Industrial Catalyst Market Report 2026

The industrial catalyst market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $26.59 billion in 2025 to $27.63 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in chemical manufacturing, expansion of refinery capacity, increased demand for petrochemicals, availability of catalyst technologies, focus on process efficiency.

The industrial catalyst market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $32.1 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to stricter emission norms, growth of sustainable chemistry, rising demand for fuel efficiency, expansion of industrial automation, advancements in catalyst design. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for energy efficient catalysts, rising adoption of heterogeneous catalysts, growing use in petrochemical processing, expansion of biocatalyst applications, increasing focus on emission reduction.

The growing expansion of the petroleum industry is expected to propel the growth of the industrial catalyst market going forward. The petroleum industry, also known as the oil and gas industry, covers the exploration, extraction, refining, and marketing of petroleum products. Catalysts play a critical role in hydroprocessing units - through hydrotreating, which removes sulfur and nitrogen impurities from crude oil fractions to improve refined product quality, and hydrocracking, which converts heavy hydrocarbons into lighter, more valuable products. For instance, in August 2023, according to a report published by the International Energy Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, global oil demand between 2022 and 2028 was projected to rise by 6%, reaching 105.7 million barrels per day, supported by strong demand from the petrochemical and aviation sectors. Additionally, upstream investments in oil and gas exploration, extraction, and production were expected to peak in 2023, with an 11% year-on-year increase reaching USD 528 billion. Therefore, the expanding petroleum industry is driving the growth of the industrial catalyst market.

Major companies operating in the industrial catalyst market are developing advanced technologies such as high-octane fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts to enhance gasoline yield and improve octane quality. A high-octane FCC catalyst is a specialized chemical catalyst used in petroleum refining to convert heavy hydrocarbon fractions into lighter, high-value products - primarily gasoline. For instance, in August 2024, BASF SE, a Germany-based global chemical company specializing in process catalysts, launched Fourtiva, an FCC catalyst designed for gasoil to mild resid feedstock. Fourtiva incorporates BASF’s Advanced Innovative Matrix (AIM) and Multiple Frameworks Topology (MFT) technologies to deliver optimized butylene yields, improved naphtha octane, increased LPG olefinicity, reduced coke and dry gas formation, and greater operational flexibility. This makes it ideal for refineries seeking to boost high-value gasoline blending components and overall profitability.

In February 2024, BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions, a US-based catalysis and precious metals company, acquired Arc Metal AB for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen BASF ECMS’s metal recycling and smelting capabilities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to better support customers in these regions. Arc Metal AB is a Sweden-based company specializing in recovering platinum group metals from spent auto catalysts and other secondary materials.

Major companies operating in the industrial catalyst market are Sinopec, BASF SE, The DOW Chemicals Company, Lyondellbasell Industries Holdings B.V., Honeywell International Inc., Ineos Group Limited, Johnson Matthey Plc, Evonik Industries AG, Chevron Philips Chemical Company, Arkema S.A., Albemarle Corporation, Dorf Ketal Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd., Clariant AG, Umicore N.V., ExxonMobil Chemical, W. R. Grace and Co., Axens SA, Topsoe A/S, Akzo Nobel N.V, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies, KNT Group, Zeolyst International, Anten Chemical Co. Ltd., JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., Univation Technologies LLC.

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

The industrial catalyst market consists of sales of aluminosilicates, nickel, iron and vanadium(V) oxide. 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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