Chelating Agents Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Aminopolycarboxylic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Organophosphonate, Others), By Application (Pulp and Paper, Household and Industrial Cleaning, Water Treatment, Agrochemicals, Personal Care and Other), By Region and Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.38 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.12%
Fastest Growing Segment	Household and Industrial Cleaning
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.13 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Chelating Agents Market will grow from USD 6.38 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.13 Billion by 2031 at a 4.12% CAGR. Chelating agents are specialized chemical compounds that react with metal ions to form stable and water-soluble complexes, a process essential for preventing adverse chemical reactions in various industrial applications. The growth of this market is fundamentally supported by robust demand across the water treatment, industrial cleaning, and pulp and paper sectors, where these agents are critical for controlling water hardness and stabilizing bleaching processes. This upward trajectory is evidenced by the recovery in downstream manufacturing industries which directly fuels consumption. According to Cepi, in 2024, paper and board production in member countries increased by 5.2% compared to the previous year, a resurgence that significantly bolsters the requirement for chelating agents in paper processing.

However, the market faces a substantial challenge regarding the environmental sustainability of traditional aminopolycarboxylates such as EDTA. Stringent environmental regulations targeting these non-biodegradable compounds are compelling the industry to transition toward greener bio-based alternatives. This shift presents a hurdle as the higher development and production costs associated with biodegradable chelating agents can strain profit margins and complicate the reformulation of established industrial products, potentially impeding rapid market expansion in cost-sensitive regions.

Key Market Drivers

The robust growth in the pulp and paper manufacturing sector is a primary force propelling the chelating agents market, as these chemicals are indispensable for stabilizing bleaching processes and managing metal ions in pulping operations. As downstream demand for packaging and industrial paper recovers, particularly in emerging Asian economies, manufacturers are scaling up production, which directly correlates with increased consumption of process chemicals to prevent brightness reversion. For instance, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in May 2024, China’s production of machine-made paper and paperboard rose by 11.9% year-on-year during the first two months of 2024, signaling a vigorous industrial rebound that necessitates higher volumes of stabilizing agents. This manufacturing surge underscores the critical role of chelants in maintaining operational efficiency and product quality in modern paper mills.

Simultaneously, the increasing deployment of chelating agents in industrial water and wastewater treatment is driving market expansion, supported by substantial public and private investment in utility infrastructure. Chelants are essential for scale inhibition and heavy metal removal in complex water systems, a need that is intensifying with stricter discharge regulations and the modernization of aging facilities. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in October 2024, the administration announced $3.6 billion in funding for water infrastructure upgrades, creating a favorable economic environment for the adoption of advanced water treatment technologies. Furthermore, the broader market is adapting to sustainability pressures that influence procurement in these sectors; according to the American Cleaning Institute, in 2024, in the '2024 Sustainability Report', 36% of its member companies have committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, reflecting a wider industry shift that favors efficient and compliant chemical solutions.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

Stringent environmental regulations targeting non-biodegradable compounds constitute a significant restraint on market development. Regulatory bodies are increasingly restricting the use of traditional aminopolycarboxylates, necessitating a mandatory shift toward bio-based alternatives. However, the production of these biodegradable substitutes incurs substantially higher operational costs due to complex manufacturing requirements and expensive raw materials. This price disparity creates resistance among end-users who operate in highly price-sensitive environments and are unable to pass these additional costs on to consumers.

The economic burden of this transition is amplified by the sluggish performance of the broader chemical manufacturing sector, which reduces the capital available for supply chain modifications. Manufacturers operating with reduced liquidity find it difficult to absorb the premium costs associated with sustainable chelating agents. According to the European Chemical Industry Council, in 2024, chemical production in the European Union is projected to grow by only 1.0% compared to the previous year, signaling continued economic pressure on the industry. This lack of robust industrial momentum limits the capacity of downstream buyers to adopt more expensive reformulations, thereby slowing the commercial uptake of greener chelating agents and hampering overall market volume.

Key Market Trends

The transition toward biodegradable alternatives such as methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) is fundamentally reshaping the chelating agents landscape, particularly within the industrial and institutional cleaning sectors. Manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing the development of these bio-based chemistries to replace traditional aminopolycarboxylates like EDTA, which face regulatory scrutiny due to their persistence in the environment. This shift is not merely compliance-driven but is becoming a core component of competitive strategy and product innovation, as suppliers aim to meet the "net-zero" scope 3 emission targets of major detergent brands. The intensity of this innovation focus is evident in recent corporate strategies; according to Nouryon, May 2025, in the 'Sustainability Report 2024', approximately 74% of the company's product innovation pipeline was focused on solutions with sustainability benefits, underscoring the industry-wide pivot toward commercializing these biodegradable formulations.

