Catalyst Market Report 2026

The catalyst market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $36.91 billion in 2025 to $38.58 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of petrochemical industry demand, growth in refinery capacity additions, increasing use of catalysts in basic chemical manufacturing, rising industrialization and manufacturing output, adoption of conventional refining technologies.

The catalyst market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $46.48 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to shift toward sustainable chemical processes, growth in hydrogen based energy systems, increasing demand for emission control technologies, advancement in nanotechnology based catalysts, expansion of green chemistry initiatives. Major trends in the forecast period include development of high selectivity and high efficiency catalyst materials, rising demand for green and bio based catalytic processes, increasing use of catalysts in hydrogen economy applications, shift toward nanostructured and advanced surface engineering catalysts, growing adoption of catalysts in emission reduction and environmental compliance.

The expansion of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing is anticipated to drive the growth of the catalyst market in the coming period. Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing refers to the large-scale production of electronic devices, integrated circuits, chips, printed circuit boards, and related components used in consumer electronics, automotive systems, telecommunications, and industrial equipment. The expansion of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing is driven by the rising demand for smartphones and connected devices, along with government incentives supporting domestic chip production and supply chain localization. Catalysts are utilized in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing to enable high-purity chemical production, wafer fabrication processes, emissions control, and efficient synthesis of materials used in chips, circuits, and electronic components. For instance, in June 2024, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association, a US-based trade association, global semiconductor industry sales reached $46.4 billion in April 2024, representing a 15.8% increase from $40.1 billion recorded in April 2023. Therefore, the expansion of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing is driving the growth of the catalyst market.

Leading companies operating in the catalyst market are focusing on developing industrial-scale advanced catalyst manufacturing facilities to enhance production efficiency, improve catalyst performance, and meet the growing demand from refining, petrochemical, and sustainable energy industries. Industrial-scale advanced catalyst manufacturing facilities are modern production plants equipped with innovative technologies and automated processes to enable high-volume output, precision engineering, and energy-efficient operations. For example, in March 2026, BASF SE, a Germany-based chemical company, started the world’s first industrial-scale production plant for X3D catalysts in Ludwigshafen. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to manufacture advanced 3D-printed catalysts that improve throughput, optimize reaction efficiency, and reduce energy consumption in industrial processes. By leveraging additive manufacturing technology, the plant strengthens BASF’s catalyst production capabilities while supporting sustainability goals through lower resource use and improved process efficiency, representing a strategic advancement in next-generation catalyst manufacturing.

In May 2025, Honeywell, a US-based industrial technology company, acquired the Catalyst Technologies business of Johnson Matthey. Through this acquisition, Honeywell enhanced its position in process catalyst technologies utilized in hydrogen production, syngas, methanol synthesis, and sustainable fuel manufacturing, enabling greater process efficiency and supporting low-carbon chemical production capabilities. Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies is a UK-based company offering advanced process catalysts and licensing technologies for the chemical and energy sectors. Source: Honeywell Investor Relations.

Major companies operating in the catalyst market are Exxon Mobil Corporation, Shell plc, BASF SE, Dow Inc., LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., Heraeus Holding GmbH, Umicore SA, INEOS Group Limited, Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company, Evonik Industries AG, Arkema S.A., Albemarle Corporation, Clariant AG, IBIDEN Co. Ltd., Topsoe A/S, Axens SA, CDTi Advanced Materials Inc., N.E. CHEMCAT Corporation, Cataler Corporation, NGK Insulators Ltd., DCL International Inc., Zeolyst International, Magma Ceramics & Catalysts.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the catalyst market in 2025 and is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the 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 catalyst market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The catalyst market consists of sales of biocatalysts, zeolite catalysts, metal catalysts, environmental catalysts, and acid catalysts. 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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