Gas Scrubber Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Gas Scrubber Market is projected to expand from USD 6.26 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.25 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.72%. These devices are essential air pollution control mechanisms designed to eliminate particulate matter and harmful gases like sulfur and nitrogen oxides from industrial exhaust. The industry is largely sustained by stringent environmental mandates from international entities such as the International Maritime Organization, which require substantial cuts in airborne emissions. Consequently, heavy industries are adopting these compliance technologies to meet global sustainability goals, with DNV reporting that over 5,838 ships worldwide were fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems in 2024, highlighting the widespread uptake driven by legal necessities.

However, market growth faces obstacles due to the high capital expenditure needed for installation and the ongoing complexities of operation. The financial strain is exacerbated by technical challenges associated with disposing of hazardous wash water, especially in areas with rigorous discharge bans. These elevated costs and logistical difficulties can discourage investment from smaller market players, thereby restricting the broader penetration of this technology.

Market Drivers

The rigorous enforcement of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulfur cap regulations acts as a major driver for the Global Gas Scrubber Market, pushing shipowners to utilize exhaust gas cleaning systems as a cost-efficient substitute for expensive low-sulfur fuels. This regulatory environment offers a clear economic benefit for vessels equipped with scrubbers, allowing them to burn cheaper high-sulfur fuel oil while adhering to strict emission standards. Major carriers are strategically expanding their fleets with these retrofits to manage operational costs; for instance, Grupo Stier reported in January 2025 that the shipping line Evergreen raised its share of scrubber-equipped vessels to over 90%, demonstrating a firm commitment to this technology for regulatory compliance and cost efficiency.

In parallel, the market is being propelled by stricter international industrial emission standards in land-based sectors, specifically within power generation and manufacturing. Governments worldwide are imposing tighter restrictions on particulate matter and sulfur oxides, compelling facilities to install advanced gas cleaning infrastructure to escape severe penalties and achieve sustainability goals. This regulatory pressure is stimulating substantial procurement, evidenced by Valmet securing a contract in July 2025 to supply a flue gas cleaning system and biomass boiler to Saica Group in Spain. The broader financial impact is clear, as Wärtsilä reported a 14% rise in total order intake to EUR 8.07 billion for the full year 2024 in February 2025, attributed to the growing demand for emission control and decarbonization solutions.

Market Challenges

Significant barriers to the Global Gas Scrubber Market include the high capital investment required for installation and the increasing operational difficulties related to hazardous wash water disposal. These financial and technical challenges are compounded by a growing patchwork of environmental regulations that limit the use of open-loop systems in critical maritime zones. Consequently, shipowners are hesitant to invest in the technology, as the need to retrofit units to hybrid configurations or handle onboard waste containment diminishes the anticipated return on investment and adds complexity to global trade logistics.

This tightening of regulations directly impedes market expansion by restricting the operational flexibility of vessels equipped with scrubbers and raising the total cost of ownership. For example, NorthStandard reported in June 2025 that the OSPAR Commission decided to ban open-loop scrubber discharges across 15 member nations in the North-East Atlantic. This regulation forces operators in these high-traffic areas to face extra costs for compliant fuels or closed-loop conversions, reducing the economic attractiveness of scrubbers and slowing adoption among cost-conscious market participants.

Market Trends

A significant technical evolution in the market is the integration of gas scrubbing with carbon capture technologies, shifting focus from simple sulfur abatement to broader decarbonization objectives. Manufacturers are developing "CCS-Ready" scrubbers, enabling shipowners to install sulfur and particulate removal systems now while maintaining the engineering flexibility to add carbon capture modules later. This modular strategy protects long-term asset value against evolving greenhouse gas regulations without necessitating immediate, expensive full-scale replacements. As noted by Wärtsilä in September 2024, the company received an order to provide CCS-Ready systems for three Leonhardt & Blumberg container vessels, allowing them to remain compliant with current sulfur rules while preparing for future carbon capture integration.

Concurrently, there is a distinct trend toward adopting closed-loop and hybrid marine scrubbers as operators face increasing bans on open-loop wash water discharges in coastal zones and major ports. Unlike open-loop systems that release treated water into the sea, hybrid versions offer the flexibility to switch to a closed-loop mode, keeping wash water onboard for safe disposal. This feature is becoming a vital requirement for fleets in environmentally sensitive areas like the Baltic and North Seas to maintain trade access. According to World Bunkering in December 2024, this shift was highlighted when Wärtsilä secured a contract to upgrade exhaust treatment systems on four Color Line vessels to hybrid configurations, ensuring they meet strict environmental discharge standards.

Key Players Profiled in the Gas Scrubber Market

• General Electric Company
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• Thermax Limited
• SUEZ SA
• FLSmidth A/S
• Elexon Limited
• ANDRITZ AG
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Alstom SA
• Aerus LLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Gas Scrubber Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Gas Scrubber Market, by Product Type:

• Wet Scrubbers
• Dry Scrubbers
• Electrostatic Precipitators

Gas Scrubber Market, by Material of Construction:

• Stainless Steel
• Carbon Steel
• Plastic
• Others

Gas Scrubber Market, by Application:

• Industrial Emission Control
• Gas Cleaning and Purification
• Particulate Matter Removal

Gas Scrubber Market, by End-Use Industry:

• Oil and Gas
• Chemical
• Petrochemical
• Power Generation
• Food and Beverage
• Marine
• Others

Gas Scrubber Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Gas Scrubber Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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