Membrane Filtration Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Membrane Filtration Market Overview

Membrane Filtration Market size is expected to be valued at $2.3 billion by the end of the year 2026 and is set to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period from 2021-2026. The growing application of membrane filtration technologies in wastewater treatment is one of the major factors driving the membrane filtration market. The increasing government regulations regarding water purification is also contributing to the increase in demand for membrane filtration market. Furthermore, the increase in demand from the growing dairy industry and the increase in the consumption of functional foods (health supplements) across the globe is one of the major factors driving the growth of the membrane filtration market. Additionally, the increase in the spending capacity of middle-class group for quality products is also driving the demand for water filters used in their households which is also driving the demand for reverse osmosis treatment technology used in the water filters. Membrane filtration technology is also used in separating emulsified oils in foods and beverages contributing to the growth of the membrane filtration market.

COVID-19 impact

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the membrane filtration market witnessed a decrease in growth and demand owing to the many economic and legal restrictions imposed in various countries across the globe. The various restrictions related to trading activities, export, import and other inter-country activities affected the membrane filtration market in terms of production, sales and distribution. The restrictions which were in effect during the year 2020 majorly affected the growth of the membrane filtration market. However, the restrictions began to ease out the bans which were lifted during the beginning of the year 2021. Therefore the membrane filtration market is expected to grow by the end of the year 2021.

Membrane Filtration Market Report Coverage

The report: “Membrane Filtration Market – Forecast (2021-2026)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Membrane Filtration Industry.

By Type: Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Microfiltration and Nanofiltration.
By Module Design: Spiral Wound, Tubular Systems, Plates & Frames and Hollow Fiber.
By Membrane Material: Polycarbonate, Polyamide, Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Nitrate, Ceramic and Others.
By Application: Water and Waste water treatment, Dairy, Drinks and Concentrates, Food and Beverages, Winery, Chemicals, Pigments and Dyes and Others.
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), APAC (China, Japan India, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Rest of South America) and RoW (Middle East and Africa).

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific market held the largest share in the membrane filtration market owing to the growth in the population coupled with the increase in the spending capacity of the middle class group family on premium products. The increase in government regulations regarding wastewater treatment is also driving the membrane filtration market in the region.
• The growing dairy and food industry is also contributing to the growth of the membrane filtration market as it is used in the separation of emulsified oils in food and beverages.
• The increasing demand for membrane filtration technologies in water purification is also majorly driving the membrane filtration market.
• Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the membrane filtration market witnessed a major downfall due to the various restrictions laid down by countries across the globe.

FIGURE: Membrane Filtration Market Revenue, 2020-2026 (US$ Billion)

Membrane Filtration Market Segment Analysis – By Type

Reverse osmosis segment held the largest share of 42% in the membrane filtration market in the year 2020. Reverse osmosis technology is widely used in the demineralization and deionization of water. Therefore the increasing demand from the water processing and beverage industries across the globe is highly driving the demand for the reverse osmosis technology segment in the membrane filtration market. Furthermore, the increase in the adoption of reverse osmosis technology by government bodies to ensure access to safe and healthy water is also contributing to the increase in demand for reverse osmosis technology in the membrane filtration market. This is increasing the demand for reverse osmosis technology in the membrane filtration market.

Membrane Filtration Market Segment Analysis – By Module Design

Hollow Fiber segment held the largest share in the membrane filtration market in the year 2020 growing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period of 2021-2026. Hollow fiber modules are used in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. Hollow fibers are employed in wastewater treatment and membrane bioreactors owing to the ease in suspending the hollow fiber machine in the wastewater treatment plant. Hollow fiber modules feature a high packing density owing to the small strand diameter. Hollow fiber modules help in physically straining out contaminants and therefore is effective in highly turbid water types as well. Hence, the demand for hollow fiber modules segment is increasing in the membrane filtration market. 

Membrane Filtration Market Segment Analysis – By Membrane Material

Cellulose Acetate membrane filter held the largest share of 36% in the membrane filtration market in the year 2020. Cellulose acetate membrane filters are suitable in aqueous and alcoholic solutions. Cellulose acetate membrane has improved solvent resistance and increased heat resistance. Cellulose acetate membrane has high physical strength and is, therefore, can be used in hot gases and high temperature vessel and devices. Cellulose acetate membrane filters can also be sterilized and cleaned without having to sacrifice the integrity of the membrane filter. Cellulose acetate membrane filters can also be used in biological analysis, clinical analysis, sterility tests, scintillation measurements and others. This is driving the demand for cellulose acetate membrane filter in the membrane filtration market.

Membrane Filtration Market Segment Analysis – By Application

Water and Wastewater treatment segment held the largest share of 45% in the membrane filtration market in the year 2020. Membrane filters are extensively used in wastewater treatment, to remove contaminants and filter out the pollutants. The increasing wastewater treatment activities across the world is one of the major factors driving the membrane filtration market. During 2019, the United Nations came forward with an initiative called ‘no one is left behind’, where they focus on improving water resource managements and the access to water supply and sanitation services for people coming from diverse socio economic backgrounds. This increases the scope for wastewater treatment, which will further increase the demand for membrane filtration in the wastewater treatment industry.

Membrane Filtration Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Asia-Pacific region held the largest share of 40% in the membrane filtration market in the year 2020. The rapid growth of population in countries like India and China coupled with the increase in demand for safe water resources for the population is increasing the demand for wastewater treatment in the region. According to data provided in National Informatics Centre of India, the total operational capacity of wastewater treatment plants in India, as updated during June 2021 is 26,869 mega liters per day. In 2020, 107 million people across India got access to safe drinking water at home. Furthermore, according to CWR (China Water Risk), China has set an aim for increasing the rate of wastewater treatment to 70% of the households in urban areas and improve the wastewater treatment scenario by implementing 125,900km of pipe network. This is increasing the demand for membrane filtration market in the APAC region.

Membrane Filtration Market Drivers

Increasing awareness about wastewater treatment

The increasing awareness about wastewater treatment across the globe is one of the major reasons driving the membrane filtration market. The various government regulations on wastewater treatment across the globe is encouraging many countries to initiate wastewater treatment projects. According to World Bank reports 2020, 80% of the world’s wastewater is a valuable resource from which clean & pure water, nutrients, energy and other resources can be recovered. Furthermore, by using treated wastewater instead of groundwater, San Luis Potosi power plant in Mexico had cut down costs by 33%, which lead the plant to save US$18 million over six years for the power utility. A wastewater treatment plant in Cusco, Peru saves US$230 thousand a year in transporting resources for extracting groundwater. Likewise the Brazil-based CAESB water and wastewater utility made more corn yields during the year 2020 owing to the use of nutrient-rich water after wastewater treatment. This is driving the demand for membrane filtration market. 

The growing dairy and food industry

The increase in the growth of the global dairy market is a major factor driving the growth of the membrane filtration market. Membrane filtration technologies such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, microfiltration and others for water purification, milk purification, separation of emulsified oils and various other purposes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report 2020, the annual average value for skim milk powder (SMP) registered a year-on-year increase of 32.7%, followed by cheese at 7.8% and whole milk powder (WMP) at 3.8% during the year 2019. This is increasing the demand for membrane filtration market from the dairy and food industry.

Membrane Filtration Market Challenges

Chances of membrane fouling degrading filtration efficiency

There are chances of substances accumulating on the membrane surfaces and within the pores of the membrane. This could further contaminate the water or product on which the membrane is being used. This will affect the efficiency of the membrane filtration. This condition is called membrane fouling, which will further lead to the water/product to rot. The change in the quality of the product will lead to health complications on people using the water/product or damage the device or system in which the membrane filtration is installed. Therefore this is one of the biggest challenges in the membrane filtration market.

Membrane Filtration Market Industry Outlook

Acquisitions and mergers, production expansion, facility expansion collaborations, partnerships, investments, are some of the key strategies adopted by players in the Membrane Filtration Market. The major players in the Membrane Filtration Market include:

1. Thermo Fisher Scientific
2. The Merck Group
3. 3M
4. Pall Corporation
5. Cytiva
6. GEA Group AG
7. ProMinent Group
8. Porvair Filtration Group
9. Guo Chu Technology (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
10. Filtration Group
11. SUEZ
12. Veolia among others.

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

• In January 2021, Suez acquired the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane product line from specialty chemical company Lanxess. This acquisition is set to help Suez in meeting the growing need for brackish water RO membranes.
• In October 2020, Guo Chu Technology developed a new electrolytic membranes for corrosion solution in the metallurgical industry.
• In May 2020, Filtration Group acquired Oxyphen. This acquisition allows Filtration Group to expand their membrane offering for life science, industrial and consumer markets.

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