Rise In Wastewater Treatment Practices To Drive Sodium Hypochlorite Market Demand

By Vijay Ovhal

The consistent surge in the global population and the subsequent rise in the rate of urbanization and industrial development worldwide has resulted in tremendous growth in wastewater. 

As per the latest UNCTAD estimates-

• As of 2021, an estimated 57% of the world's population lives in cities and urban areas.
• The share of the urban population across developed economies stood at around 79.5% in 2021 and 51.8% in developing countries. 

These estimates lay focus on the emerging necessity for wastewater treatment to meet the rising demand for freshwater across several end-use verticals, including agriculture, food & beverages, textile, etc. This, in consequence, will strengthen the sodium hypochlorite market outlook in the coming years.

Wastewater Treatment- Offering ample opportunities for market growth

• Globally, around 380 billion cubic meters of municipal wastewater is generated each year.
• Wastewater production is expected to experience a nearly 24% uptick by 2030 and 51% by 2050.
• More than 80% of all wastewater generated is released into the environment without sufficient treatment, although the level differs from region to region.

This steady rise in the volumes of wastewater globally and the growing environmental concerns have prompted countries globally to increase their water treatment capabilities, thus augmenting sodium hypochlorite sales. To illustrate, UN Water stats suggest that, on average, high-income economies treat about 70% of the generated wastewater. The ratio stands at 28% in lower-middle-income countries and 38% in upper-middle-income countries.

This apart, favorable initiatives such as the Global Wastewater Initiative (GW2I) that encourages fair wastewater management practices and works towards having wastewater regarded as a potentially valuable resource coupled with ongoing shift from chlorine gas across several economies will transform market dynamics.

Asia Pacific- a lucrative growth pocket for the sodium hypochlorite market

The sodium hypochlorite market share across the Asia Pacific is expected to expand as a result of the positive outlook of the textile industry and the flourishing global trade in countries such as India. As per the India Brand Equity Foundation, textile and apparel exports comprising handicrafts in the country reached US$44.4 billion in FY22, recording a 41% growth year-over-year. In addition, readymade garments exports, including cotton accessories, were valued at US$6.19 billion in FY22.

That being said, an increased emphasis on expanding the existing wastewater treatment network and building enhanced sewage treatment capabilities in China will set the stage for future growth opportunities. In fact, in 2020 China set up 39,000 new wastewater treatment facilities and plans to increase sewage treatment capacity by 20 million cubic meters/day and renovate or build 80,000 km of sewage collection pipeline networks during 2021-2025, says the China National Bureau of Statistics.

Sodium Hypochlorite Market Demand

As more and more governments and associated authorities globally are transitioning toward more sustainable ways, the demand for sodium hypochlorite is only expected to witness an upward trend.

However, stringent regulations regarding sodium hypochlorite usage across several countries may hamper industry growth. For instance, as per CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the permissible range of free chlorine in water stands between 0.5 to 2 ppm. So, water treatment companies have to take this into consideration when using sodium hypochlorite as a disinfectant.

On the other hand, the fast-growing healthcare sector and the demand for better health facilities, and an increased focus on household hygiene have propelled surface disinfectant sales globally. The trend is further accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic and does not seem to look back in the coming years as well. These factors, in association with the growing usage of this bleaching affluent for textile finishing, will provide new dimensions to the sodium hypochlorite market. 

Source: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/global-sodium-hypochlorite-marke