US demand for cleaning chemicals to approach $10bn in 2010
Boosted by presence of multifunctional cleaning chemicals offering sanitising and other benefits
According to a recent study by Freedonia Group, a Cleveland, US-based research firm, American demand for industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals is projected to increase 3.8% per year, approaching US$10 billion in 2010.
Value gains will be boosted by the increasing market presence of multifunctional cleaning chemicals offering sanitising and other benefits, as well as reducing labour costs for janitorial and other cleaning operations. Volume growth will be much slower, due to greater use of concentrated cleaners and reduced usage rates for traditional high volume raw materials, such as caustic soda, soda ash and commodity solvents.
Commercial applications dominate the I&I cleaning chemical industry, accounting for about two-thirds of overall demand. Although it will remain the largest segment by far, the commercial segment is expected to register growth slightly below the overall average. The same is true for manufacturing markets, although the smaller institutional segment will post strong growth, in large part due to the growing health care market, the study predicts.
Food-related uses account for a large share of overall I&I cleaning chemical usage. Foodservice is the largest commercial market, and food and beverage processing is by far the largest manufacturing market. Food-related operations are fairly intensive users of cleaning chemicals in order to offer attractive dining locations to customers and to comply with numerous regulatory requirements.
Disinfectants and sanitisers will record the fastest growth among I&I cleaning chemical types through 2010, with growth well above the overall average. Gains will be driven by heightened safety and health concerns regarding the spread of infectious diseases and risks associated with foodborne pathogens and other contaminants.
Media reports of contamination in meat processing facilities and packaged produce have prompted users to implement much more aggressive cleaning. The study advises that prospects for products containing antimicrobial additives could be adversely affected if indiscriminate use of disinfectants is proven to be a contributing factor in the proliferation of more resistant strains of bacteria.