Membrane Element Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Configuration (Spiral Wound, Plate & Frame & Others), By Membrane Type (Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Microfiltration, & Nanofiltration), By Application (Residential, Industrial, Municipal & Commercial), By Region and Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 8.02 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.17%
Fastest Growing Segment	Industrial
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 12.15 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Membrane Element Market will grow from USD 8.02 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.15 Billion by 2031 at a 7.17% CAGR. Membrane elements are semi-permeable barriers utilized in filtration systems to selectively separate dissolved solutes, suspended solids, and other impurities from liquids under pressure. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the escalating global demand for potable water and stringent environmental mandates requiring advanced wastewater treatment across industrial sectors. According to the International Desalination and Reuse Association, nearly 150 seawater and brackish water desalination projects were contracted globally between 2023 and 2024, reflecting the critical role of membrane technology in addressing water security.

However, a significant challenge hindering broader market expansion is the high operational cost associated with membrane fouling and scaling. The accumulation of contaminants on the membrane surface increases energy consumption and necessitates frequent cleaning or replacement, which can strain the economic viability of projects in price-sensitive regions. This operational inefficiency forces operators to incur additional expenses for pretreatment systems and maintenance, potentially delaying the adoption of membrane-based solutions in developing markets.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating Global Water Scarcity and Rising Demand for Desalination is a primary catalyst propelling the global membrane element market, as nations increasingly rely on advanced filtration to secure potable water supplies. Governments in arid and coastal regions are aggressively investing in large-scale reverse osmosis infrastructure to counteract depleting freshwater reserves. For instance, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, December 2024, in the 'International Desalination and Reuse Association World Congress (IDRA) 2024 underway in Abu Dhabi' press release, the Al Taweelah reverse osmosis plant was confirmed to produce 200 million imperial gallons of water daily to meet regional demand. This surge in infrastructure development signals a broader market recovery, evidenced by the strengthening financial performance of key industry players. According to DuPont, in 2025, Water Solutions sales increased 7% in the second half of 2024, reflecting the growing global uptake of membrane-based water treatment technologies.

Rapid Expansion of the Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Sectors further drives market value, particularly for the high-purity filtration systems required in drug production. As the industry transitions toward complex biologics and advanced therapies, manufacturers mandate rigorous separation processes to ensure sterility and regulatory compliance. The demand for specialized, anti-fouling, and single-use membrane elements is intensifying to support these sophisticated bioprocesses. According to Sartorius, January 2025, in the 'Preliminary Results 2024' report, the Bioprocess Solutions Division generated sales revenue of 2.69 billion euros in 2024, driven by a significant upturn in the consumables business and products for advanced therapies. This trend underscores the critical dependence of modern life sciences manufacturing on reliable, high-performance membrane technologies.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial operational costs associated with membrane fouling and scaling represent a primary impediment to the expansion of the Global Membrane Element Market. As filtration systems operate under pressure, the inevitable accumulation of dissolved solutes and suspended solids on membrane surfaces leads to a severe reduction in flux and a simultaneous spike in energy requirements. This loss of efficiency forces operators to implement frequent, costly cleaning cycles and premature module replacements, transforming what should be a consistent asset into a variable financial liability. For industrial and municipal buyers in developing economies, these unpredictable operating expenses often outweigh the benefits of advanced filtration, making the technology difficult to justify in strict cost-benefit analyses.

This financial imbalance is substantiated by recent industry data highlighting the disparity between building and running these systems. According to the International Desalination and Reuse Association, in late 2024, global operational expenditures (OPEX) for desalination and membrane-based facilities were reported at approximately $10.8 billion, a figure nearly double the capital expenditures recorded for the same period. This statistical evidence underscores the market's core difficulty: when ongoing maintenance and energy costs drastically exceed the cost of initial deployment, potential investors in price-sensitive regions are compelled to defer membrane adoption in favor of conventional, less operationally intensive alternatives, thereby stalling global market growth.

Key Market Trends

Expansion of Membrane Technology for Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Brine Mining is fundamentally reshaping the market by introducing high-value applications beyond traditional water treatment. Unlike conventional evaporation ponds that require vast land usage and months of processing, membrane-based DLE utilizes selective filtration to isolate critical minerals from geothermal and salar brines with greater speed and environmental efficiency. This technological shift is attracting substantial federal support and capital investment to secure domestic battery supply chains, directly benefiting membrane manufacturers specializing in selective ion separation. For instance, according to ThinkGeoEnergy, January 2025, in the 'California geothermal lithium project secures $1.36 billion direct loan' article, EnergySource Minerals secured a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $1.36 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to construct the ATLiS facility, which utilizes proprietary membrane technology to recover lithium for the electric vehicle market.

