Ceramic Membranes Market Trends

Market Trends of Ceramic Membranes Industry

The Water and Wastewater Treatment Segment to Dominate the Market

• Ceramic membranes dominate the water and wastewater treatment landscape, outshining traditional methods. Their allure lies in unparalleled chemical stability, robust mechanical strength, and resistance to extreme temperatures. Moreover, the potent antimicrobial properties and notable antibacterial effects underscore the efficacy of water treatment.
• The adoption of ceramic membrane technology facilitates water reuse and recycling, promotes efficient water management, and diminishes dependence on external freshwater sources. 
• Rapid urbanization, population growth, and the demand for efficient water treatment solutions are fueling significant growth in the water and wastewater treatment industry. Additionally, the industry is embracing digital transformation, adopting technologies like automation, control systems, membrane filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection. This technological shift underscores the industry's commitment to achieving more efficient and sustainable water treatment solutions.
• According to the World Economic Forum, innovation in its early stages plays a crucial role in tackling the issue of water pollution in Asia. Alongside its leading role in investing in water infrastructure, Singapore is dedicated to progressing in the fields of water research and business growth. Through the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Plan 2025, Singapore has set aside USD 220 million for the development of water treatment technology.
• The United States, a leading water consumer, has about 80% of its water and wastewater treatment industry publicly owned. Rural areas have less access to treatment infrastructure compared to urban centers.
• The Chinese government has set a target of reaching around 95% for wastewater treatment for all cities and for areas short of water, with an approximate 25% water reuse rate. Hence, there is a significant demand for clean and recycled water technology in the country.
• On March 20, 2024, the State Council of China issued the “Regulations on Water Conservation,” the first national-level regulation in China. This act includes requirements such as adopting advanced and applicable water-saving technologies, processes, and equipment for water recycling and wastewater treatment and reuse, reducing the water consumption in production per unit product, and increasing the recycling rate of water resources.
• Saudi Arabia operates around 200 wastewater treatment plants. Much of the treated non-potable wastewater is repurposed as “grey water” for city green spaces, crop irrigation, and industrial reuse. The nation aims to 100% reuse of treated urban wastewater by 2025. Out of the approximately 1,460 million cubic meters (MCM) of wastewater generated, 671 MCM (46%) are processed. However, due to insufficient coverage, there's a pressing need to upgrade and streamline the wastewater collection system.
• Thus, all the factors mentioned above are likely to increase the demand for ceramic membranes during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market

• Asia-Pacific is the largest market for ceramic membranes, mainly due to the large consumption of pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, water and wastewater treatment, and other industries.
• China is a significant market in industrial water treatment. With environmental protection and sustainability gaining traction, the government and enterprises in China are taking proactive measures.
• The Chinese government aims to achieve approximately 95% wastewater treatment coverage across all cities. Also, in March 2024, the State Council of China issued the “Regulations on Water Conservation,” which includes requirements for adopting advanced and applicable water-saving technologies, processes, and equipment for water recycling and wastewater treatment and reuse.
• While urban India generates 72,368 million liters (MLD) of sewage every day, only 28% is treated and reused. However, a report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) stated that 80% of wastewater generated by urban India has the potential to be treated and reused for non-potable purposes like irrigation.
• In June 2024, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) installed a Ceramic Membrane filtration system from Germany to tackle the issues of discolored and odorous tap water. The installation is being carried out as part of a pilot project at the Rander zone's water treatment plant in Surat, with a capacity of 50 MLD (megalitres per day).
• Leading the global dairy industry, India contributes 25% to worldwide milk production. In the 2022-23, the nation produced nearly 230.58 million tonnes of milk. Key states for dairy production include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. In 2023-24, India's dairy product exports totaled 63,738.47 million tonnes, valued at INR 2,2609.4 million (USD 272.64 million).
• China is home to the world’s second-largest market for dairy products after the United States. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, in 2023, China produced around 42 million metric tons of cow's milk, the highest volume in recent years. Forest Agriculture Service China forecasts China’s raw milk production in 2024 to remain high. With consistent growth in demand for dairy, the utilzation of ceramic membrames as a filtration medium in the industry is expected to remain firm.
• China, the world's largest chemical market, witnessed a 7.5% increase in production in 2023, up from a 6.6% increase from the previous year. The output of agricultural nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium chemical fertilizers (pure conversion) was 5.422 million tons, up 6.5% from the previous year.
• All the factors above are expected to enhance the demand for ceramic membranes during the forecast period.