Global Catalyst Market 2024–2033

Reports Description

Global Catalyst Market was valued at USD 37.2 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 45.8 Billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period 2024 – 2033.

A catalyst is a material that speeds up a chemical reaction by offering an alternate reaction route with a lower activation energy, without being consumed or incurring any net chemical alteration in the process.

Catalysts are widely employed in a variety of sectors, and they serve an important role in increasing the efficiency of chemical processes, lowering energy needs, and enabling the creation of desired products.

Catalyst Market: Growth Factors

Escalating demand for petroleum refining

The increased demand for petroleum refining has a substantial impact on the catalyst business. As the world’s population rises and industry expands, so does the need for refined petroleum products like petrol, diesel, and jet fuel.

To fulfil rising demand, petroleum refineries must upgrade their refining operations to increase efficiency, enhance product quality, and comply with strict environmental requirements. Catalysts serve an important role in refining processes because they accelerate chemical reactions and facilitate the conversion of crude oil into various refined products.

Catalysts also assist in reducing energy usage and environmental pollution during the refining process. As a result, the increasing demand for petroleum refining pushes the catalyst market, as refineries always seek innovative catalyst technologies to optimise their operations and meet the expanding worldwide energy needs sustainably.

For instance, Shell Catalysts & Technologies provides catalysts for important operations that employ hydrogen to improve and add value to refinery streams and finished products. Its portfolio comprises hydro processing catalysts for a wide range of refinery applications, including ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) production and tail-gas treatment. Heavily active in hydrocracking, providing both feed preprocessing and cracking catalysts.

Growing demand for polymers

The increased demand for polymers has a considerable impact on the catalyst industry. As polymers find widespread use in sectors that include packaging, automobile building, and electronics, the demand for efficient polymerization processes grows.

Catalysts play an important role in polymer manufacturing because they accelerate reactions, improve product quality, and regulate molecular structure. Furthermore, the push for sustainable and functional polymers increases the demand for specialised catalysts that enable green and regulated polymerization procedures.

Furthermore, the growing emphasis on lightweight materials and sophisticated polymer composites in a variety of industries drives catalyst used for polymer synthesis and modification.

As a result, the increasing demand for polymers serves as a significant driver for innovation and investment in the catalyst market, driving research and development efforts to satisfy expanding industrial requirements while assuring economic and environmental sustainability.

For instance, India’s polymer demand has increased by 12% in fiscal year 2022-23, owing to a dramatic increase in consumer activity following more than two years of pandemic-induced economic downturn.

In addition, moderate retail inflation has given consumers a break and, as a result, overall retail goods sales have increased in recent months. Polymers demand was strong last fiscal year, since it is widely used in a variety of product industries, including packaging and automotive parts.

Catalyst Market: Restraints

Complex manufacturing processes

Catalysts are essential components in a variety of industries, but their market expansion might be hampered by the intricacy of their manufacturing methods. These procedures frequently include complex phases that require precise control of composition, morphology, and surface qualities, which necessitate advanced technology and knowledge.

Furthermore, catalyst manufacture may need expensive raw materials, complex equipment, and demanding quality control processes, resulting in increased manufacturing costs. Furthermore, achieving consistent performance and scalability across several applications presents considerable hurdles, as catalysts must act successfully under a variety of operating circumstances.

Manufacturing complexity also adds to lengthier development schedules and regulatory constraints, which slows market entrance and increases total investment risk. As a result, firms confront difficulties when scaling up production to meet expanding demand, hindering the growth of the catalyst industry.

Catalyst Market: Opportunities

Upsurge demand for heterogeneous catalyst

The increase in demand for heterogeneous catalysts drives the catalyst market for a variety of reasons. To begin, heterogeneous catalysts are versatile and efficient in a variety of industrial processes, such as petroleum products, chemicals, and environmental applications.

Their capacity to enable reactions at the interface of distinct phases improves conversion rates and selectivity, resulting in increased process efficiency and lower costs.

Furthermore, the increased emphasis on environmentally friendly methods and environmental legislation encourages the use of heterogeneous catalysts in green chemistry projects such as renewable energy generation and emissions reduction.

Furthermore, advances in material science and nanotechnology allow for the creation of innovative heterogeneous catalysts with improved performance and stability, which drives market expansion. For instance, Heterogeneous catalysts provide various advantages, notably reusability, increased reaction rate and selectivity, ease of product/catalyst separation, and lower cost.

Because of these facts, researchers are increasingly interested in developing solid phase transesterification catalysts. In recent years, heterogeneous catalysts have proven to be more effective than homogeneous catalysts for producing biodiesel from third-generation feedstocks such as microalgae.

Catalyst Market: Segmentation Analysis

The global Catalyst market is segmented by raw material, application, and region.  Based on raw materials, the market is classified into chemical compounds, metals, zeolites and others. Chemical compounds dominated the market in 2023 with a market share of 40.5% and are expected to keep their dominance during the forecast period 2024-2033.

