Glycol Ethers Market Report 2025

This Glycol Ethers market report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The glycol ethers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.89 billion in 2024 to $8.55 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to paints and coatings industry, printing industry, cleaning and household products, industrial manufacturing, chemical industry advancements.

The glycol ethers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $12.32 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to green cleaning products, electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable feedstock, research and development. Major trends in the forecast period include low-voc paints and coatings, digital printing technologies, renewable feedstock exploration, safety and health regulations, aerospace coatings.

The anticipated rapid expansion of the personal care and cosmetic industry is expected to drive the growth of the glycol ether market. This industry encompasses the production of beauty and cosmetic products, with glycol ethers being extensively utilized in various personal care and cosmetic items such as hair care products, cleanliness products, skincare products, and bath products. Notably, projections from Exploding Topics suggest that the beauty industry's revenue is poised to surpass $120 billion by 2025. This surge in the personal care and cosmetic sectors is a significant driver for the glycol ether market.

The growing automobile industry is projected to boost the glycol ether market in the future. Glycol ether is extensively utilized in various automotive applications, including paints, coatings, cleaning products, brake fluids, and adhesives. Furthermore, the automotive sector's adherence to environmental standards and regulations promotes the use of glycol ethers because of their eco-friendly properties, making them a preferred option in the industry. For example, a report published in January 2024 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company based in the US, stated that in 2023, a record 1.2 million car buyers in the United States opted for electric vehicles, which represented 7.6% of the total U.S. vehicle market, an increase from 5.9% in 2022. Therefore, the expanding automobile industry is driving the growth of the glycol ether market.

Major companies in the glycol ethers market are concentrating on developing advanced products like propylene glycol ether to enhance performance, improve safety profiles, and broaden applications. Propylene glycol ether is a glycol ether derived from propylene glycol and is widely used as a solvent in both industrial and consumer applications. Renowned for their dissolving capabilities, these ethers play a crucial role in formulating paints, coatings, inks, and cleaning products. For example, in September 2022, INEOS Group Limited, a UK-based chemical company, introduced the P-series glycol ether portfolio. PnBs are prized for their outstanding solvent properties, making them suitable for industrial applications such as paints, coatings, and cleaning products. They effectively dissolve various resins, including acrylics and polyurethanes, which are vital for coating formulations. With lower toxicity and reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, P-series products meet stringent environmental regulations and enhance worker safety. Their application leads to increased production efficiency and decreased solvent requirements, resulting in time and cost savings during manufacturing.

To maintain a competitive advantage in the glycol ether market, major companies are actively engaged in developing innovative products. An illustrative example is the initiative taken by INEOS Group Limited, a UK-based chemicals company, in September 2022. INEOS introduced new Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ethers (PnBs), strategically targeting diverse industrial sectors such as industrial coatings and home care. PnBs demonstrate exceptional physical properties, rendering them highly valuable in these industries. The anticipated benefits include improved operational efficiencies, reduced solvent requirements, and cost savings in the manufacturing of associated products.

In a strategic move in November 2022, Sherwin-Williams Company, a prominent US-based paint and coating manufacturing entity, successfully acquired AquaSurTech in an undisclosed transaction. This acquisition significantly reinforces Sherwin-Williams' position in the expanding vinyl/PVC building products market. It not only broadens the company's product portfolio but also enhances customer service capabilities. AquaSurTech, a Canada-based chemicals company, specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sale of environmentally friendly coatings tailored for the vinyl and PVC building products industry.

Major companies operating in the glycol ethers market include Dow Chemical Company, HanNong Chemicals Inc., BASF SE, INEOS Group Ltd., India Glycols Limited, Solvay SA, Shell plc, Jiangsu Yida Chemical Co. Ltd., China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Huntsman International LLC, Nippon Nyukazai Co. Ltd., Oxiteno LLC, KH Neochem Co. Ltd., Sasol Limited, Eastman Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, CCP Industries, Celanese Corporation, Reliance Industries Limited, Emerald Performance Materials LLC, FBC Chemical Corp, Guangdong Runhua Chemicals Co. Ltd., IGL Coatings, NOF Corporation, PetroChina Company Limited, PCC Rokita SA, UBE Industries Ltd., Wujiang Dongang Chemical Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the glycol ether market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the glycol ether market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the glycol ether market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

Glycol ethers serve as solvents and stabilizers in a wide range of personal, household, and industrial products. This class of solvents encompasses colorless liquids characterized by a higher boiling point, a faint odor, and a lower molecular weight compared to other solvents. The presence of ether groups in glycol ethers introduces additional sites for hydrogen bonding, contributing to improved hydrophilic solubility performance.

The two main types of glycol ethers are e-series and p-series. P-series glycol ethers find common use in degreasers, cleaners, aerosol paints, and adhesives. They are applicable in various roles, such as solvents, anti-icing agents, hydraulic and brake fluid, and chemical intermediates. P-series glycol ethers are employed across diverse industries, including paints and coatings, printing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, adhesives, and other end-user applications.

The glycol ethers market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides glycol ethers market statistics, including glycol ethers industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a glycol ethers market share, detailed glycol ethers market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the glycol ethers industry. This glycol ethers market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The glycol ether market consists of sales of butyl glycol and butyl di glycol. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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