Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane Market Report 2025

The reverse osmosis (RO) membrane market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.72 billion in 2024 to $7.33 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to water scarcity concerns, industrial applications, stringent environmental regulations, growing population and urbanization, desalination projects, awareness of water purity.

The reverse osmosis (RO) membrane market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.55 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in material science, increasing focus on sustainable solutions, water reuse and recycling, expansion of desalination projects, smart water management solutions, global infrastructure development. Major trends in the forecast period include focus on seawater desalination, integration of internet of things (Io) for monitoring, customization for specific water quality challenges, adoption of spiral-wound membrane configurations, focus on sustainable and eco-friendly membrane solutions.

The demand for clean drinking water is expected to drive the growth of the reverse osmosis membrane market. Clean water, defined as water with less than 0.5 parts per 1000 dissolved parts, is crucial for good health and well-being. The requirement for clean drinking water is significant, with each person needing between 20 and 50 liters of safe water per day for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene - a need addressed by reverse osmosis membrane applications. According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), in 2022, 5.82 billion people accessed safely managed water services, while 2.2 billion individuals lacked access to safely managed water services. This includes those with basic services, limited water access, reliance on unimproved sources, and those collecting water directly from surface sources. The increasing demand for clean drinking water is a key driver propelling the reverse osmosis membrane market's growth.

The ongoing expansion of the food and beverage industry is anticipated to drive the growth of the reverse osmosis membrane market in the future. Reverse osmosis membranes are essential for ensuring high-quality water used in various processes within this sector, such as ingredient preparation, beverage production, and overall processing. Several key factors are contributing to this growth, including compliance with water quality standards, consistency in product quality, adherence to regulations, efficient ingredient dissolution, sustainable water recycling practices, minimization of fouling, and the adoption of energy-efficient membrane technologies. For example, in April 2022, Common Thread Collective, a US-based digital sales agency, reported that global food and beverage eCommerce sales reached $506 billion in 2022, representing a 16.3% year-over-year increase. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2%, these sales are expected to reach $857 billion by 2025. Consequently, the expansion of the food and beverage industry is driving the growth of the reverse osmosis membrane market.

Major companies in the reverse osmosis membrane market are investing in new technologies to maintain their positions. For instance, in April 2022, Veolia Water Technologies, Inc., a France-based company specializing in water testing and environmental management solutions, launched the Barrel - an integrated plug-and-play reverse osmosis (RO) technology. The Barrel is designed for desalination, ensuring water quality compliance, and is suitable for wastewater reuse and low-pressure RO applications. It offers an economically viable and sustainable source of fresh water with features like scalability, reduced footprint, enhanced safety features, and a built-in digitalization system for real-time monitoring of membrane conditions. This emphasis on innovative technologies reflects the commitment of major companies to sustainability and efficiency in the reverse osmosis membrane market.

Major companies in the reverse osmosis membrane market are focusing on the development of new ultralow-pressure reverse osmosis (RO) membrane elements to gain a competitive advantage. In March 2022, Toray Industries, Inc., a Japan-based textile industry company, introduced the TBW-HR series of ultralow-pressure reverse osmosis (RO) membrane elements. These innovative elements exhibit a significant improvement in the rejection of neutral molecules, such as silica and boron, from untreated water. The rejection capabilities of these ultralow-pressure RO membranes surpass those of existing alternatives. The heightened rejection capacity facilitates the production of higher-quality and purer water, making it particularly beneficial for applications like semiconductor manufacturing, where there is a heightened demand for ultrapure water. The TBW-HR series offers double the neutral molecular rejection capacity compared to Toray's previous offerings, achieved through precise control of RO membrane micropore sizes and enhanced membrane fold structures. This advancement contributes not only to electronic component miniaturization but also holds potential for reducing manufacturing costs by simplifying water treatment stages and enhancing membrane performance.

In May 2022, Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, a Germany-based company, acquired MANN HUMMEL GmbH for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Mutares to enhance its portfolio by leveraging MANN HUMMEL's expertise in reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. MANN HUMMEL GmbH is a company based in Germany that specializes in providing reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.

Major companies operating in the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane market are DuPont de Nemours Inc., Toray Industries Inc., Koch Industries Inc., Toyobo Co. Ltd., Suez-Lyonnaise des Eaux, Keensen Technology Co. Ltd., Lanxess AG, The Dow Chemical Company, Vontron Technology Co. Ltd., Merck & Co. Inc., Pall corporation, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Lenntech Water Treatment Solutions, Hydramem, Alfa Laval AB, GE Water and Process Technologies, Axeon Water Technologies, BNKO Environmental Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Permionics Membranes Private Limited, Samco Technologies Inc., Nitto Denko Corporation, Mann+Hummel Water & Fluid Solutions, Synder Filtration Inc., LG Chem Ltd., Hydranautics, Hyflux Ltd., Membranium, Trisep Corporation, Microdyn-Nadir GmbH, Applied Membranes Inc., Pure Aqua Inc.

North America was the largest region in the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane market share in 2024. The regions covered in the reverse osmosis (ro) membrane market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the reverse osmosis (ro) membrane market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The reverse osmosis membrane refers to a semipermeable barrier utilized for solvent transfer from a solution to a purer solvent by applying pressure to the solution side. Its primary function involves separating dissolved solutes from water, and it is notably acclaimed for its effectiveness in purifying drinking water, particularly in eliminating salt and other impurities from water molecules.

The primary types of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include thin-film composite membranes and cellulose-based membranes. Thin-film composite membranes, serving as semipermeable barriers, find extensive usage in water purification and desalination systems. These membranes are integrated into various filter modules such as spiral wound, hollow fiber, tubular, plate, and frame configurations, catering to desalination, utility water treatment, wastewater treatment, refuse treatment, process water applications, and industrial processing across water and wastewater treatment and industrial processing sectors.

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

The reverse osmosis (RO) membranes market consists of sales of cellulose acetate or polysulfone membranes. 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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