Membranes are a vital commodity of the water and wastewater industry and play a major role in water and wastewater treatment processes for various industries such as food & beverage, chemical & petrochemical, pharmaceutical & medical, power, and others. Membranes are divided into four main categories: Reverse Osmosis (RO), Microfiltration (MF), Nanofiltration (NF) and Ultrafiltration (UF). These categories define the membrane pore size, and the size of particles which can pass through them during the filtration process. Growing implementation of drinking water standards and guidelines is also contributing to the membrane market growth.
The Growing Water and Wastewater Treatment activities is driving the Membranes market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% to reach $ 13.2 billion in 2030.
Membranes are widely used to produce Ultra-Pure Water (UPW) and desalted water for various industrial processes such as power plant make up water, food industry, electronic chips manufacturing, medical, pharmaceutical, and others. Membranes are also used in all conventional water treatment technologies and processes, but most of the membranes used now a days are a combinations of conventional and latest membrane technologies. Membrane technology is also used to upgrade existing operational plants, as it helps to improvise the plant's water flow and system size, and effluent water quality is also upgraded significantly at a lower relative cost which is expected to drive the growth of membranes market in the coming years.
Growing implementation of drinking water guidelines and standards all over the world is expected to drive the membranes market
Previously, conventional water treatment processes utilized a large amount of chemicals, membrane technology is a cleaner process, owing to which it is gaining momentum in the market. Water scarcity, degrading water quality, and water contamination by various sources such as cyanides, dyes, and heavy metals, is growing all over the world. Membrane technology is a proven technique to clean, filter, renew, and make water suitable for agricultural purposes and human consumption. Other upcoming technologies such as nanotechnology holds a great potential to improve treatment efficiency in wastewater treatment plants.
Rise in the implementation of drinking water standards from various organizations such as WHO (World Health Organization), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others is driving the membrane market during the forecast period. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the SDWA (Safe Drinking Water Act) in 1974, which sets enforceable and maximum limits for drinking water contaminants such as lead, and other metals. This act also administers the quality of drinking water which is supplied to the American public. WHO (World Health Organization) has also laid down certain guidelines for drinking-water quality and control of various treatment processes used for water filtration, and membrane technology shows a very good potential in the market and the market for membrane technology is expected to grow over the forecast period.
Growing clean water demand for various industrial processes is expected to boost the membrane market
Various membrane processes such as reverse osmosis (RO), ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF), and nanofiltration (NF) are being widely used for brackish water, seawater, and water reuse. Various polymers such as polyethersulfone and polysulfone, which are hydrophobic are filtered using polymer based membranes and the use of such membranes is expected to grow over the forecast period. Polymeric based membranes are also economical and cost-effective, and are used for an extensive range of applications including feed water production, beverage processing, chemical processing, and other industrial processes, which is further expected to fuel the membrane market in a coming few years.
Polymeric based membranes exhibit excellent efficiency, high performance, and specific separation properties owing to which it holds the maximum market share in the membrane market. Furthermore, the use of nanofiltration (NF) membranes is growing on account of its capability to infiltrate monovalent ions, while rejecting multivalent and divalent ions. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes also offers permeation and flexibility for ion separation which has significant advantages in various industrial applications. Additionally, these membranes are extensively used in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industry for juice concentration, whey protein concentration, and other applications owing to which the market for membranes is expected to grow in the coming years.
Asia-Pacific will lead the growth in membrane market
The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region mostly driven by the growing water treatment activities and depleting fresh water resources and is projected to lead the membrane market with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Growing industries in developing nations such as power generation, food & beverage, chemical & petrochemical, and increasing population, is expected to drive the regional growth of membranes market. Furthermore, numerous government agencies are implementing regulations and standards on the drinking water in various countries such as China, India, Japan, and Singapore which is anticipated to fuel the regional membrane market over the forecast period.
Singapore is one of the most developed countries in this region. With all the regulations and laws in place, Singapore ensures that its tap water is suitable for drinking straight from the tap without any additional filtration and falls within the drinking water guidelines set by WHO (World Health Organization) and US Environmental Public Health Regulations 2008 (Quality of Piped Drinking Water). The water supply is regularly collected and monitored by PUB (Public Utilities Board) to ensure safe drinking water in the country. Growing population, increasing industrialization, and excellent selectivity offered by nanofiltration (NF) membranes is expected to boost the membranes market over the forecast period.
Key Market Players
- General Electric
- LG Chem, Ltd.
- TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
- DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
- Pentair plc
- Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
- LANXESS
- ALFA LAVAL
- Pall Corporation
- Lenntech B.V.
- Others
Membranes Market Scope
Metrics | Details |
Base Year | 2023 |
Historic Data | 2018-2022 |
Forecast Period | 2024-2030 |
Study Period | 2018-2030 |
Forecast Unit | Value (USD) |
Revenue forecast in 2030 | $ 13.2 billion |
Growth Rate | CAGR of 8.5% during 2020-2030 |
Segment Covered | Product Type, By Application, Region. |
Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa |
Key Players Profiled | Dupont (US), Toray Industries (Japan), Hydranautics ( A Nitto Group Company) (China), Koch Separation Solutions (US), Pentair (US), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Lanxess (Germany), LG Chem (South Korea), Pall Corporation (US), and Suez (France) |
Key Segment Of The Membranes Market
Product Type (USD Billion)
• Freac Sand
• Resin Coated Proppant
• Ceramic Proppan
Application, (USD Billion)
• Shale Gas
• Tight Gas
• Coal Bed Methanet
Regional Overview, (USD Billion)
North America
• US
• Canada
Europe
• Germany
• France
• UK
• Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Rest of Asia Pacific
South America
• Mexico
• Brazil
• Rest of South America
Middle East and South Africa