Global calcium chloride market to reach $1.2 bn by 2020

Increasing demand from the de-icing and dust control application are driving the growth of the calcium chloride market, which is expected to reach $ 1,205.8 million by 2020 from $ 817.4 million in 2013, according to a report from Transparency Market Research (TMR). The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.8 percent from 2014 to 2020, added the report. In terms of volume, the global calcium chloride market stood at 3,058.7 kilo tonnes in 2013.
 
The property of calcium chloride to depress the freezing point of water has led to its high demand in the market. This makes calcium chloride applicable as a de-icer in the removal of snow and ice on driveways, walkways and sideways. It is also used as a dust control agent. It suppresses dust on roads from mixing with the air in the environment, thereby reducing pollution. Considering the factors mentioned above, the calcium chloride market is anticipated to witness significant rise in demand from the de-icing application, especially in the US. However, potential side-effects of calcium chloride and regulations may hamper market growth in the next few years.
 
De-icing and dust control, and oil and gas are the major applications of calcium chloride in the market. Along with being the major market, de-icing and dust controls also anticipated to be the fastest growing application segment due to increasing demand for usage in de-icing applications in developed economies.
 
“De-icing and dust control applications accounted for about 45 percent of the global market share in 2013. The oil & gas segment is anticipated to grow significantly, due to rising demand for calcium chloride in several applications such as drilling fluids and completion fluids. The calcium chloride market for construction is expected to grow moderately due to sluggish growth in the industry, especially in North America and Europe. The others segment comprising food, agriculture and medicine is anticipated to boost demand for calcium chloride in the near future,” said TMR in the press release.
 
North America accounted for the largest market share of over 40 percent of the global calcium chloride market in 2013. Calcium chloride is used in high quantities as a de-icer in the removal of ice and snow in the region. Therefore, North America is expected to be the largest and fastest growing market for calcium chloride in the near future. Europe was the second largest market for calcium chloride in 2013.
 
“Developing economies in Asia Pacific are expected to be the second fastest growing markets for calcium chloride and accounted for more than 23 percent share in 2013. Growth in end-user industries such as construction in the region is anticipated to boost demand for calcium chloride during the forecast period,” added the release.
 
The calcium chloride market is highly concentrated, with the top five companies accounting for more than 78 percent of the global market in 2013. Major companies are now focusing on backward integration to overcome volatility in availability and prices of raw materials, and gain competitive advantage over other key players in the market.
 
Some of the leading players in the calcium chloride market include Tetra Chemicals, OxyChem, Zirax, Qingdao Huadong Calcium Producing Co Ltd, Tangshan Sanyou Group and Solvay SA.