Global Ultrapure Water Market 2024–2033

Reports Description

Global Ultrapure Water Market is anticipated to witness substantial growth from 2024 to 2033, driven by the increasing demand for high-purity water in critical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, power generation, and laboratory applications.

The market is expected to register a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 10.2% during the forecast period. In 2024, the market size was estimated at USD 1,889 Million, with projections to reach USD 3,989 Million by 2033.

Ultrapure water is defined by its meticulous adherence to stringent purity criteria, encompassing factors such as biological contaminants (such as pyrogens, bacteria, and viruses), organic carbon, dissolved and suspended solids, and dissolved gases.

Industries involved in manufacturing electronic, optical, and pharmaceutical components invariably rely on ultrapure water for their processes. Its significance extends to medical applications and research endeavors, including dialysis.

To earn the distinction of being ultrapure, water must undergo rigorous purification procedures to meet exacting purity standards. Serving as an industrial solvent, ultrapure water undergoes purification processes that target a comprehensive array of contaminants, ranging from organic and inorganic compounds to dissolved and particulate matter, as well as dissolved gases.

These purification protocols are meticulously maintained throughout the entire purification process, ensuring the highest possible standards of water purity. Ultrapure water, characterized by its exceptionally low levels of impurities, contaminants, and ions, is essential for various industrial processes requiring stringent water quality standards.

Ultrapure water plays a vital role in semiconductor fabrication, where even trace impurities can compromise chip performance and reliability. The semiconductor industry’s increasing reliance on advanced manufacturing processes, including lithography, etching, and wafer cleaning, drives the demand for ultrapure water as a critical process ingredient. Moreover, the pharmaceutical sector requires ultrapure water for drug formulation, quality control, and regulatory compliance, contributing to market growth.

Other key applications of ultrapure water include power generation, where it is used in boiler feedwater, cooling systems, and turbine operation to prevent corrosion and scale deposition, thereby enhancing power plant efficiency and reliability. In laboratory and analytical settings, ultrapure water is indispensable for precision testing, calibration, and scientific research across various disciplines, including chemistry, biology, and environmental analysis.

The Ultrapure Water Market is characterized by technological advancements in water purification and treatment technologies, including reverse osmosis (RO), ion exchange, distillation, and electro-deionization (EDI).

These technologies enable the production of ultrapure water with exceptional quality and consistency, meeting the stringent requirements of diverse industries. Additionally, the market is driven by regulatory mandates, quality standards, and industry certifications that emphasize the importance of water purity and safety in industrial applications.

Ultrapure water is essential for ensuring product quality, process efficiency, and regulatory compliance across a wide range of industries. In semiconductor manufacturing, ultrapure water is used in critical processes such as wafer cleaning, etching, and photoresist development.

Any contaminants or impurities in the water can adversely affect semiconductor device performance, yield, and reliability. Therefore, the demand for ultrapure water is driven by the growing complexity and miniaturization of semiconductor devices, which require increasingly stringent purity levels.

In the pharmaceutical industry, ultrapure water is utilized in drug formulation, production, and quality control to ensure product safety, efficacy, and compliance with regulatory standards. Water is a critical component in pharmaceutical manufacturing, where it serves as a solvent, reagent, and cleaning agent.

The purity of water used in pharmaceutical applications directly impacts the quality, purity, and stability of drugs, making ultrapure water essential for pharmaceutical companies to meet regulatory requirements and maintain product integrity.

Ultrapure water also plays a crucial role in power generation, particularly in steam generation, turbine operation, and cooling systems. High-purity water is essential for preventing corrosion, scale formation, and equipment fouling in power plants, which can lead to decreased efficiency, increased maintenance costs, and equipment failures.

By using ultrapure water in power generation processes, power plants can improve operational reliability, extend equipment lifespan, and enhance overall efficiency.

In laboratory and analytical applications, ultrapure water is indispensable for conducting accurate and reliable experiments, tests, and analyses. Water purity is critical for achieving reproducible results and minimizing interference from contaminants or impurities.

Ultrapure water is used in a wide range of laboratory techniques, including chromatography, spectroscopy, and molecular biology, where even trace levels of impurities can affect experimental outcomes.

Overall, the demand for ultrapure water is driven by the increasing requirements for water purity, quality, and reliability in critical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, power generation, and laboratory applications.

As industries continue to advance technologically and regulatory standards become more stringent, the importance of ultrapure water in ensuring product quality, process efficiency, and regulatory compliance will only continue to grow.

Ultrapure Water Market: Overview

Water purified to exceptionally stringent standards is commonly referred to as ultrapure water (UPW), high-purity water (HPW), or highly purified water (HPW). Ultrapure water denotes water that has undergone treatment to achieve the utmost levels of purity across a wide spectrum of contaminants.

