by Brianna Crandall — May 19, 2014—Demand for industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals in the United States is forecast to rise more than three percent per annum through 2018 according to a new report from The Freedonia Group business research company. Industrial and Institutional (I&I) Cleaning Chemicals says that accelerating growth will reflect a strengthening economy, with nearly every market expanding at a pace exceeding that of the 2008-2013 period. While economic growth will provide the foundation for rising demand, infection-related health concerns are expected to drive some of the fastest advances, particularly for disinfectants and sanitizers, in the food and beverage processing industry and in healthcare facilities.
Manufacturing market to see fastest volume growth
According to a press release from Bharat Book Bureau publicizing the report, the manufacturing sector will experience the strongest growth in cleaning chemical demand, principally reflecting growing consumption in the food and beverage processing industry. Ongoing concerns about widely publicized foodborne illness outbreaks, coupled with a healthy industry recovery, will continue to support increased product usage rates. In addition, growth in manufacturing cleaning chemical consumption will be supported by gains in other industries, such as fabricated metal processing and machinery production.
In the institutional market, gains in cleaning chemical demand are expected to reflect efforts by the healthcare industry to reduce the incidence rates of facility-acquired infections, especially from antibiotic-resistant bacteria for which there are few treatment options. Sales of healthcare cleaning chemicals will also be supported by the aging of the population, which will lead to higher healthcare facility visitation rates. However, tight government budgets will limit faster increases within the institutional market, as will a challenging environment for educational institutions, notes the report.
Commercial market to exhibit highest value gains
The commercial segment is expected to remain the biggest market for I&I cleaning chemicals through 2018. Although demand growth will trail that of the overall I&I cleaning chemical market, commercial applications will register the highest value gains during this period due to the sheer size of the commercial market, which includes foodservice, laundry and dry cleaning, offices, and retail outlets. According to the report, hotels and lodging will realize the fastest increases in cleaning chemical demand among commercial markets, with the strengthening economy driving patronization and continued industry expansion.
Trends to favor enhanced value, eco-friendly products
Continued emphasis by cleaning product companies on providing customers with enhanced value through the combined offering of products, equipment, and service is expected to facilitate ongoing new product development and the successful introduction of new additives and raw materials that enhance cleaning product effectiveness. Additionally, cleaning product formulators will target green, eco-friendly products that are viewed as environmentally friendly and safe alternatives to more established cleaning chemicals. The report predicts that this trend will be driven both by company efforts to achieve credibility with an increasingly environmentally aware public, and by worker preference for eco-friendly and safer choices.
Freedonia’s Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals presents historical demand data for 2003, 2008 and 2013, as well as forecasts for 2018 and 2023 by market, product and raw material. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share, and profiles more than 40 competitors in the U.S. industry, including Akzo Nobel, BASF, Church & Dwight, Croda, Diversey (Sealed Air), Ecolab and Zep.
