Demand for Membranes to Increase 7.7 Percent Annually Through 2016

Demand for membranes in the US is expected to increase 7.7 percent per year to $5.4 billion in 2016.  Growth will be driven by the need to comply with environmental regulations regarding water and wastewater streams, as these regulations often require purity levels that are best achieved using membranes.  Additionally, as manufacturing activity and investment in industrial equipment continues to improve, companies will increasingly purchase membrane separation systems either to replace conventional separation systems or to fill new fluid separation needs.  Water and wastewater treatment will continue to be the largest market for membranes in 2016, representing nearly half of sales.   These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in Membrane Separation Technologies, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.  

Polymeric membrane materials will continue to dominate the market because of their relatively low initial costs and their suitability for use in a range of applications.  Fluoropolymers and polyamides each accounted for approximately 30 percent of the polymeric market in 2011.  Demand for nonpolymeric materials, including ceramics, metals and composites, will increase due to factors such as better performance in extreme temperatures and greater pH ranges, as well as generally lower maintenance costs.

Microfiltration membranes, which represent the most established and mature type of membranes, are projected to continue to account for the largest share of total demand for the foreseeable future.  However, more rapid advances are projected for reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes, both of which produce higher purity streams.  These two membrane types will also benefit from their ability to sufficiently treat wastewater for reuse and from growing interest in producing potable water from brackish water and seawater.  Among the major types, gains are expected to be fastest for pervaporation membranes, albeit from a small base.  Ongoing development of pervaporation membranes will contribute to their increasing penetration of high-growth specialty markets such as chemical processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as fluid treatment in wastewater and industrial gas processing. 

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.