Chemical compounds are important drivers of the catalyst industry because they may assist and accelerate chemical processes without being consumed themselves.

Catalysts function by decreasing the activation energy necessary for reactions to proceed, resulting in higher reaction rates and efficiency. Various chemical substances operate as catalysts, with each adapted to a specific process depending on its molecular structure and capabilities.

These substances, which can be organic or inorganic, such as transition metals, enzymes, or zeolites, have use in a variety of sectors, including petrochemicals, medicines, and environmental remediation. Furthermore, continuing research and development yield innovative catalyst compositions and formulations, enhancing the market’s potential.

Overall, the vast array of chemical compounds used as catalysts fuels innovation and promote development in the catalyst industry, enabling more efficient and sustainable chemical processes.

Based on application, the market is classified into petroleum refining, chemical synthesis, polymer catalysis, and environmental. Petroleum refining dominated the market in 2023 with a market share of 36.8% and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period 2024-2033.

Petroleum refining has a huge impact on the catalyst industry since it relies heavily on catalysts in its refining operations. Catalysts are essential in refining crude oil into marketable products such as petrol, diesel and jet fuel because they catalyse chemical processes, increase efficiency and facilitate targeted product yields.

As worldwide demand for refined petroleum products grows due to increased industrialization and urbanisation, so does the requirement for catalysts in refining operations.

Furthermore, developments in refining technology and legislation supporting cleaner fuels are driving the catalyst market, as catalysts allow for the manufacture of ecologically benign goods with lower emissions.

As a result, the petroleum refining sector remains a primary driver of growth and innovation in the catalyst market, driving its trajectory and encouraging technical advances to fulfil evolving industry needs.

Report Scope

Catalyst Market: Regional Insight

By region, Catalyst market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa. The Asia-Pacific dominated the global Catalyst market in 2023 with a market share of 31.5% and is expected to keep its dominance during the forecast period 2024-2033.

Asia Pacific is a key driver of the catalyst market for a variety of reasons. To begin, the region’s fast urbanisation and increasing manufacturing industries generate significant demand for catalysts in a variety of chemical processes, such as petroleum products, refining, and polymer and plastic manufacture.

Furthermore, Asia Pacific’s booming automobile sector increases the need for catalysts used in pollution control systems to meet severe environmental standards.

Furthermore, governments in the area are increasingly concentrating on sustainable development and environmental preservation, resulting in the adoption of cleaner technologies that use catalysts to reduce pollutants and improve energy efficiency.

Moreover, the availability of raw materials and trained labour, together with favourable investment policies and infrastructure development, draws large investments from catalyst manufacturers, accelerating market expansion in Asia Pacific.

In addition, the region’s emphasis on environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance has accelerated the use of catalysts for emissions control and pollution abatement. Rigorous environmental rules aiming at decreasing air and water pollution have boosted investment in catalytic technology for clean energy generation and waste management.

In summary, Asia Pacific’s mix of industrial expansion, rich resources, environmental concerns, and automotive growth places it as a major driving factor in the catalyst industry, with more expansion projected shortly.

Catalyst Market: Recent Developments

• In January 2023, Albemarle Corporation introduced Ketjen-a specialise brand providing tailored developed catalyst solutions for petroleum-based, refining, and specialised chemicals.

• In May 2023, Johnson Matthey (JM) and Hystar signed a three-year strategic supply agreement to strengthen renewable hydrogen production that includes the use of catalysts in the membrane-based electrode assemblies to power the electrolysis process and generate renewable hydrogen.

• In July 2021, BASF SE disclosed its acquisition of Zodiac Enterprises LLC. In Caldwell, Texas, for the expansion of its ability and production capacity for chemical catalyst recycling. The plant will add to BASF’s existing precious metal recovering operations in Seneca, South Carolina, USA, by recovering precious metals from industrial debris, particularly chemical catalysts.

List of the prominent players in the Catalyst Market:

• BASF SE
• Johnson Matthey plc
• Clariant AG
• Dow Inc.
• Albemarle Corporation
• R. Grace & Co.
• Evonik Industries AG
• Haldor Topsoe A/S
• Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC
• Exxon Mobil Corporation
• UOP LLC
• Shell Global Solutions International B.V.
• Sinopec Corp.
• Axens SA
• Zeolyst International
• Croda International Plc
• Solvay S.A.
• INEOS Group Holdings S.A.
• Lanxess AG
• Arkema S.A.
• Others

These key players are adopting various growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, expansion, strategic alliances, new product launches, etc. to enhance their business operations and revenues.

The Catalyst Market is segmented as follows:

By Raw Material

• Chemical Compounds
• Metals
• Zeolites
• Others

By Application

• Petroleum Refining
• Chemical Synthesis
• Polymer Catalysis
• Environmental

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America