Chelates Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Chelates Market Overview

Chelates market size is forecast to reach US$7.5 billion by 2027 after growing at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Chelating agents are organic compounds that link metal ions to form ring-like structures called chelates. A chelate is formed when a polydentate ligand bonds to a central metal atom. These ligands are called chelants, chelators, chelating agents, or sequestering agents. Chelation is useful in applications such as providing nutritional supplements, in chelation therapy to remove toxic metals from the body, as contrast agents in MRI scanning, in pulp processing, as cleaners and detergents, in water treatment to assist in the removal of metals, and in fertilizers. The most widely used chelate is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid commonly called EDTA. It is used in detergents, liquid soaps, shampoos, agricultural chemical sprays, contact lens cleaners, and cosmetics. The growing need for water treatment is expected to drive the chelates market during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic affected every industry. The pandemic affected the pulp and paper industry to an unprecedented extent. It accelerated existing trends and turned other parts of the industry upside down. On account of awareness of hygiene and sanitation practices, the demand for paper towels, toilet paper, and wipes skyrocketed leading to shortages. Business Insider reports that the US saw $1.45 billion in toilet paper sales in March 2020, and experienced an 845% increase in demand from 2019. Lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates resulted in store closures and banning in-person dining in restaurants which resulted in a boom in e-commerce and food delivery sectors. This resulted in great demand for packaging products. While packaging and other paper products surged, printing did not farewell. Work-from-home and online classes resulted in lower demand for paper from the education and commercial sectors. The absence of office printers and the switch to digital meetings drastically reduced paper consumption. The availability of e-books and e-papers led to low demand for newspapers, books, and magazines. Thus, the ups and downs in the paper industry impacted the chelates industry.

Report Coverage

The report: “Chelates Market – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the chelates industry.

By Product: EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid), Green Chelates (MGDA (Methylglycinediacetic acid), GLDA (Glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid), IDS (Imminodisuccinate), and EDDS (Ethylenediamine-N,N’-disuccinic acid)), DTPA (Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), Sodium Etidronate, Sodium Gluconate and Others (Phosphonates) (ATMP Aminotris (methylenephosphonic acid), DTPMP Diethylenetriaminepenta (methylenephosphonic acid), HEDP Etidronic Acid, PBTC Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic acid, and PAPEMP Polyamino Polyether Methylene Phosphonic acid)

By Type:  Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable

By Grade: Liquid Grade and Solid Grade

By End-Use Industry: Agriculture (Fertigation, Foliar Spray, Seed Dressing, and Others), Pulp & Paper (Bleaching Wood Pulp, Stabilizers, and Pulp Processing), Food & Beverage (Beverages, Dressings, Sauces and Spreads, Canned Vegetables, Canned Seafood,         Pickled Products, and Others (Pie Fillings, Colour Additives)), Industrial (Enhanced Oil Recovery, Scale Removal, Water Treatment, Corrosion Inhibitor, and Others), Healthcare & Pharmaceutical (Contrast Agents, Nutritional Supplements, Pharmaceutical Preservatives & Stabilizers, and Others), Personal Care & Consumer Products (Cleaners, Detergent, Cosmetics, and Others), Textile and Others

By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa) 

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominates the chelates market, owing to a large proportion of agricultural lands and increasing agricultural practices in this region. According to Invest India, India’s agriculture technology to attain $24.1 billion by 2025.
• Chelation is a process in which a polydentate ligand bonds to a metal ion and forms a ring. The complex produced by this process is called a chelate, and the polydentate ligand is referred to as a chelating agent.
• Green chelates or natural chelating agents are also known as biodegradable chelating agents. They were formulated as an eco-friendly and highly efficient alternative for the two most frequently used chelating agents, nitrotriacetic acid (NTA) and EDTA.
• The major opportunity for this market is high research spending to develop eco-friendly products that are cost-effective.

Figure: Asia-Pacific Chelates Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

Chelates Market Segment Analysis – By Product

The sodium gluconate segment held a significant share of up to 20% in the chelates market in 2021.  Sodium gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid formed by the fermentation of glucose. Sodium gluconate chelates and forms stable complexes with various ions, preventing them from engaging in chemical reactions. It forms stable chelates with divalent and trivalent metal ions such as calcium, copper, iron, aluminum, and other metals. It is also an excellent humectant. These properties contribute to the use of sodium gluconate as a high-performing chelating agent, sequestrant, processing aid, humectant, and corrosion inhibitor in a variety of applications. The outstanding property of sodium gluconate is its excellent chelating capability, especially in alkaline and concentrated alkaline solutions which surpass all the other chelating agents, such as EDTA, NTA, and related compounds. The use of sodium gluconate has increased in food applications where it works by inhibiting bitterness. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified sodium gluconate as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and its use in the food industry is permitted without limitation. Owing to its non-corrosive, non-volatile, non-toxic, non-odorous, and readily biodegradable nature, sodium gluconate is set to dominate the chelates market during the forecast period.

Chelates Market Segment Analysis – By End Use Industry

The personal care and consumer goods segment held a significant share in the chelates market in 2021. Chelates have a unique property- they can form soluble complexes with metal ions. They can also capture and transport the ions away from areas where they are not needed. This enables them to remove dirt and scale, soften water, and boost cleaning action, making them essential ingredients for cleaning products. Soaps and detergents react with the mineral deposits in hard water and form soap scum and scale in dishwashers which over a period of time accumulate and can degrade the appliance. According to EcoPure, over 85% of the USA has hard water. Calcium and magnesium are the two most common contributors to hard water. Hard water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), refers to the amount of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals found in water. Chelating agents are widely used in domestic cleaning products to prevent calcium and magnesium ions naturally found in water from forming soap scum. There are many chelating agents, but EDTA and citric acid are two commonly found chelates in cleaning products owing to their cost-effectiveness. In cosmetic formulations, metals promote oxidation reactions, impair the foaming properties of surfactants, and potentially cause discoloration. Chelates bind with metal ions and play a crucial role in the stability and efficacy of cosmetics. Thus, the personal care and consumer goods segment is expected to hold a significant share in the chelates market.

