Chlorine Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global Chlorine Market is Segmented By End-User (Water Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Chemical, Paper & Pulp, Plastics, Pesticides, Others), By Application(EDC/PVC, Isocyanates and Oxygenates, Chloromethanes, Solvents, and Epichlorohydrin, Inorganic Chemicals, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Global Chlorine Market Size

The Global Chlorine Market size was worth US$ 41.68 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach US$ 63.26 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.35% during the forecast period (2024-2031). 

Chlorine is a strongly reactive element and a potent oxidant, with the highest electron affinity and third-highest electronegativity on the Pauling scale, trailing only oxygen and fluorine. Electric current is passed through a salt solution to create chlorine. Electrolysis is a process that produces chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen and chlorine. Chlorine is the most widely produced compound on the planet.

Chlorine is most commonly employed as a bleach in producing paper and fabric, but it also produces insecticides (insect killers), rubber and solvents. Chlorine is used to destroy hazardous germs in drinking water and swimming pool water. It's also employed in treating industrial waste and sewage as part of the sanitation process. When chlorine bleach is used with other cleaning chemicals, it can produce chlorine gas. Chlorine was utilized as a choking (pulmonary) agent during World War I.

Chlorine Market Scope

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Global Chlorine Market Dynamics

In the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride, chlorine is a significant raw element. PVC consumption is expected to expand because of rising building, automotive, composite manufacturing and water treatment applications. The harmful health effects of chlorination, on the other hand, may limit the market growth.

Increasing demand for water treatment

The need for treated water for sanitation and drinking has expanded dramatically in recent years, a trend that will continue in the chlorine industry in the future years. Emerging economies like India, Thailand and Brazil are increasingly focusing on boosting public awareness about the dangers of drinking unclean water and its involvement in spreading diseases like cholera, typhoid and Hepatitis E & A. Because chlorine can kill germs and other diseases, it is increasingly used in water treatment.

The compound is increasingly used to purify water in swimming pools and irrigation systems. In addition, numerous countries' governments are enacting tight regulations to regulate the supply of treated, clean and safe water. These reasons are expected to increase the use of the chemical, propelling the market forward.

Mushrooming consumption of PVC 

Chlorine is utilized extensively in the chlorination process required to make PVC. The element's use in PVC has several advantages, including increased melt viscosity and enhanced thermal stability during the manufacturing process. As a result, chlorine is widely utilized in PVC, one of the key market drivers.

PVC consumption is increasing due to the growing demand for siding and piping applications in the building and construction industry, windshield system parts in the automobile industry and non-breakable containers in the medical industry, all of which are driving up chlorine demand around the world.

The hazardous impact of chlorination 

Pretreating water with chlorine to decrease biofouling is the most popular disinfection method. Despite its widespread use, chlorination has significant drawbacks, including the generation of disinfection by-products and ineffectiveness against certain microorganisms. While chlorine effectively eliminates most toxins in water, it also adds other types of toxins, such as trihalomethanes (THMs). When chlorine is put into the water supply and combined with other naturally existing elements, THMs are formed. THMs can cause asthma, bladder cancer and heart disease if they get into body systems.

 The main disadvantages of chlorination include limited protozoa protection, decreased disinfection efficiency in turbid water, potential taste and odor objections, the need to establish solution quality control and the long-term impacts of chlorination by-products.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The chlorine demand has decreased due to a nationwide lockdown implemented to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Countries worldwide were focused on flattening the infection curve, which has resulted in lockdowns in many countries, stranding millions of people at home. It resulted in the closure of businesses and production & manufacturing facilities, with no economic activity.

Furthermore, government resources devoted to importing or manufacturing vaccines impacted investments in other industrial manufacturing sectors such as plastics, chemicals and pulp & paper. However, chlorine demand improved steadily post the lifting up of lockdown limitations.

Chlorine Market Segment Analysis

By application, the chlorine market is segmented into EDC/PVC, isocyanates and oxygenates, chloromethanes, solvents and epichlorohydrin, inorganic chemicals and others.

The rising demand for Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in Sanitary Pads

PVC is extensively used in the building, construction and infrastructure industries. Polymeric materials are often used to construct and operate structures, either partially or entirely. Roofing materials, pipe systems, seals, wall panels, coatings and other goods can all be used. PVC comes in two varieties: hard resins and flexible resins. The majority of growth potential is in rigid resins, with main end-users including fittings, pipe & fittings, windows, fencing, roof tiles and vehicle parts. Film & sheets, flooring, wire & cable coating, synthetic leather items and shower curtains are all examples of flexible PVC. EDC is utilized as a solvent in the metal cleaning, textile and adhesives industries.

