Dispersing Agents Market Report 2026

The dispersing agents market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.7 billion in 2025 to $8.31 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of coatings and construction industries, increasing use of pigments and fillers, availability of surfactant-based dispersants, growth of industrial formulations, scale-up of chemical processing capacities.

The dispersing agents market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.99 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for eco-friendly dispersing agents, rising adoption of high-solids formulations, expansion of specialty coatings applications, growing focus on dispersion efficiency, increasing use in advanced material systems. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of advanced dispersion technologies, rising demand for waterborne formulations, growing adoption in paints and coatings, expansion of high-performance pigment dispersions, enhanced focus on stability and shelf life.

Increasing oil drilling and exploration activities are expected to drive the dispersing agent market. Oil drilling refers to boring a hole using a drill bit to produce oil and natural gas. Exploration activities involve the procedures and techniques used to identify potential locations for drilling and extracting oil and gas. Dispersing agents, such as oil dispersants, are mixtures of emulsifiers and solvents used to break oil into small droplets following an oil spill, disperse oil slicks on the water surface, and reduce the spread of oil to minimize environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, in January 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a US-based governmental agency, U.S. crude oil production was projected to average 12.4 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2023, increasing to 12.8 million b/d in 2024, reflecting a growth of 3.2% year-over-year. Therefore, increasing oil drilling and exploration activities are driving the dispersing agent market.

Major companies in the dispersing agent market are focusing on launching innovative products like solvent-based dispersing agents to enhance the stability and performance of their formulations. Solvent-based dispersing agents are used to improve the dispersion of solid particles in a liquid medium, stabilizing suspensions and ensuring uniform mixtures in applications such as coatings, inks, and cosmetics. For instance, in April 2023, BASF, a Germany-based chemical company, introduced Efka PX 4360, a next-generation dispersing agent for solvent-based industrial coatings. Utilizing BASF’s Controlled Free Radical Polymerization (CFRP) technology, this product delivers superior performance, excellent compatibility with various pigment and coating systems, and is designed for aromatic- and tin-free formulations.

In July 2024, Arclin, a US-based chemical company specializing in advanced adhesive solutions and surface technologies, acquired RG Dispersants for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Arclin aims to expand its product offerings and strengthen its market presence in North America, enhancing its capabilities in industries such as wallboard, specialty concrete, and agriculture. This move also reinforces Arclin’s core chemical expertise and manufacturing capabilities. RG Dispersants, a US-based chemical company, focuses on producing dispersants and surface-active products for various industrial applications.

Major companies operating in the dispersing agents market are BASF SE, Clariant AG, Altana AG, Arkema Group, Ashland Inc., Croda International PLC., Emerald Performance Materials, Solvay SA, Elementis PLC., Evonik Industries AG, Gruppo Chimico Dalton SpA, King Industries Inc., Cera-Chem Pvt. Ltd., CHRYSO SAS, Rudolf GmbH, Dow Inc., Akzo Nobel N.V., Lonza Group AG, Huntsman Corporation, DIC Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, Kao Corporation, Buckman Laboratories International Inc., Milliken & Company, Michelman Inc., PCC SE, Harmony Additive Pvt. Ltd., Safic-Alcan Group, Shamrock Technologies Inc., Pulcra Chemicals.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the dispersing agent’s market in 2025. The regions covered in the dispersing agents market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the dispersing agents market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The dispersing agents market consists of sales of cationic and non-ionic dispersing agents. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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