The global market for biocides in metalworking fluids was valued at $105 million in 2005, a 40 percent jump from a decade earlier, a market research firm reports. North America accounted for 40 percent of the market.
Several factors are combining to raise the total market value of biocides for metalworking fluids, and lower the North American percentage, according to Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, which this month announced publication of a series of biocide studies, including Biocides in Metalworking Fluids Global Report 2006. End-user-industry growth, and regulatory and technological changes are having the biggest impact.
Growth in the North American MWF biocides market has slowed, and competition for market share among the leaders has accelerated. Consolidation in the industry has raised the stakes for companies like Arch, BASF, Bode, Ciba, Clariant, Dow, ISP, Lonza, Rohm andHaas, Schulkeand Mayr, Thor, and Troy, a Research and Markets spokesman said. They are increasingly looking to countries in developing regions such as China, Eastern Europe, India and South America for growth opportunities.
Research and Markets pegs the value of the total global biocides market at just over $4 billion, of which sales to the MWF market account for just 2.6 percent. The total biocides industry is growing at a rate of 4 percent annually.
Research and Markets offers its study on biocides for MWFs for 3,500. Information is available at www.researchandmarkets.com.