Global Liquid Cationic Etherification Agent Market

Overview

Global Liquid Cationic Etherification Agents Market reached US$ 252.4 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 378.6 million by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

The growing demand from textile and papermaking industries, especially in as underdeveloped Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Laos push towards low-level industrialization, will propel the demand for liquid cationic etherification agents during the forecast period.

The long term growth potential for the global liquid cationic etherification agents market is hampered by the lack of breakthrough innovation within the sector. Given the long lead times for commercializing new chemical formulations, the lack of major products in the developmental pipeline would present challenges for pursuing value-driven market growth.

Dynamics

Growing Requirement of Non-Toxic Chemicals for Paper Production

Although air pollution from paper mills has been of primary concern, the runoff water contamination from paper mills has also attracted growing concern in recent years. According to a paper published in August 2023, by researchers from Central University of Rajasthan, India, various refractory pollutants are found in paper mill discharges, including chlorophenols, chlorocatechols chlorolignin, chloroguaiacol, furan, cyanide, dioxins and heavy metals.

Liquid cationic etherification agents are auxiliary additives used in papermaking process for modifying raw starch in cellulose during processing. It is also utilized as a sizing agent and filtration aid in other processes. Given its non-toxic nature and its ability to bond with solid waste, the demand for liquid cationic etherification agents has increased from the pulp and paper industry.

Increasingly stringent environmental regulations for wastewater

Haphazard urbanization in emerging countries has led to ill-developed sewage systems that discharge untreated waste straight into water bodies. Furthermore, due to lax enforcement, many industrial plants in emerging countries dump untreated wastewater. Growing incidences of extreme water pollution have forced governments to enforce strict norms against illegal discharge of wastewater.

Countries like China, which are chronically affected by water pollution, special laws and have been implemented requiring industries and municipal bodies to ensure minimum standards of wastewater quality before discharging it into water bodies. Governments are also investing in expanding wastewater treatment facilities to cope with an exponential increase in wastewater generation. The growing enforcement of stringent environmental standards for wastewater quality will augment demand for liquid cationic etherification agents during the forecast period.

Lower Rate of Production

Liquid cationic etherification agents are specialty chemicals with niche applications in a limited range of industries. Therefore, the production of these agents was already limited as compared to other specialty chemicals. Many chemical manufacturers simply do not undertake major capital investment in expanding production of chemicals with limited industrial applications and which forms a very small part of their revenue.

Problems in production have been further compounded in recent years due to supply chain disruptions, mainly on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war as well as Israel's war against Hamas. Such disruptions will further lead to production shortfalls, rendering manufacturers unablet to capitalize on growing market demand.

Segment Analysis

The global liquid cationic etherification agents market is segmented based on type, application and region.

Water Treatment Continues to Account for a Large Share of the Global Market

Liquid cationic etherification agents are used in wastewater treatment as flocculants, since they bind to suspended solid particles. As governments in developing and underdeveloped countries alike push to improve and expand wastewater treatment infrastructure, the share of water treatment industry in the demand for liquid cationic etherification agents will only increase over the upcoming years.

Furthermore, the demand for these agents from the textile and pulp and paper industries is only concentrated in countries and regions with a large-scale presence of these industries. Therefore, they account for a relatively smaller share of the global market, whereas given the universality of water treatment gives it a larger market share.

Geographical Penetration

Asia-Pacific Will Continue to Have a Major Market Share

Asia-Pacific is forecasted to have the highest share within the global liquid cationic etherification agents' market, primarily due to the region's strong presence in the textile, paper and chemical manufacturing industries. Shifting global trends, encouraging government policies as well as growing capital investment by these industries in production capacity expansion.

For instance, in April 2023, India announced a new production linked incentives (PLI) policy for the textile industry, which is expected to kick in from early 2024. The policy is intended to boost the production and export of textiles from the country. A similar scheme is being planned to boost the country's value-added chemical exports. Asia-Pacific will continue to retain the largest share in the global market as other countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia also undertake extensive industrialization policies.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The global liquid cationic etherification agents' market experienced various pitfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper and textile industries, some of the largest end-users of these agents, faced significant disruptions due to the pandemic on account of labor shortages and cutbacks in production. Consequently, the pandemic period witnessed a significant suppression in demand for liquid cationic etherification agents.

The period was also marked by significant economic uncertainty, which saw the chemical industry also reduce its demand for etherification agents. Only water treatment industry continued to witness stable demand during this period. The overall market situation has improved in the post-pandemic period and nearly all major industries are witnessing a growth in demand.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis

The Russia-Ukraine war sent ripples through the energy market of Europe. Although the volatility in global energy markets has eased, disruptions to the European market has continued. A steep increase in energy prices is prompting the shift of production of liquid cationic etherification agents from Europe to Asia-Pacific.

In Russia, sanctions by U.S. and European nations have led to an exodus of investment and cooperation in the sector, forcing many industries to resort to grey market imports or source from Chinese suppliers. Disruptions to normal trade have also led to an increase in agent prices for various industrial end-users.

By Type

• 69% Active Content
• 65% Active Content

By Application

• Pulp & Paper
• Textile & Apparel
• Water Treatment
• Chemicals
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

• In October 2023, the city of new Delhi in India commissioned its largest wastewater treatment plant, with a capacity of 564 MLD. It will further boost demand for liquid cationic etherification agents in the Indian market.
• In February 2024, Angren Pack, an Uzbek paper and paper products manufacturing company, announced the opening of a new expansion to its production line in Angren, Uzbekistan. The expansion will further augment demand for cationic etherification agents in the country.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the market include Dow, QUAB Chemicals, Sachem, Inc., Chemigate, Lotte Fine Chemical, Shubham Starch Chem (P) Ltd, Shandong Guofeng, Junda Chemical, Shandong Tiancheng, Dongying J&M and Dongying Zeao Chemical.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global liquid cationic etherification agents market segmentation based on type, application and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of liquid cationic etherification agents' market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global liquid cationic etherification agents market report would provide approximately 50 tables, 54 figures and 192 Pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Paper Manufacturing Companies
• Textile and Apparel Manufacturers
• Chemical Manufacturers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals