Scrubber and Purifier Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Scrubber and Purifier), By End-User (Commercial/Institutional Buildings, Residential Buildings, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Marine, Chemical, Metallurgical, Pharmaceuticals, and Others), By Orientation (Horizontal and Vertical), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 20.01 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.88%
Fastest Growing Segment	Purifier
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 35.22 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Scrubber and Purifier Market will grow from USD 20.01 Billion in 2025 to USD 35.22 Billion by 2031 at a 9.88% CAGR. The Global Scrubber and Purifier Market focuses on exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) engineered to remove hazardous sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter from marine engine emissions. The primary driver supporting market growth is the enforcement of strict environmental mandates, specifically the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 sulfur cap, which necessitates compliance with reduced emission limits. Additionally, the sustained price differential between cheaper high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) and compliant very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) incentivizes shipowners to install these systems to achieve operational cost savings, a motivation distinct from broader market trends like alternative fuel adoption.

A significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the increasing regulatory uncertainty regarding open-loop scrubbers, with numerous ports globally implementing bans on washwater discharge due to environmental concerns. This creates operational complexities for vessels trading across different jurisdictions. Despite these hurdles, adoption remains robust as a compliance solution for the existing fleet. According to the classification society DNV, in 2025, the total number of vessels equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems is projected to reach approximately 5,061 units, underscoring the technology's continued role in meeting global emission standards.

Key Market Drivers

Enforcement of International Maritime Sulfur Cap Mandates serves as the primary catalyst for the market, compelling shipowners to adopt exhaust gas cleaning systems to navigate strict emission limits while capitalizing on fuel price differentials. This regulatory pressure incentivizes the installation of scrubbers, allowing vessels to utilize cost-effective high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) rather than expensive compliant alternatives. According to Ship & Bunker, January 2025, the shipping giant COSCO significantly expanded its scrubber-equipped capacity, with the technology covering 30% of its fleet in 2024, up from 10% two years prior. This operational reliance is reflected in global bunkering trends at key hubs, which indicate a sustained preference for abatement technology. According to Bunkermarket, January 2025, HSFO remained the dominant fuel grade at the Port of Rotterdam, accounting for 36.8% of total fossil fuel sales in 2024, confirming the robust utilization of installed scrubber systems.

Growing Demand for Ultra-High Purity Gases in the Semiconductor Sector drives the purifier segment, necessitated by the contamination sensitivity of modern fabrication nodes. As manufacturers transition to smaller architectures, the requirement for contaminant removal mandates advanced purification infrastructure to ensure chip yield. According to SEMI, October 2025, worldwide spending on 300mm fab equipment was projected to surpass $100 billion for the first time in 2025, signaling a massive expansion in manufacturing capacity that necessitates parallel investments in gas purification systems. This correlation highlights how the purifier market is inextricably linked to the capital intensity and technical evolution of the broader semiconductor industry.

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Key Market Challenges

The escalating regulatory inconsistency regarding the operation of open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems serves as a critical impediment to the market's expansion. While these systems provide a cost-efficient mechanism for meeting emissions standards, the absence of a unified global framework has emboldened various coastal states and port authorities to implement unilateral bans on washwater discharge. This regulatory fragmentation forces vessel operators to navigate complex, jurisdiction-specific compliance rules, often necessitating the use of expensive compliant fuels in restricted waters. Such operational hurdles significantly diminish the projected financial savings that originally justify the capital expenditure for scrubber installation, thereby weakening the investment case for shipowners.

This trend of localized prohibitions creates a volatile business environment that directly discourages new adoption. The uncertainty is exemplified by recent restrictive measures in major maritime regions, which signal a shrinking operational map for the most common scrubber technology. According to the Clean Shipping Alliance, in 2025, the OSPAR Commission finalized a decision to implement a ban on scrubber washwater discharges affecting ports and inland waters across 15 countries in the North-East Atlantic. These widening restrictions amplify the risk of asset obsolescence, causing stakeholders to delay or cancel procurement decisions and hampering the overall growth trajectory of the global market.

Key Market Trends

Adoption of Hybrid Loop Marine Scrubbers is accelerating as a strategic response to the proliferation of open-loop washwater discharge bans in key maritime jurisdictions. As ports increasingly restrict the discharge of scrubber effluent to protect local water quality, shipowners are shifting toward hybrid systems that can alternate between open-loop mode in unregulated waters and closed-loop mode in zero-discharge zones. This transition ensures continuous operational compliance without necessitating a switch to expensive low-sulfur fuels. A prominent example of this shift occurred when, according to Wärtsilä, September 2024, the technology group secured a contract to upgrade four Color Line vessels to hybrid scrubber configurations, a move explicitly aimed at future-proofing the fleet against tightening environmental regulations while maintaining abatement efficiency.

Integration of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Capabilities represents the next technological evolution, transforming scrubbers from simple exhaust cleaners into multi-pollutant management platforms. With the maritime industry under pressure to decarbonize, manufacturers are embedding carbon capture modules directly into existing scrubber infrastructure to address CO2 emissions alongside sulfur oxides. This convergence allows vessels to meet emerging greenhouse gas targets such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) while leveraging heavy fuel oil. Validating this technological progression, according to Eastern Pacific Shipping, August 2024, the tanker Pacific Cobalt received the first-ever class notation for an onboard carbon capture and storage system, which is engineered to capture approximately 40% of the vessel's carbon emissions, thereby establishing a new benchmark for shipboard abatement.

Segmental Insights

The Purifier segment distinguishes itself as the fastest-growing category within the Global Scrubber and Purifier Market, primarily driven by an intensified focus on indoor air quality across commercial, institutional, and residential sectors. This expansion correlates directly with heightening global health concerns regarding airborne pathogens and particulate matter resulting from rapid urbanization and industrial activities. As organizations actively seek to create safer indoor environments, the adoption of advanced purification technologies has surged. Furthermore, strict adherence to air quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization compels facility managers to implement efficient purification solutions, sustaining this segment's accelerated development.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the Global Scrubber and Purifier Market primarily due to stringent environmental regulations and a robust industrial infrastructure. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces rigorous air quality standards, requiring manufacturing and energy facilities to implement effective emission control systems. This regulatory pressure compels companies to invest in air pollution control technologies to minimize hazardous exhaust. Consequently, the continuous need for regulatory compliance across established heavy industries ensures sustained demand for scrubbers and purifiers throughout the region.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, EBARA Corporation unveiled its latest compact combustion-type exhaust gas treatment equipment at SEMICON Japan. The new system was developed to be compatible with hydrogen fuel and designed to maintain high processing performance while significantly reducing the equipment's footprint. This product launch addressed the semiconductor industry's growing need for efficient gas abatement solutions that support sustainable manufacturing processes. The company also showcased its new "EV-X" series of dry vacuum pumps, which are optimized for energy savings and integrated control, further strengthening its position in the global market for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and environmental solutions.
• In November 2024, Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) was awarded a contract by Mälarenergi AB to conduct a full-scale feasibility study for integrating its SolveBright carbon capture scrubbing technology at a waste-to-energy plant in Sweden. The study focuses on capturing 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually from the plant’s flue gas using a regenerable solvent. The Chief Operating Officer of Babcock & Wilcox highlighted that the project would demonstrate how their advanced scrubbing system contributes to the plant’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. This collaboration represents a critical step in applying post-combustion scrubbing technologies to the waste-to-energy sector.
• In September 2024, Wärtsilä secured a significant contract to supply its Carbon Capture and Storage-Ready (CCS-Ready) scrubber systems for three container vessels owned by Leonhardt & Blumberg. This development marked one of the industry's first retrofit projects prepared for future carbon capture integration. The CCS-Ready scrubbers are designed to ensure current compliance with sulfur oxide (SOx) emission regulations while including engineering modifications that facilitate the seamless installation of a full CCS system in the future. The Fleet Manager at Leonhardt & Blumberg noted that this technology provides a head-start in complying with upcoming regulatory requirements for greenhouse gas emissions.
• In February 2024, Yara Marine Technologies, a prominent provider of emissions abatement solutions for the maritime industry, was acquired by Okapi Supply Trading Advisory. This strategic acquisition was designed to expand the acquirer's portfolio of maritime solutions, incorporating scrubbers, shore power, and wind-assisted propulsion systems. The CEO of Okapi Supply Trading Advisory stated that the integration of these decarbonization technologies would accelerate the industry's transition to net zero. The collaboration aims to provide ship owners with a comprehensive range of green technology options to meet evolving environmental regulations and reduce the environmental impact of global shipping operations.

Key Market Players

• GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
• ECS Industrial
• LG Electronics Inc.
• Nederman Holding AB
• Sharp Corporation
• Thermax Limited
• Tri-Mer Corporation
• Valmet Corporation
• Wärtsilä Corporation
• Whirlpool Corporation

By Type	By End-User	By Orientation	By Region
Scrubber and Purifier	Commercial/Institutional Buildings Residential Buildings Oil & Gas Power Generation Marine Chemical Metallurgical Pharmaceuticals Others	Horizontal and Vertical	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Scrubber and Purifier Market, By Type:

• Scrubber and Purifier

• Scrubber and Purifier Market, By End-User:

• Commercial/Institutional Buildings
• Residential Buildings
• Oil & Gas
• Power Generation
• Marine
• Chemical
• Metallurgical
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others

• Scrubber and Purifier Market, By Orientation:

• Horizontal and Vertical

• Scrubber and Purifier 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