Simultaneously, the incorporation of clean-label chelators is gaining significant traction in the natural personal care market, where consumer demand for transparency is driving the phase-out of synthetic ingredients. Formulators are reformulating skin and hair care lines to replace conventional chelants with plant-derived alternatives, such as sodium phytate and gluconates, which offer effective metal ion sequestration while aligning with eco-friendly product claims. This reformulation wave is supported by the sustained expansion of the downstream beauty sector, which continues to demand high volumes of compliant ingredients to satisfy a growing customer base. According to Cosmetics Europe, July 2025, in the 'European Cosmetics Market 2024' report, the European cosmetics and personal care market reached a value of 103.9 billion euros in 2024, an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous year, creating a substantial and growing addressable market for these natural chelation technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Household and Industrial Cleaning segment constitutes the fastest-growing area in the Global Chelating Agents Market. This trend is principally supported by the global transition toward sustainable cleaning formulations and strict environmental guidelines from entities like the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As these bodies limit phosphate usage to curb water eutrophication, manufacturers are increasingly utilizing biodegradable chelating agents to ensure optimal cleaning efficacy in hard water. Consequently, the industry is witnessing a robust shift toward eco-friendly alternatives in laundry detergents and industrial cleaners.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the global chelating agents market, supported by extensive industrial activities in major economies such as China and India. This dominance is primarily driven by high consumption in the pulp and paper, textile, and water treatment sectors, where these agents are essential for processing stability and efficiency. Additionally, rapid urbanization has increased the demand for household and industrial detergents, further strengthening regional market performance. The presence of a robust manufacturing base allows the region to satisfy its growing internal requirements effectively, securing its status as the primary global market.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Nouryon introduced the Dissolvine MAX range of chelating agents during the SEPAWA Congress in Berlin. These innovative products were formulated with 100% renewable carbon content and achieved ISCC PLUS certification, ensuring full traceability of the bio-based feedstocks. The range was engineered to provide a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional chelating agents while delivering effective cleaning power in laundry, dishwashing, and hard surface applications. This development underscored the company's strategic focus on meeting the rising demand for sustainable and high-performance ingredients in the cleaning industry.
• In April 2025, BASF Care Chemicals launched Trilon G, a new sustainable chelating agent based on glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA) chemistry. Designed for the Home Care and Industrial & Institutional (I&I) cleaning sectors, this product was developed with approximately 56% renewable carbon content and is classified as readily biodegradable. The new agent provides strong metal ion binding capabilities, which enhances surfactant efficiency and improves cleaning performance in applications such as dishwashing and laundry detergents. This launch expanded the company's portfolio of eco-friendly alternatives to traditional phosphates and phosphonates.
• In May 2024, Innospec Performance Chemicals finalized a distribution agreement with Ingretech, a specialty chemical distributor, to strengthen its presence in the French market. This collaboration granted Ingretech the rights to distribute Innospec’s Home Care and I&I product lines, including the Enviomet series of biodegradable chelating agents. The partnership aimed to combine Innospec’s sustainable product offerings with Ingretech’s local technical expertise and laboratory capabilities, thereby providing enhanced formulation support and value-added solutions to manufacturers in the region.
• In April 2024, Italmatch Chemicals and Univar Solutions established a strategic partnership to distribute Dequest PB, a line of eco-friendly antiscalants and dispersants. The Dequest brand, widely recognized in the global chelating agents market for its phosphonate-based solutions, expanded its sustainable portfolio through this collaboration to address stringent environmental regulations. The partnership focused on delivering biodegradable water treatment solutions to industrial manufacturers, facilitating the transition toward greener chemical formulations that prevent scale and manage metal ions effectively in complex water systems.

Key Market Players

• Akzo Nobel NV
• Archer Daniels Midland Company
• BASF SE
• Kemira Oyj
• The Dow Chemical Company
• Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation
• Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V.
• Lonza Group AG
• Evonik Industries AG
• Ascend Performance Materials LLC

By Type	By Application	By Region
Aminopolycarboxylic Acid Sodium Gluconate Organophosphonate Others	Pulp and Paper Household and Industrial Cleaning Water Treatment Agrochemicals Personal Care and Other	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Chelating Agents Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Chelating Agents Market, By Type:

• Aminopolycarboxylic Acid
• Sodium Gluconate
• Organophosphonate
• Others

• Chelating Agents Market, By Application:

• Pulp and Paper
• Household and Industrial Cleaning
• Water Treatment
• Agrochemicals
• Personal Care and Other

• Chelating Agents Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE