Specialty Chemicals Market Report 2026

The specialty chemicals market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $791.27 billion in 2025 to $834.97 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industrial diversification, construction activity growth, textile processing demand, agrochemical usage, specialty polymer development.

The specialty chemicals market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.01 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to electric vehicle materials demand, semiconductor manufacturing growth, water treatment needs, bio based chemical innovation, advanced construction chemicals. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for performance chemicals, growth of application specific formulations, expansion in sustainable chemical solutions, increased use in electronics manufacturing, focus on high margin specialty products.

The rising demand for high-performance coatings is expected to drive the growth of the specialty chemicals market in the coming years. High-performance coatings represent advanced categories of protective coatings that are specifically engineered to enhance the structural integrity, durability, and health-related performance of buildings, construction sites, and infrastructure. These coatings rely on specialty chemicals to deliver enhanced resistance against environmental factors such as moisture, elevated temperatures, and airflow, all of which can significantly affect coating performance in both interior and exterior applications. For example, in April 2025, according to data published by the World Coatings Council, the American Coatings Association, and The ChemQuest Group, the global paint and coatings industry reached an estimated volume of 48.9 billion liters in 2024, valued at approximately US$202 billion. This reflected year-over-year growth of 0.4% in volume and 2.5% in value. Therefore, the increasing demand for high-performance coatings is contributing to the expansion of the specialty chemicals market.

Companies operating in the specialty chemicals market are increasingly focused on developing innovative solutions such as multifunctional additives to enhance coating performance, improve formulation stability, and support compliance with evolving regulations. Multifunctional additives are single chemical components engineered to deliver multiple benefits simultaneously, including viscosity control, pH stabilization, improved flow properties, defoaming, and reduced reliance on preservatives within formulations. For instance, in February 2025, Arxada AG, a Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company, introduced Polyboost, a multifunctional additive designed for the paints and coatings industry. Polyboost improves formulation stability while helping manufacturers avoid hazard labeling associated with preservatives. The additive features a volatile organic compound-free composition, compatibility with EU Eco-Label and Nordic Swan certification standards, and broad formulation applicability, enabling manufacturers to meet sustainability, performance, and regulatory requirements.

In December 2023, Samyang Holdings, a South Korea-based chemicals and industrial company, acquired Verdant Specialty Solutions for approximately US$250 million. Through this acquisition, Samyang aimed to accelerate global expansion and strengthen its specialty chemicals portfolio by integrating Verdant’s surfactant technologies and international presence. Verdant Specialty Solutions is a US-based specialty chemical manufacturer that supplies amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants for personal care, home and hygiene, and industrial applications.

Major companies operating in the specialty chemicals market are Solvay S.A., Evonik Industries AG, Clariant AG, Akzo Nobel N.V., BASF SE, Lanxess AG, Huntsman Corporation, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Kemira Oyj, Croda International Plc, Lubrizol Corporation, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Sasol Limited, 3M Company, H.B. Fuller Company, Nouryon Holding B.V., Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Arkema Group, Buckman Laboratories International Inc., Covestro AG, DIC Corporation, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Bayer AG, The Dow Chemical Company, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Albemarle Corporation.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the specialty chemicals market in 2025. The regions covered in the specialty chemicals market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the specialty chemicals market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The specialty chemicals market consists of sales of antibiotics, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetic additives, and elastomers. 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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