Peracetic Acid Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Peracetic Acid Market is projected to expand from USD 1.05 billion in 2025 to USD 1.62 billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate of 7.49 percent. This potent organic compound, a strong oxidizing agent derived from hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, functions as a high-level sterilant and disinfectant. The market is fundamentally driven by rigorous food safety mandates requiring robust microbial control in meat and poultry processing, as well as a transition toward environmentally sustainable alternatives to chlorine for medical sterilization and water treatment. These core drivers are distinct from fleeting trends, as they anchor demand in critical sanitation protocols across the healthcare and food industries.

However, the sector encounters substantial obstacles regarding regulatory compliance burdens and regional production costs that can restrict manufacturing output. Specifically, high operational expenses and energy prices in key manufacturing hubs have limited the broader chemical sector. Data from the European Chemical Industry Council indicates that capacity utilization within the EU27 chemical industry fluctuated around 75 percent in 2024, a figure significantly below historical averages. This underscores the severe economic challenges and competitive disadvantages hindering the expansion of chemical producers, including those operating within the peracetic acid market.

Market Drivers

A primary catalyst for the Global Peracetic Acid Market is the increasing demand for high-level disinfection in food and beverage processing, particularly as manufacturers ramp up antimicrobial interventions against pathogens like Salmonella. This growth is fueled by strict regulatory standards and the imperative to extend shelf life in the poultry and meat sectors. As meat processing volumes rise, there is a direct correlation with increased chemical usage for equipment sanitation and carcass washes, providing a steady revenue stream for biocide producers. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 'World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates' report from January 2025 anticipates U.S. broiler production will reach 47.5 billion pounds in 2025, a sustained output that underpins the continuous need for effective antimicrobial solutions in processing facilities.

Concurrently, the growing necessity for sustainable industrial and municipal water treatment is altering consumption patterns as utilities move away from chlorinated byproducts. Peracetic acid is becoming a preferred option for wastewater disinfection because it breaks down into harmless substances, meeting environmental compliance needs while maintaining high efficacy against various microbial loads. The resilience of this segment is reflected in the financial results of major suppliers; for instance, Kemira’s 'January-September 2025 Interim Report' from October 2025 noted that its Water Solutions business unit maintained a strong operative EBITDA margin of 23.1 percent. This sector's strength contrasts with the moderate industrial backdrop, where the American Chemistry Council reported a 2.6 percent global chemical production expansion in 2025, suggesting that essential sanitation segments are outperforming the broader chemical manufacturing average.

Market Challenges

The Global Peracetic Acid Market faces significant constraints due to burdensome regulatory compliance standards and high regional production costs, especially within established chemical manufacturing centers. These economic pressures create a structural competitive disadvantage for producers in regions like Europe, where strict environmental mandates and elevated energy prices push operational expenses far beyond those in emerging markets. Consequently, manufacturers experience eroding profit margins and are often forced to delay capacity expansions or limit production output. This dynamic directly impedes market growth by reducing the global competitiveness of key players, thereby stifling their ability to effectively meet the rising international demand for sterilants and high-level disinfectants.

The tangible impact of these cost-related hurdles is evident in recent trade data showing a contraction in market activity. According to the European Chemical Industry Council, chemical exports from the EU27 region fell to €113.8 billion in the first half of 2024, a 2.9 percent decline compared to the same period the previous year. This downward trend in export volume highlights how high manufacturing costs are actively diminishing the market share of major producers. By restricting the export potential of these essential chemical derivatives, these financial obstacles act as a persistent barrier to the overall expansion of the peracetic acid sector.

Market Trends

The application of peracetic acid is increasingly expanding into agricultural biosecurity for avian influenza control, shifting focus from processing plants to farm-level containment. With persistent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), poultry producers are adopting rigorous biosecurity protocols, including surface disinfection and fogging, to prevent viral entry into commercial flocks. This proactive strategy prioritizes the prevention of mass depopulation, creating a specific demand channel distinct from standard carcass sanitation. As noted in an August 2024 WATTPoultry article titled 'HPAI in the USA: Recap of poultry infections so far in 2024,' 56 commercial flocks involving nearly 21 million birds were affected in the first seven months of the year, underscoring the urgent need for effective viral mitigation strategies on farms.

Simultaneously, the competitive landscape is being reshaped by the strategic localization of production hubs designed to reduce supply chain risks and insulate manufacturers from global logistics volatility. By acquiring or establishing dedicated facilities in high-demand regions, producers are minimizing the transport hazards associated with this unstable compound while capitalizing on regional market growth. This pivot toward regional self-sufficiency is effectively mitigating external pressures and driving revenue recovery for major industry players. Solvay’s 'Second quarter 2024 results' report from July 2024 highlights this trend, showing a 29.2 percent year-on-year increase in Peroxides segment sales, a surge primarily driven by the strategic consolidation of sales from its localized Brazilian subsidiary, Peroxidos do Brasil.

Key Players Profiled in the Peracetic Acid Market

• Solvay SA
• Evonik Industries AG
• Ecolab Inc.
• Kemira Oyj
• Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company
• Jubilant Life Sciences
• National Peroxide Ltd.
• Enviro Tech Chemical Services
• PeroxyChem
• Airedale Chemical

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Peracetic Acid Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Peracetic Acid Market, by Grade:

• Solution Grade and Distilled Grade

Peracetic Acid Market, by Application:

• Disinfectant
• Sterilant
• Sanitizer and Others

Peracetic Acid Market, by End Use Industry:

• Healthcare
• Food & Beverage
• Water Treatment
• Pulp & Paper
• Commercial
• Institution and Others

Peracetic Acid 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 Peracetic Acid 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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