peracetic-acid and hydrogen-peroxide biocide production capacity by 30,000 tons per year, strengthening its global industrial water treatment portfolio.
   
• On June 5, 2024, the EU Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) released four new opinions on active substances and seven Union authorization decisions, impacting market access and compliance for industrial water treatment biocides.
   

This biocides for industrial water market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and volume (Kilo Tons) from 2025 to 2035, for the following segments:

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Market, By Product Type

• Oxidizing Biocides
• Chlorine-Based
• Bromine-Based
• Chlorine Dioxide
• Peracetic Acid
• Ozone
• Others
• Non-Oxidizing Biocides
• Glutaraldehyde
• Isothiazolinones
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
• DBNPA
• Bronopol
• Others

Market, By Application

• Cooling Water Treatment
• Boiler Water Treatment
• Process Water Treatment
• Wastewater & Effluent Treatment
• Others

Market, By End user

• Oil & Gas
• Power Generation
• Pulp & Paper
• Chemical & Petrochemical
• Food & Beverage
• Mining & Metallurgy
• Pharmaceuticals
• Textile & Leather
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• UK
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East and Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• UAE
• Rest of Middle East and Africa