Antimicrobial Additives Market size is forecast to reach $3.07 billion by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 8.85% during 2020-2025. Antimicrobial additives also known as biocides improve surface efficiency by effectively reducng microbial adverse effects. In hygiene-critical environments, such as hospitals, the use of antimicrobial surfaces is considered a worthwhile addition to the fight against cross-contamination and the spread of superbugs. Due to enhanced properties such as high dimensional stability, heat & chemical resistance, and chemical stability there is increasing demand of antimicrobial additives in various end-use industries, which will further lead the growth of Antimicrobial Additives Market to accelerate in the forecast era.
Key Takeaways
- APAC dominates the Antimicrobial Additives Market due to increasing healthcare regulations in hospitals and medical facilities.
- Rising demand for inorganic additives in a wide range of applications such as textiles, paints, polymers, and coatings to inhibit the spread of germs and bacteria is anticipated to propel the market growth during the forecast period.
- High-volume use of antimicrobials results in risks to the environment and wildlife such as the release of antimicrobials into aquatic environments where they can bioaccumulate in marine food webs will create hurdles for the Antimicrobial Additives Market in the forecast period.
- According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the COVID-19 outbreak 2020-2021, is likely to impact the medical product supply chain including potential disruptions to supply or shortages of critical medical products.
By Type - Segment Analysis
Inorganic Antimicrobial Additives are extensively used in Antimicrobial Additives Market. An inorganic antimicrobial additive such as silver ion is used in a wider range of applications such as medical coatings, plastics, and food-contact products. Owing to its ability to destroy bacteria on surfaces by up to 99.9%, silver is a widely used active antimicrobial ingredient. Silver ion has resurfaced as a therapeutic alternative in recent years because of the growing prevalence of antimicrobial bacterial resistance. Silver's antibacterial activity has been known for a long time and has found several uses since its toxicity to the human cell is significantly lower than bacteria. The most widely known uses are prophylactic burn treatment and disinfection with water. Also, Inorganic antimicrobial additives offer excellent protection, for example, inorganic additives such as copper salts in various preservatives and sterilized applications provide antimicrobial protection. Due to this property, the market is anticipated to enhance in the forecast era.
By Application Type - Segment Analysis
Plastics held the largest share of Antimicrobial Additives Market in 2019. An antimicrobial plastic additive provides polymers with valuable protection. It is incorporated in a wide variety of plastics & polymeric materials to prevent microorganisms from growing. This prolongs their lives, retains their aesthetic appeal, and reduces bioburden on the surface owing to which there is increasing use of antimicrobial additives in plastics. Plastic antimicrobial chemicals do not emit an odor. These are not intended to create a color difference and cannot be seen or felt on the surface. Antimicrobial plastics generally look almost the same as untreated ones. There is also growing demand for plastics in medical instruments as a replacement for conventional materials, including surgical ventilators and anesthetic machines. Also, increasing demand for antimicrobial additives in various end use industries for plastic applications such as PVC blinds, packaging, vinyl siding, insulation, and piping will drive the market in the forecast period.
By End Use -Segment Analysis
Healthcare Industry held the largest share in the Antimicrobial Additives Market in 2019and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.28% during the forecast period 2020-2025. In any healthcare environment, whether it is a hospital, doctor's surgery, personal care, or dental practice, good hygiene is crucial. Antimicrobial additives are used widely for the manufacture of medical devices in the healthcare industry. Healthcare antimicrobials benefit from the enhanced protection offered by advanced technologies. These products remain cleaner between cleanings even after repeated exposure and reduce the spread of bacteria on high-touch surfaces. Healthcare antimicrobials provide breathing tubes, endoscopes, beds, ventilation, facilities for transporting patients, and holding clear medical bags. With the rise in hospital-acquired infections, antimicrobial additives are being used in air vents to prevent communicable disease transmission. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the cost of healthcare for patients with resistant infections is higher than that of patients with non-resistant infections due to longer duration of the disease, additional tests, and the use of more expensive drugs. This places enormous pressure on healthcare providers and global economies. Also, to inhibit microbial growth, they are used in sheaths, thrombectomy, guide wires, and diagnostic catheters. Increasing disease and geriatric population, unhealthy dietary habits will drive demand for such tools further, which is expected to boost the antimicrobial market.