These contaminants encompass organic and inorganic chemicals, dissolved and particulate matter, volatile and non-volatile compounds, reactive and inert substances, as well as dissolved gases.

The expansion of the ultra-pure water market is propelled by heightened demand emanating from the semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors. In semiconductor manufacturing, the necessity for ultrapure water arises in the production of printed circuit boards and delicate electronic components.

To mitigate the risk of mineral residue deposition, demineralized water is frequently employed due to its ability to prevent performance hindrances.

Moreover, ultrapure water has recently garnered increased attention in nanotechnology research, particularly in specialized components essential for biological studies. These components rely on ultrapure water to ensure optimal functionality, necessitating the use of pumping devices capable of withstanding high osmotic pressure and maintaining clean surfaces when interfacing with intricate analytical instruments.

Ultrapure Water Market: Growth Factors

• Increasing Demand from Critical Industries: Rising demand for ultrapure water from critical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, power generation, and laboratory applications drives market growth. These industries require high-purity water to ensure product quality, process efficiency, and regulatory compliance, creating significant opportunities for water purification technology providers.

• Technological Advancements in Water Purification: Ongoing advancements in water purification and treatment technologies enable the production of ultrapure water with exceptional quality and consistency. Innovations in reverse osmosis, ion exchange, distillation, and electro-deionization (EDI) contribute to improved water purity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, driving market expansion and adoption.

• Regulatory Mandates and Quality Standards: Stringent regulatory mandates, quality standards, and industry certifications emphasize the importance of water purity and safety in industrial applications. Compliance with regulatory requirements and adherence to quality standards drive demand for ultrapure water solutions, as companies strive to meet regulatory obligations, ensure product quality, and maintain customer trust.

• Industry-Specific Requirements and Applications: Different industries have specific requirements and applications for ultrapure water, ranging from semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceuticals to power generation and laboratory analysis. Understanding industry-specific needs, challenges, and opportunities is essential for water purification technology providers to develop tailored solutions and capture market share in niche segments.

• Economic Growth and Industrial Development: Economic growth, industrial development, and infrastructure investments drive demand for ultrapure water in emerging markets and developing economies. Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and technological advancement create opportunities for water purification technology providers to support industrial growth, enhance water quality, and promote sustainable development.

• Environmental Concerns and Sustainability Goals: Growing environmental concerns and sustainability goals underscore the importance of water conservation, resource efficiency, and pollution prevention in water purification processes. Adoption of eco-friendly and sustainable water purification technologies, such as membrane filtration, and UV disinfection.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RELATED MARKET

Ultrapure Water Market: Recent Developments

• In February 2024, Veolia disclosed its acquisition of Biowater, a Chinese company specializing in water treatment solutions. This strategic move bolsters Veolia’s footprint in Asia’s markets for high- and ultrapure water treatment.

• Also in February 2024, Evoqua Water Technologies unveiled its latest innovation, the Evoqua PURE™ EDI (Electrodeionization) System. This cutting-edge technology revolutionizes the process of ultrapure water production, enhancing both efficiency and sustainability.

• In January 2024, Merck Millipore announced a collaboration with LG Chem aimed at developing and commercializing advanced electrodeionization (EDI) membranes for ultrapure water applications. This partnership is geared towards addressing the escalating demand for eco-friendly and efficient water filtration technologies.

Ultrapure Water Market: Challenges

The ultrapure water market faces potential obstacles due to the heightened risk of product piracy, posing a threat to its growth trajectory.

In semiconductor manufacturing, ultrapure water presents certain challenges. The inherent high surface tension of water can lead to complications in typical aqueous cleaning processes and subsequent drying, particularly as system geometries shrink and become more intricate, potentially causing the collapse of high aspect ratio nanostructures.

Additionally, issues such as watermarks on silicon surfaces and flow electrification due to the water’s responsiveness to oxygen and silicon can arise during wafer cleaning, further complicating matters. Meeting the rigorous standards required by advancing nanotechnology poses a significant challenge for the ultrapure water market, thus impeding its growth.

Furthermore, the persistent dominance of established players and manufacturers is anticipated to hinder the expansion of the global ultrapure water market.

Ultrapure Water Market: Segmentation Analysis

By Application:

The cleaning segment is poised to exhibit a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.81% and is anticipated to maintain its position as the leading market segment throughout the forecast period.

Ultrapure water, characterized by its exceptionally high purity levels, is a vital component in water purification technologies aimed at achieving water quality approaching that of pure H2O, particularly for industrial and semiconductor manufacturing applications.

Its primary role lies in the meticulous cleaning of surfaces, notably semiconductor wafers and liquid crystal panels, necessitating the removal of even the minutest foreign particles. Semiconductor manufacturers rely on ultrapure water (UPW) to eradicate a spectrum of contaminants, including minerals, microorganisms, trace organic and inorganic chemicals, as well as nanoscale particles.

