Global Biocides Market Assessment, By Type [Oxidizing Biocides, Non-oxidizing Biocides], By Application [Disinfection, Preservation, Sterilization, Sanitization, Microbial Control, Others], By End-use [Agriculture, Healthcare, Consumer Products, Water Treatment, Industrial, Feed Preservatives, and Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2018-2032F

Global Biocides Market is projected to witness a CAGR of 4.36% during the forecast period 2025-2032, growing from USD 10.10 billion in 2024 to USD 14.21 billion in 2032. The Biocides Market is growing due to the rising demand for water quality management that results from increasing urban populations, the deteriorating state of water infrastructure, and stricter hygiene and environmental regulations. Both municipal and industrial water treatment facilities are heavy users of biocides in their need to control bacteria, algae, and fungi, thus contributing to a stable market demand for biocides.

Another equally important growth driver is the heightened focus on public health and hygiene standards, particularly in healthcare facilities, food processing environments, and consumer-facing industries. Growing awareness of infection prevention and contamination control has been a major driver behind the increased use of biocides in disinfection, sanitization, and sterilization operations.

The growth of the industrial and manufacturing sectors is a further reason for market expansion. Power generation, oil & gas, pulp & paper, and chemical processing are some of the industries that use biocides to keep the occurrence of biofouling, corrosion, and other problems at bay, mainly in cooling water and process water systems, thus increasing the demand for biocides in these sectors.

For instance, in January 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Environment approved 15 new biocidal products, including disinfectants, algicides, rodenticides, and insect repellents, under its Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act, thereby strengthening market development in everyday hygiene and microbial control ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌products.

Report Attributes	Details
Base Year	2024
Forecast Period	2025-2032
Historical Period	2018-2023
Projected Growth Rate	CAGR of 4.36% between 2025 and 2032
Revenue Forecast in 2032	USD 14.21 billion

Increasing Demand for Water Treatment Solutions is Driving Market Expansion

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ rising demand for water treatment solutions is a major factor driving the expansion of the Global Biocides Market. This is because industries and municipalities worldwide are increasingly focused on providing water that is safe, clean, and free of microbial contamination. The need for potable water, wastewater treatment, and industrial process water management has skyrocketed due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing industrial activities. Microbial contamination in water systems can lead to biofouling, corrosion, and waterborne diseases; therefore, biocides have become essential for maintaining water quality and ensuring the continued operational efficiency of these systems.

In industrial applications such as power plants, oil and gas facilities, and chemical processing plants, biocides help keep cooling towers, boilers, and pipelines free from blockages and equipment degradation by controlling the growth of algae, bacteria, and fungi. In addition, municipal water treatment plants use biocides to disinfect drinking water and maintain hygiene standards, particularly in regions with strict regulatory requirements.

Moreover, environmental laws and public health regulations are driving increased adoption of efficient and eco-friendly biocidal solutions, leading to greater product innovation and higher consumption. As a result, demand for biocides in water treatment, driven by regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and the critical need for safe water, makes the water treatment sector one of the most significant contributors to overall market growth.

For instance, in April 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued new recommendations for evaluating residues during water treatment operations. The directive will take effect in April 2026 and emphasizes the safe application of biocides and their control in treated drinking water, underscoring the regulatory focus on microbial control in water systems.

Rising Focus on Public Health and Hygiene Propels Market Growth

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ increasing emphasis on public health and hygiene is one of the major reasons for demand in the Global Biocides Market. The rising focus on infection prevention and contamination control by governments, institutions, and consumers is the main reason for this demand. Increased awareness of the risks posed by bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens has heightened the need for disinfection, sanitization, and sterilization across both public and private settings.

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are the primary places where there is a huge demand for surface biocides, medical equipment sterilization, and maintaining aseptic environments. Hygiene measures in hospitals, laboratories, and pharmaceutical manufacturing have become more stringent, leading to more frequent use of biocidal products to reduce healthcare-associated infections and ensure patient safety. Beyond healthcare, industries such as food processing, hospitality, and transportation are also strengthening sanitation practices to comply with regulations and meet rising customer expectations.

Another indication of this shift toward higher hygiene standards is the increasing use of biocides in consumer products, including household cleaners, personal care items, and surface disinfectants. Regulatory bodies globally are also progressively imposing tougher rules regarding sanitation, indoor air quality, and microbial control, which indirectly facilitates the continuous use of biocides.

For instance, in April 2025, Singapore introduced a new national standard (SS 705) to raise the criteria for the antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal efficacy of surface disinfectants and coatings. This move not only facilitates public health accountability and hygiene product reliability in the healthcare sector and public spaces but also serves as a green light for the widespread adoption of microbiocidal solutions.

Water Treatment is Leading the Biocides Market Share

Water​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ treatment drives the global biocides market by a large margin. This is primarily due to the critical and continuous need to control microbial growth in water systems, which are used in municipal, industrial, and commercial applications.

Since water environments are ideal for bacteria, algae, and fungi, their rapid growth is almost unavoidable. In such situations, biofouling, corrosion, odor formation, and serious public health risks may result if these organisms are not controlled. Therefore, biocides should be considered as a compulsory part of water treatment programs rather than an option.

Municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities are major consumers of biocides. The latter are used to ensure microbiological safety, meet regulatory standards, and protect public health. However, industrial water systems such as cooling towers, boilers, and process water circuits used in power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, and manufacturing industries still require regular biocide dosing to maintain operational efficiency and prevent system downtime caused by microbial contamination.

Biocides also dominate the water treatment market, with a preference for oxidizing biocides that act quickly and are generally very effective against different types of microorganisms. In addition, water reuse has been increasing, stricter discharge norms have been introduced, and aging infrastructure has put more pressure on reliable microbial control solutions. ​‍​

North America is Leading the Global Biocides Market Share

North​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ America is at the forefront of the global biocides market mainly due to its well-established regulatory framework, advanced water and industrial infrastructure, and high adoption of hygiene and safety standards across various end-use sectors. The region is intensely focused on microbial control in municipal water treatment, industrial processes, healthcare facilities, and consumer products, which is the primary reason for the constant and large-scale use of biocides.

The presence of tough environmental and public health regulations governing water quality, wastewater discharge, and industrial hygiene is one of the major factors that support the regional leadership. Regulatory agencies mandate the use of effective microbial control measures to prevent contamination, biofouling, and public health risks, thereby driving demand for biocidal solutions. Moreover, North America is also characterized by the extensive use of centralized water treatment systems, cooling towers, and industrial water circuits, where biocides play a vital role in the upkeep of operational efficiency.

For instance, in June 2025, the U.S. environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized updates to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, aimed at strengthening monitoring and treatment standards for contaminants in public water systems, including disinfection requirements. These regulatory revisions underscore the region’s commitment to microbial control in municipal water treatment and are driving demand for effective biocidal agents.

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Future Market Outlook (2025-2032F)

• During​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the forecast period, the worldwide Biocides Market is predicted to keep increasing. This growth will be largely attributed to the continued and indispensable use of biocides in water treatment, industrial processes, healthcare hygiene, and consumer product preservation. Moreover, increasing regulatory measures concerning water quality, sanitation, and microbial control will energize demand in both mature and emerging markets.
• On the technological front, the transition towards the use of oxidizing biocides is anticipated. This is mainly because such biocides are fast-acting and broadly effective, especially in large-scale water and industrial applications. Meanwhile, product innovation will focus on enhancing efficiency, optimizing dosage, and improving environmental sustainability to align with evolving regulatory standards.

Report Scope

“Global Biocides Market Assessment, Opportunities and Forecast, 2018-2032F”, is a comprehensive report by Markets and Data, providing in-depth analysis and qualitative and quantitative assessment of the current state of the global biocides market, industry dynamics, and challenges. The report includes market size, segmental shares, growth trends, opportunities, and forecast between 2025 and 2032. Additionally, the report profiles the leading players in the industry, mentioning their respective market share, business models, competitive intelligence, etc.

Report Attribute	Details
Segments Covered	Type, Application, End-use
Regions Covered	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa
Key Companies Profile	BASF SE, Kemira Oyj, Solvay SA, LANXESS AG, Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL), Ecolab Inc., Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V., Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, Valtris Specialty Chemicals Limited, The Dow Chemical Company
Customization Scope	15% free report customization with purchase
Pricing and Purchase Options	Avail the customized purchase options to fulfill your precise research needs
Delivery Format	PDF and Excel through email (subject to the license purchased)

In the report, the global biocides market has been segmented into the following categories: 

• By Type
  • Oxidizing Biocides
  • Non-oxidizing Biocides
• By Application
  • Disinfection
  • Preservation
  • Sterilization
  • Sanitization
  • Microbial Control
  • Others
• By End-use
  • Agriculture
  • Healthcare
  • Consumer Products
  • Water Treatment
  • Industrial
  • Feed Preservatives
  • Others
• By Region
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • South America
  • Middle East and Africa

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The landscape of the global biocides market is shaped by stringent regulatory oversight, sustained demand from water treatment and industrial applications, and the need for reliable microbial control across public health–critical sectors. Leading players include diversified specialty chemical companies and water treatment solution providers that offer broad portfolios of oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides for municipal water systems, industrial processes, healthcare hygiene, agriculture, and consumer products. These companies focus on formulation efficiency, regulatory compliance, and application-specific performance to address evolving safety and environmental requirements.

The market outlook remains stable and positive, supported by ongoing investments in water and wastewater infrastructure, rising hygiene standards, and the essential nature of biocides in preventing biofouling, contamination, and material degradation. North America and Europe continue to anchor demand through mature regulatory systems, while Asia-Pacific is increasingly contributing through infrastructure expansion and industrial growth.

For instance, in March 2025, LANXESS presented its non-oxidizing biocides (Aqucar DB 20, Kathon WTE, Aqucar GA 50) for effective biofouling control in industrial water systems at Aquatech Amsterdam 2025, highlighting industry demand for microbial control in water treatment applications. These products help protect membrane systems and ensure consistent, high-quality water production in industrial settings.

Key Players Operating in the Global Biocides Market are:

• BASF SE
• Kemira Oyj
• Solvay SA
• LANXESS AG
• Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL)
• Ecolab Inc.
• Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V.
• Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies
• Valtris Specialty Chemicals Limited
• The Dow Chemical Company

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