Pulp Bleaching Agent Market Report 2026

The pulp bleaching agent market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.49 billion in 2025 to $4.78 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to paper consumption growth, traditional chlorine bleaching usage, pulp mill capacity expansion, printing industry demand, chemical processing advancements.

The pulp bleaching agent market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.08 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to environmental compliance mandates, sustainable paper production, recycling industry growth, advanced bleaching chemistry, digital paper quality control. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of eco friendly bleaching chemicals, shift toward totally chlorine free processes, growing demand for high brightness paper, expansion of enzyme based bleaching, focus on process efficiency optimization.

The expanding textile industry is expected to drive the growth of the pulp bleaching agents market. The textile industry involves the design, production, and distribution of fabric materials used in clothing, home furnishings, and technical applications. This industry is growing due to rising consumer demand for apparel and home textiles, fueled by increasing disposable incomes and urbanization in emerging markets. As textile manufacturing expands, the demand for pulp bleaching agents rises, as these chemicals are vital for producing high-quality white and colored fabrics by removing natural impurities from cellulosic fibers. For instance, in March 2025, the European Environment Agency, based in Denmark, reported that in 2023, the European Union’s textile and clothing sector employed approximately 1.3 million people across 197,000 companies, generating $199.51 billion (EUR 170 billion) in turnover. Additionally, the EU exported 4 million tons of finished textiles valued at $85.67 billion (EUR 73 billion) in 2022. Therefore, the growing textile industry is contributing to the growth of the pulp bleaching agents market.

Companies in the pulp bleaching agent market are increasingly focused on developing eco-friendly products such as low-carbon hydrogen peroxide to enhance sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Low-carbon hydrogen peroxide is produced using renewable energy sources and fossil-free hydrogen, significantly reducing its carbon footprint compared to traditional production methods. For example, in March 2025, Nouryon, a Netherlands-based chemical manufacturer, launched Ek HP Puroxide, a low-carbon hydrogen peroxide product made in Sweden using renewable electricity. This product helps customers in the pulp and paper industry lower their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, potentially cutting carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional natural gas steam reforming processes. This innovation aligns with the increasing demand for sustainable solutions across European industries.

In December 2023, Evonik Industries AG, a Germany-based chemical company, acquired Thai Peroxide Company Limited for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen Evonik’s Active Oxygens portfolio in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific market. It also enhances the company’s specialty hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid offerings for high-demand industries such as electronics while leveraging Thai Peroxide's expertise to improve customer proximity and sustainability. Thai Peroxide Company Limited, based in Thailand, manufactures hydrogen peroxide for the pulp and paper industry.

Major companies operating in the pulp bleaching agent market are BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Evonik Industries AG, Akzo Nobel N.V., Arkema S.A., Solvay S.A., Huntsman Corporation, Clariant AG, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V., Orica Limited, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co. Ltd., Luxi Chemical Group Co. Ltd., Kemira Oyj, Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Ltd., Tianjin Chemical Industry Research Institute Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Zhongneng Chemical Co. Ltd., Hongye Holding Group Co. Ltd., Shouguang Xinsheng Chemical Co. Ltd., Suzhou MGC Suhua Peroxide Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the pulp bleaching agents market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the pulp bleaching agent market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the pulp bleaching agent market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The pulp bleaching agent market consists of sales of brightness enhancement additives, chlorine-free bleaching systems, sodium hypochlorite, oxygen-based bleaching chemicals, and enzymatic bleaching 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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