Market overview
The global biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market is worth USD 462 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 980 mn by 2036, growing at a 7.8% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and MGDA is the largest by chemistry segment.
| Scope | Biodegradable chelating agents (GLDA, MGDA, IDS, EDDS) used in industrial and municipal water treatment, boilers, cooling circuits and scale control as substitutes for EDTA and NTA. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals and Materials |
| Value 2025 | USD 430 mn |
| Value 2026 | USD 462 mn |
| Value 2036 | USD 980 mn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 7.8% |
| Volume 2026 | 159,653 tonnes |
| Volume 2036 | 306,304 tonnes |
| Average price 2026 | USD 2,895 per tonne |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 462 mn |
| 2027 | USD 498 mn |
| 2028 | USD 537 mn |
| 2029 | USD 579 mn |
| 2030 | USD 624 mn |
| 2031 | USD 673 mn |
| 2032 | USD 725 mn |
| 2033 | USD 782 mn |
| 2034 | USD 843 mn |
| 2035 | USD 909 mn |
| 2036 | USD 980 mn |
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market segmentation
By chemistry
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGDA | 34.0% | 31.7% | USD 157 mn | 7.0% |
| GLDA | 32.0% | 34.3% | USD 148 mn | 8.5% |
| IDS | 18.0% | 18.4% | USD 83 mn | 8.0% |
| EDDS and others | 16.0% | 15.6% | USD 74 mn | 7.5% |
By use
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling and boiler water | 38.0% | 35.8% | USD 176 mn | 7.1% |
| Municipal and wastewater | 22.0% | 22.7% | USD 102 mn | 8.2% |
| Membrane cleaning and desalination | 22.0% | 23.8% | USD 102 mn | 8.7% |
| Industrial process water | 18.0% | 17.7% | USD 83 mn | 7.7% |
By form
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid | 57.0% | 55.0% | USD 263 mn | 7.4% |
| Powder | 28.0% | 28.0% | USD 129 mn | 7.8% |
| Granule | 15.0% | 17.0% | USD 69 mn | 9.2% |
By customer type
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detergent and cleaner formulators | 41.0% | 39.0% | USD 190 mn | 7.3% |
| Water treatment service companies | 26.0% | 27.0% | USD 120 mn | 8.2% |
| Industrial end users | 22.0% | 22.0% | USD 102 mn | 7.8% |
| Municipal utilities | 11.0% | 12.0% | USD 51 mn | 8.7% |
By sales channel
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct sales | 47.0% | 44.0% | USD 217 mn | 7.1% |
| Distributors | 38.0% | 38.0% | USD 176 mn | 7.8% |
| Online and small-lot | 15.0% | 18.0% | USD 69 mn | 9.8% |
Top 25 countries for biodegradable chelating water treatment agents by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 81.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 94.7%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | USD 111 mn | 24.0% | USD 214 mn | 6.8% |
| 2 | China | USD 83 mn | 18.0% | USD 211 mn | 9.7% |
| 3 | Germany | USD 46 mn | 10.0% | USD 84 mn | 6.2% |
| 4 | Japan | USD 28 mn | 6.0% | USD 48 mn | 5.6% |
| 5 | India | USD 23 mn | 5.0% | USD 65 mn | 10.8% |
| 6 | France | USD 21 mn | 4.5% | USD 38 mn | 6.3% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | USD 18 mn | 4.0% | USD 34 mn | 6.4% |
| 8 | Brazil | USD 16 mn | 3.5% | USD 35 mn | 8.1% |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | USD 14 mn | 3.0% | USD 32 mn | 8.8% |
| 10 | South Korea | USD 14 mn | 3.0% | USD 27 mn | 7.1% |
| 11 | Italy | USD 6.1 mn | 1.3% | USD 12 mn | 7.0% |
| 12 | Canada | USD 5.3 mn | 1.1% | USD 11 mn | 7.7% |
| 13 | Netherlands | USD 4.9 mn | 1.1% | USD 10 mn | 7.8% |
| 14 | Spain | USD 4.9 mn | 1.1% | USD 10 mn | 7.8% |
| 15 | Mexico | USD 4.5 mn | 1.0% | USD 10 mn | 8.6% |
| 16 | United Arab Emirates | USD 4.5 mn | 1.0% | USD 10 mn | 8.6% |
| 17 | Australia | USD 4.5 mn | 1.0% | USD 9.6 mn | 7.8% |
| 18 | Turkey | USD 4.2 mn | 0.9% | USD 9.4 mn | 8.5% |
| 19 | Singapore | USD 3.8 mn | 0.8% | USD 8.0 mn | 7.8% |
| 20 | Poland | USD 3.8 mn | 0.8% | USD 8.5 mn | 8.4% |
| 21 | Switzerland | USD 3.8 mn | 0.8% | USD 8.0 mn | 7.8% |
| 22 | Belgium | USD 3.4 mn | 0.7% | USD 7.2 mn | 7.8% |
| 23 | Indonesia | USD 3.4 mn | 0.7% | USD 8.2 mn | 9.2% |
| 24 | Sweden | USD 3.0 mn | 0.7% | USD 6.4 mn | 7.6% |
| 25 | Thailand | USD 3.0 mn | 0.7% | USD 6.9 mn | 8.4% |
| Rest of world | USD 25 mn | 5.3% | USD 54 mn | 8.2% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Nouryon
- BASF
- Lanxess
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Kemira
- Ecolab
- Innospec
- Jungbunzlauer
- Nippon Shokubai
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Aquapharm Chemicals
- Italmatch Chemicals
- Shandong Taihe Water Treatment
- Shandong Yousuo Chemical
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 7.8% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by chemistry, by use, by form, by customer type, by sales channel. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market?
The global biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market is estimated at USD 430 mn in 2025 and USD 462 mn in 2026.
How fast will the biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 980 mn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2026, an increase of USD 517 mn.
Which country is the largest market for biodegradable chelating water treatment agents?
United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 111 mn in 2026, 24.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 52.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 10.8% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which biodegradable chelating water treatment agents segment is largest?
In the by chemistry split, MGDA is the largest segment with 34.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading biodegradable chelating water treatment agents companies?
Global leaders include Nouryon, BASF, Lanxess.
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