Geography- Segment Analysis
Asia Pacific held the largest share with 44% in Antimicrobial Additives Market due to the rapidly growing healthcare and packaging industry. Compared with any other industry, the food industry uses more packaging. Increasing population and growing disposable income combined with rising demand for packaged food would drive the food industry sector, which in turn will boost the sector for antimicrobial additives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), In China, over 95 % of the population is covered by the universal health insurance scheme. The National Healthcare Security Administration was founded in 2018, overseeing all of China's basic medical insurance programs. Also, according to India Brand Equity Foundation, the Indian market for medical tourism is rising at an annual rate of 18 % and is projected to cross US$ 9 billion by 2020. Australia spends more than $180.0 billion annually on its healthcare system, approximately 10.0 percent of GDP or $7,485 per capita. Australia's first line of defense against COVID-19 has been general practitioners communicating with patients and performing COVID-19 infection checks. There are programs primarily provided by Australia's Medicare program, which contributes more than $9.0 billion to Australia's general practice medical services sector.
Drivers –Antimicrobial Additives Market
- Use of Antimicrobial Additives in Paints & Coatings
During the manufacturing process, antimicrobial additives are different active ingredients which can be added into a paint, coating, ink, or lacquer to make it resistant to microbes. The use of antimicrobial additives offers permanent and efficient defense against dangerous bacteria, molds, and fungi, effectively helping to reduce staining, bad odors, and plastic deterioration on any surface on which it is applied. Microbes fail to thrive, as long as the paint stays on the surface. A comprehensive range of advanced masterbatch pellets is available for the injection of molded or extruded thermoplastic polymers to ensure smooth integration. Also, it is possible to conveniently and cost-effectively produce antimicrobial paint additives in all solvent forms such as water-based, liquid, oil or powder paints and coatings, including general industrial coatings, decorative coatings, specialty coatings, specialty inks, and varnishes. Owing to its antimicrobial protection, it is widely used in a variety of consumer and industrial applications such as houseware, commercial, industrial, and healthcare, which will further drive the market in the forecast period.
- Increasing Demand From the Food & Beverage Industry
Inorganic preservatives possess effective capacity against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms and are widely used to control microbial growth. The preservation of food from spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms is done using antimicrobials from different sources. Diverse synthetic chemical preservatives are used to control the spoilage of microbial products and to prolong the shelf life of the product. With consumer awareness regarding food protection and quality, there is indeed a high demand for preservative-free foods and the use of preservatives of natural products. According to WHO reports, globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrheal disease every year due to the use of contaminated food and water. The use of natural antimicrobial compounds, particularly in food and biomedical applications, is becoming very frequent with the current trend of giving value to natural and renewable resources.
Challenges –Antimicrobial Additives Market
- Health risks of antimicrobial additives
Human epidemiological studies have linked exposure to some antimicrobials to skin irritation, asthma, and allergies, including triclosan and quats. Antimicrobials can also be toxic to beneficial gut bacteria. Chemical antimicrobial has been found in urine, blood, and breast milk. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "have found no evidence to indicate that antimicrobial coatings provide any improved protection against bacteria and germs spread, and that good hygiene and handwashing are the only ways to avoid infection."The long-term, non-specific use in everyday products of antimicrobial chemicals will contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial communities can develop resistance to triclosan over time and bacteria that develop resistance to triclosan are less susceptible to other antimicrobials as well. Owing to the effect of chemicals used in antimicrobials, some health care organizations have second thoughts about the use of antimicrobial additives and hence will create hurdle for Antimicrobial Additives Market in the forecast period.
Market Landscape
Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Antimicrobial Additives Market. In 2019, the market of Antimicrobial Additives Market has been consolidated by the top five players accounting for xx% of the share. Major players in the Antimicrobial Additives Market are Balavigna Weaving Mill Pvt Ltd, Basf Se, Biocote Limited, Eysan Fabric Co., Ltd, Heiq Material Ag, Herculite, Inc, Purthread Technologies, Inc, Resil Chemical Pvt Ltd, Smartfiber Ag, Thomson Research Associate, among others.
