Ship Desalination Machine Market Report 2026

The ship desalination machine market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.38 billion in 2025 to $1.48 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in global maritime trade, expansion of long-distance shipping routes, increasing crew welfare standards, rising demand for onboard freshwater independence, adoption of desalination in naval vessels.

The ship desalination machine market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of energy-efficient ship systems, rising demand for sustainable maritime operations, expansion of passenger and cruise shipping, growing integration of smart ship technologies, increasing focus on reducing freshwater logistics dependency. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of reverse osmosis systems onboard, rising demand for modular desalination units, growing integration of energy-efficient desalination technologies, expansion of compact and space-saving designs, enhanced focus on water quality monitoring.

The rise in shipping and maritime trade activities is expected to enhance the growth of the ship desalination machine market going forward. Shipping and maritime trade activities are increasing due to the growing global demand for consumer goods and energy resources. This rise in trade increases the deployment of cargo ships, tankers, and offshore vessels, which subsequently elevates the need for onboard freshwater supply. Ship desalination machines address this requirement by providing a continuous and reliable source of freshwater for crew consumption, cleaning, and operational processes, allowing vessels to undertake long-distance voyages without relying on port-based water supplies and ensuring smooth, uninterrupted global trade operations. For instance, in August 2025, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a US-based federal agency, cross-border freight shipments between the United States, Canada, and Mexico reached over $144.8 billion in 2025, representing an 8.4% increase compared to 2024. Therefore, the rise in shipping and maritime trade activities is enhancing the growth of the ship desalination machine market.

Leading companies in the ship desalination machine market are prioritizing advancements in material engineering, such as the development of nanoporous polymeric membranes, to deliver vessels with highly efficient, durable, and dependable desalination solutions. These innovations enhance freshwater generation, maintain operational reliability in challenging marine environments, and support maritime efforts to address water scarcity at sea. A nanoporous polymeric membrane is a multilayer polymer structure containing nanoscale pores that permit water molecules to pass through while effectively blocking salts and other contaminants, enabling efficient seawater purification. For example, in May 2025, the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO), an India-based government agency, introduced an indigenous seawater desalination technology designed specifically for Coast Guard ships. This high-pressure, ship-integrated desalination system produces consistent freshwater directly from seawater while overcoming key operational challenges such as vessel stability and chloride corrosion. The technology ensures efficient, scalable, and secure water production, supporting sustainable maritime operations and coastal defense missions.

In April 2023, SKion Water GmbH, a Germany-based water technology investment company, acquired Enwa AS for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, SKion Water aims to strengthen its footprint in the Nordic water treatment market and broaden its portfolio of sustainable, energy-efficient water and environmental solutions worldwide. Enwa AS is a Norway-based company that manufactures ship desalination machines.

Major companies operating in the ship desalination machine market are Hamworthy (Wärtsilä), Alfa Laval AB, MECO, ENWA Sandnes, KYSEARO, IDE Technologies, SLCE Watermakers, Spectra Watermakers (Katadyn Group), Devise Engineering S.A., Pomar Water, AMPAC USA, Schenker Watermakers, DongHwa Entec, SeaWater Pro LLC, Blue Water Desalination, Cathelco (Evac Group), Osmosea Srl, PWT Wassertechnik GmbH, Desalination Systems Inc., Hatenboer‑Water, Rochem Group, Pure Aqua Inc., Watertec, Norwater.

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

The ship desalination machine market consists of sales of vapor compression distillation units, membrane distillation units, hybrid desalination systems, brine concentrators and electrode ionization units. 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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