Chelates Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

The Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the Chelates Market in 2021 up to 35%, owing to the agricultural industry and water treatment practices in the region. China accounts for approximately 12.9% of the cultivable land globally. According to FAO, China is the largest producer of various crops, including rice, wheat, pears, peaches, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables. In India, agriculture is the backbone of the economy. India is the leading producer of millets, pulses, ginger, okra, bananas, papayas, mangoes, lemons, guavas, and spices (except cinnamon). The FAO and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s 2021 Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition pointed out that 1.8 billion people in the Asia-Pacific region did not have access to adequate food in 2020 – an increase of almost 150 billion in just 12 months. In order to get on a better track, food security is one of the most critical issues at hand. One way of achieving this could be by increasing yields and promoting healthy plant growth. Chelates play an important role in agriculture as it increases the efficient use of fertilizers and nutrient availability at the root level and in particular increase the mobility of nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus. The United Nations projects that by 2025, half of the countries worldwide will face water stress or outright shortages. By 2050, as many as three out of four people around the globe could be affected by water scarcity. Although Asia is home to more than half of the world’s population, it has less freshwater 3,920 cubic meters per person per year. Hence, water treatment is of paramount importance in the region. It is anticipated that countries such as India, China, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. will make improvements in water treatment processes. Therefore, the growing need for chelates from agrochemicals and water treatment is driving the chelates market in the region.

Chelates Market Drivers

Growing Need for Water Treatment

Water treatment is done to improve water quality. Water treatment has relevance as worldwide water demand is constantly under pressure due to the increasing world population and a globally improved standard of living. With the increasing urbanization and economic development, the current water supply is unlikely to satisfy the ever-growing demand. It is estimated that about 3.4 million of the world’s population die every year due to deprived access to clean drinking water. According to the United Nations, nearly one-third of the world’s population lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Due to the scarcity of this natural resource, it is important to reuse water and use it for other industrial purposes such as cooling, cleaning, etc. Hard water contains high levels of metal ions such as calcium and magnesium, which impact the performance of many products. Removing metal ions is therefore a key part of many industrial and domestic processes that use water. Softening is an important technique commonly used to remove hardness which is performed by the addition of chelating agents.  Hence, the growing need for water treatment acts as a driver for the chelates market. 

Development of Green Chelates

Some chelates are poorly biodegradable and affect the environment. Natural chelating agents are biodegradable products used mainly for washing, surface cleaning, detergents, and home care purposes. GLDA and MGDA are green chelating agents that are the best replacements for phosphates in most cleaning applications and they outperform alternatives like citrates, gluconates, and zeolites because they form stronger bonds with metal ions. They combine excellent performance with a superior ecological profile since they are readily biodegradable and largely biobased. The core ingredients used to manufacture green chelates are derived from biological and renewable sources such as beet sugar and corn sugar. GLDA was developed as a cost-effective, green alternative to the two most frequently used agents, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and nitrotriacetic acid. The development of green chelates creates an opportunity for sustainable products and thus acts as a driver for the chelates market. 

Chelates Market Challenges

Environmental Impact of EDTA and Phosphonates

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a well-known chelating agent and has numerous applications in various industries. EDTA is a chelate ligand with a high affinity constant to form metal-EDTA complexes to sequester metal ions. In general, EDTA has a low toxic impact on both humans and natural environments. There are some concerns, however, about its poor biodegradation in conventional wastewater treatment plants and natural environments, and its effect in mobilizing heavy metals from solid phases to pose a risk to groundwater. EDTA behaves as a persistent pollutant in the environment, enhancing the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. In natural environments, studies detect poor bio-degradability of the ligand. Phosphonates are also known to be poorly degradable chelates. The phosphorus in phosphonates serves as a nutrient, and the deposition of large quantities of phosphates in lakes and waterways induces excessive growth of plants and algae. This excessive growth depletes oxygen and endangers aquatic life. As a result, phosphonates have been discouraged around the world. Biodegradation tests with sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants with HEDP and NTMP showed no indication for any degradation. An investigation of HEDP, NTMP, and DTPMP in standard biodegradation tests also failed to identify any biodegradation. Such concerns over certain chelates can prove to be a challenge for the chelates industry.

Chelates Industry Outlook

Product launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the chelates market. Chelates market top 10 companies include:

1. Akzo Nobel N.V.
2. BASF SE
3. Kemira
4. The Dow Chemical Company
5. Archer Daniels Midland Company
6. Nouryon
7. Cargill
8. Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd
9. Jungbunzlauer
10. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Recent Developments

• In November 2020, BASF’s Care Creations launched a highly stable chelating agent, Neutrol MGDA for personal care applications. Neutrol MGDA is suitable for various fields of application: from shower gels and liquid soaps to shampoos, styling products, baby cleansing products, skin creams, and toothpaste.
• In January 2019, Nouryon signed a deal with Itaconix for bio-based polymers for the detergents market. Under the terms of the agreement, Itaconix will produce and supply polymers with chelating properties that Nouryon will market to customers in household, institutional, and industrial detergent and cleaner applications. 

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