Mechanisms for generating UPW in semiconductor facilities are tailored to produce water of unparalleled purity, specifically designed for cleaning, etching, and rinsing semiconductor components during the manufacturing process.

The etching segment is poised to claim the second-largest market share. In semiconductor device fabrication, etching entails selectively removing material from thin layers on substrates, often resulting in patterned material arrangements on the substrate’s surface.

Ultrapure water plays a crucial role in etching processes by ensuring the removal of impurities and facilitating effective cleaning. Its utilization is particularly prominent in wet etching procedures across the semiconductor and other industrial sectors.

By End-User:

The semiconductor segment is forecasted to experience a notable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.28% and is poised to maintain its dominance by holding the largest market share throughout the projected period. Within the semiconductor industry, the demand for ultra-pure water (UPW) is substantial, driven by the stringent requirements for high-quality UPW.

This indispensable resource finds extensive use in various critical applications, including rinsing wafers post-chemical treatments, diluting chemical substances, supporting optics systems for immersion photolithography, and serving as a diluent for cooling fluids in crucial applications. Additionally, UPW occasionally serves as a source of humidification in cleanroom environments.

Its primary and paramount role lies in front-end cleaning tools during the foundational stages of creating integrated circuits, particularly in transistor fabrication. The removal of impurities from water is essential to ensure its suitability as a cleaning and etching agent, safeguarding against product contamination and maintaining optimal process efficiency, including etch rates.

Water is also integral to chemical-mechanical polishing processes, where it serves as a medium for reagents and abrasive particles. The escalating demand for semiconductors is anticipated to further propel the global ultra-pure water market share.

The pharmaceutical segment is expected to secure the second-largest market share. Ultra-pure water holds significant importance in pharmaceutical applications, serving a myriad of purposes such as bacteriostatic water for injection, sterile water for injection, sterile water for inhalation, and sterile water for internal irrigation therapy products.

Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in the bulk production of medicines for parenteral administration. Given its critical role, ultra-pure water is extensively utilized in cleaning applications within the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, it is instrumental in generating clean steam for sterilization purposes.

Report Scope

Ultrapure Water Market: Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific is poised to lead the market with the largest share, projected to grow at a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.90% throughout the forecast period. Within the region, China stands out as a significant player, boasting the world’s second-largest pharmaceuticals market.

The pharmaceutical sector in China is witnessing rapid expansion driven by factors such as the burgeoning middle class, aging population, increasing incomes, and urbanization trends. China hosts one of the globe’s largest pharmaceutical industries, engaging in the production of generic drugs, therapeutic medications, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and traditional Chinese medicines.

Notably, over 95% of the nation’s registered drugs are generics, further underlining the demand for ultra-pure water within the country’s pharmaceutical industry.

Moreover, China emerged as the world’s largest semiconductor market in 2023, achieving sales totalling USD 157.9 billion, marking a 6.7% increase from 2021. As part of the ambitious “Made in China 2025” initiative, Chinese authorities have set ambitious targets for the semiconductor industry, aiming to achieve USD 305 billion in production by 2030 and satisfy 80% of domestic demand. This strategic vision is expected to drive heightened demand for ultrapure water across the forecast period.

The United States stands as one of the leading manufacturers of semiconductors globally, ranking among the largest producers alongside the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Following the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, the semiconductor sector holds the second position in the nation’s industrial landscape.

Notably, the United States commands a significant share of the global semiconductor sales market, accounting for a substantial 47%. Within specific product categories, the United States boasts a 61% market share in logic products and 63% in analog products.

With the growing demand for semiconductors anticipated to continue, it is expected to stimulate the market for ultra-pure water within the country, consequently bolstering the region’s overall market share.

List of the prominent players in the Ultrapure Water Market:

• Pall Corporation
• MilliporeSigma
• Dow Chemical Company
• Veolia Water Technologies
• Aquatech International LLC
• Degremont Technologies
• Organo Corporation
• Ovivo Inc.
• Hitachi Ltd.
• Nalco Water an Ecolab Company
• US Water Services Inc.
• Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
• Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
• 3M Company
• Entegris Inc.
• Others

The Ultrapure Water Market is segmented as follows:

By Application

• Cleaning
• Etching
• Ingredient
• Other Applications

By Delivery Method

• Bulk Delivery
• Packaged Containers
• 1-liter Bottles
• 5-gallon Jugs
• 55-gallon Drums
• Others
• On-site Generation

By Technology

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)
• Ion Exchange (De-ionization)
• Distillation
• Filtration
• Electrodialysis
• UV or Ozone Treatment

By End-use Industry

• Semiconductor
• Cleaning
• Etching
• Polishing
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Laboratories
• Power Generation
• Food & Beverage Industry

By Equipment

• Filtration
• Consumables
• Others

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