Advancement of Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Decentralized Water Reuse is simultaneously gaining momentum as industrial consumers prioritize closed-loop systems to mitigate operational risks associated with water scarcity. This trend involves converting municipal effluent into high-quality industrial process water through integrated systems combining biological treatment with advanced filtration, thereby preserving freshwater resources for community use while ensuring business continuity. The scalability of these solutions is evident in major emerging markets where large-scale infrastructure is being retrofitted for heavy industrial application. According to H2O Global News, July 2025, in the 'Veolia's advanced technologies set new standards for large-scale water reuse in Brazil' report, Veolia was selected to deliver a water reclamation station capable of processing 450 liters per second, designed to recycle 85% of municipal wastewater for use by major industrial players like ArcelorMittal and Vale.

Segmental Insights

The industrial segment currently represents the fastest-growing category within the global membrane element market, driven primarily by escalating requirements for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have enforced stricter guidelines regarding industrial effluent discharge, compelling manufacturing facilities to integrate reliable filtration systems for compliance. Additionally, the rapid expansion of the chemical, pharmaceutical, and power generation sectors has intensified the demand for high-purity process water. These factors collectively accelerate the adoption of membrane technologies as industries prioritize sustainable operations and water reuse strategies to mitigate scarcity risks.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global Membrane Element Market, driven primarily by stringent environmental mandates and a robust industrial base. The United States Environmental Protection Agency enforces strict water quality standards, which necessitates the widespread adoption of membrane filtration for effective wastewater treatment and municipal water purification. Furthermore, the region experiences sustained demand from the pharmaceutical and food and beverage sectors, where high-purity filtration is critical for compliance and safety. This combination of regulatory enforcement and essential industrial application maintains North America's status as the dominant market for membrane elements.

Recent Developments

• In June 2024, LG Chem announced a joint venture with the Alkhorayef Group to construct a new reverse osmosis (RO) membrane manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. The partners plan to invest approximately USD 86 million to establish the plant, which is expected to commence production in 2026. This facility will serve as a strategic production base to meet the rising demand for desalination components in the Middle East region. The collaboration aims to localize the supply chain for critical water treatment technologies and leverage the company's thin-film nanocomposite membrane technology for enhanced salt rejection and energy efficiency.
• In May 2024, NX Filtration secured a contract to supply its hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane modules for an indirect potable water reuse system in Mexico. This project, awarded by the local water utility, represents the largest deployment of the company's hollow fiber nanofiltration technology to date. The membrane modules will be utilized to treat wastewater for drinking water production, ensuring efficient and largely chemical-free purification. This commercial collaboration underscores the growing adoption of advanced nanofiltration solutions for addressing water scarcity and improving water quality in large-scale municipal applications.
• In April 2024, DuPont Water Solutions announced that its FilmTec LiNE-XD nanofiltration membrane elements were recognized with a Bronze Edison Award in the Resource Recovery & Environmental Conservation category. These membrane elements are the company's first offering dedicated specifically to lithium brine purification, supporting the growing global demand for lithium-ion batteries. The product features advanced membrane chemistry that enables reliable performance, increased lithium recovery, and reduced energy consumption. This recognition highlighted the company's commitment to developing sustainable separation technologies that address critical resource challenges, such as the efficient extraction of lithium from complex brine mixtures.
• In March 2024, Toray Industries, Inc. announced the development of a highly durable reverse osmosis (RO) membrane designed to ensure a long-term supply of high-quality water. This innovative membrane element features a novel polymer structure that offers double the resistance to cleaning chemicals compared to conventional counterparts, effectively reducing performance degradation. By halving the frequency of necessary replacements, the product aims to significantly lower operational costs and shrink the carbon footprint of water treatment facilities. The company prepared to mass-produce this membrane for the global market, targeting applications in industrial wastewater reuse and sewage treatment where chemical durability is critical.

Key Market Players

• Jubilant Pharma Holdings Inc.
• GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc.
• Cardinal Health, Inc.
• ARTMS Inc.
• AnazaoHealth Corp.
• Sofie Biosciences, Inc.
• Pacific Radiopharmacy, Ltd.
• NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd.
• Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.
• ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Pty Ltd.

By Configuration	By Membrane Type	By Application	By Region
Spiral Wound Plate & Frame & Others	Reverse Osmosis Ultrafiltration Microfiltration & Nanofiltration	Residential Industrial Municipal & Commercial	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Membrane Element Market, By Configuration:

• Spiral Wound
• Plate & Frame & Others

• Membrane Element Market, By Membrane Type:

• Reverse Osmosis
• Ultrafiltration
• Microfiltration
• & Nanofiltration

• Membrane Element Market, By Application:

• Residential
• Industrial
• Municipal & Commercial

• Membrane Element 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