Biocides Market Report
The market for biocides, algaecides and fungicides continues to show improvement from
the recent economic downturn.
by Kerry Pianoforte, Associate Editor
The market for biocides, algaecides and fungicides contin- ues to be a mixed bag. In North America and Europe, bio- cides manufacturers Coatings World interviewed reported
little to no growth. The Asia markets continue to register growth,
albeit at a slower pace than previous years.
“The global market demand for industrial biocides for paints
and coatings in 2011 overall has been subdued, with little or no
growth in North America and Europe,” said David Tierney,
global business manager, Lonza Microbial Control. “Growth has
continued in Asia but that market has also been impacted by the
economic issues in the more mature markets. Regulatory pres-
sure on both the biocide component and the finished paint for-
mulations continues to be the main driver for biocide selection.”
Demand for biocides has shown signs of improvement since
the start of an economic downturn in mid-2008. “Of course,
biocides serve many end-use segments, each with its own set of
economic drivers,” said Ray Fahmy, business director, biocides
North America, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “Products re-
quired for the real estate and construction markets, for exam-
ple, remain fairly sluggish in North America. We remain
optimistic on total demand, given the emerging markets of
India and China.”
For 2011, Dow Microbial Control reported a wide variation
in demand for biocides in the paint and coatings industry. “Due
to a slow down in the new construction industry, volumes
growth in the developed regions—Europe and North America—
grew around two to three percent on a year-over-year basis,” said
Mike Sheehan, regional commercial manager North America,
Dow Microbial Control. “Volumes in the developing economies
were stronger and continued their growth trend.”
Meeting formulation and performance needs
Biocides makers must work hard to develop products that meet
regulations, but at the same time, provide products that feature
high performance characteristics. Their customers are looking to
formulate coatings with biocides that maximize performance at
the lowest possible use level.
“The bar has been set very high recently, however, with cus-
tomers looking for biocides that offer enhanced activity to pro-
tect the newest generation of environmentally friendly,
water-based paints, which may be more susceptible to microbial
and fungal contamination,” said Fahmy. “Ashland has and con-
tinues to update its product line to better support performance
and formulation parameters associated with today’s low-VOC,
formaldehyde-free paint products.”
Environmental regulations and the trend toward low and zero
VOC coatings continue to drive the market for biocides. Biocides
www.coatingsworld.com
December 2011