In the production of EDC and PVC, a substantial amount of chlorine is required as a raw ingredient. According to Euro Chlor, European chlorine production reached 795,584 tonnes in February 2020. Irrigation, water & sanitation management, building & construction, transportation, power, retail and other industries continue to see significant investment. PVC items such as wires and cables, pipes, wood PVC composites and waterproofing membranes play a significant part in the sustainable management of these sectors. The need for residential and office space grows every year as the world's population grows and urbanization accelerates. As a result, demand for PVC in the construction industry is expanding, as the goods provide great function and a long life term.

Global Chlorine Market Geographical Share

The growing demand from end-use industries in Asia-Pacific

The use of chlorine is expanding due to urbanization and an increasing demand for fresh water in China and India. The declining quality of agricultural products has recently prompted severe concerns about the agricultural practice's long-term viability. To address the issue, attempts have been undertaken to improve land productivity and supply chain efficiency (while lowering carbon emissions) by incorporating PVC pipes into field irrigation systems.

Furthermore, chlorine is often utilized in the purification of water. Water chlorination adds chlorine or chlorine compounds to water, such as sodium hypochlorite. The approach eliminates bacteria, viruses and other organisms in the water. Chlorination effectively prevents waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid. The packaging sector is the fastest-growing in India, directly or indirectly impacting all industries. Consumption of packaged goods is rising due to urbanization, rising per capita income and an expanding workforce. 

China is a chemical processing giant, producing a sizable part of the world's chemicals. The country's growth accounts for half of the global chemical market's growth. The demand for chlorine in this industry is expected to rise throughout the forecast period, owing to rising demand for chemicals. Furthermore, China boasts one of the world's largest pulp and paper industries. China is among the world's top three paper producers.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact:

European natural gas supply heavily depends on Russia, a country abundant in natural gas and oil. Approximately 35% of Europe's natural gas consumption originates from Russia. This connection is facilitated by a network of crucial pipelines, the most significant of which traverses Ukraine. This route has also become a critical bottleneck amidst the escalating crisis between the involved parties.

According to the latest data released by the European Chemistry Council, the revenue sources from chemical sales in the 27 EU countries were distributed as follows: the EU domestic market accounted for 13%, intra-EU sales (excluding domestic revenue) accounted for 53%, and the external EU market accounted for 34%. Compared to data from the past decade, the proportion of the EU's external exports has increased by 5 percentage points, reflecting trends in global trade and the rising demand for chemicals in markets outside the EU.

By End-user 

• Water treatment
• Pharmaceuticals
• Chemical 
• Paper & Pulp
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Others

By Application

• EDC/PVC
• Isocyanates and Oxygenates
• Chloromethanes
• Solvents and Epichlorohydrin
• Inorganic Chemicals
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • 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 April 2024, BASF SE introduced innovative solid-state battery packs, featuring enhanced properties such as lightweight design, safety, and sustainability. This innovation is expected to strengthen the organization's market position.
• In July 2022, Long Naro, the Director General of the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, announced that the construction of the first phase of the Bak Kheng water treatment plant had reached 66% completion and is projected to be finished by 2023. This plant will have the capacity to treat 390,000 cubic meters of water per day.
• In January 2023, Covestro AG and LANXESS formed a joint venture aimed at producing more sustainable raw materials by reducing CO2 emissions by up to 120,000 tons per year. As part of this joint venture, LANXESS will source chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen from Covestro's ISCC PLUS-certified sites in Leverkusen and Krefeld-Uerdingen.
• In August 2022, Occidental Petroleum Corporation proposed an investment of USD 1.1 billion for the technological upgrade and expansion of its chlor-alkali production unit. Construction of this project is set to begin in 2023 and will continue to produce chlorine and caustic soda.

Chlorine Market Major Players

Major global chlorine market companies include BorsodChem (Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd), Covestro AG, Ercros SA, Formosa Plastics Corporation, INOVYN (INEOS), Nouryon, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Olin Corporation, Tata Chemicals Limited and Tosoh Corporation.

Why Purchase the Report?

• Visualize the composition of the chlorine market segmentation by end-user, application and region, highlighting the critical commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the chlorine market by analyzing trends and co-development deals. 
• Excel data sheet with thousands of chlorine market-level 4/5 segmentation points.
• Pdf report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study. 
• Product mapping in excel for the key product of all major market players

The global chlorine market report would provide access to an approx. 53 market data table, 49 figures and 202 pages. 

Target Audience 2024

• Chlorine Service Providers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Education & Research Institutes
• Emerging Companies
• Chlorine Manufacturers