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Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

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.

USD 462 mnMarket size 2026
USD 980 mnForecast 2036
7.8%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

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.

ScopeBiodegradable 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.
IndustryChemicals and Materials
Value 2025USD 430 mn
Value 2026USD 462 mn
Value 2036USD 980 mn
CAGR 2026-20367.8%
Volume 2026159,653 tonnes
Volume 2036306,304 tonnes
Average price 2026USD 2,895 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global biodegradable chelating water treatment agents market is forecast to grow from USD 462 mn in 2026 to USD 980 mn by 2036, more than doublingGlobal market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 7.8%
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 430 mn; 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. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 7.8%.2025462 mn2026673 mn2031980 mn20367.8% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 462 mn
2027USD 498 mn
2028USD 537 mn
2029USD 579 mn
2030USD 624 mn
2031USD 673 mn
2032USD 725 mn
2033USD 782 mn
2034USD 843 mn
2035USD 909 mn
2036USD 980 mn

Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market segmentation

By chemistry

Exhibit 2MGDA is the largest segment by chemistry, with 34.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by chemistry
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market share by chemistry, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by chemistry. MGDA: 34.0%; GLDA: 32.0%; IDS: 18.0%; EDDS and others: 16.0%.MGDA34.0%GLDA32.0%IDS18.0%EDDS and others16.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
MGDA34.0%31.7%USD 157 mn7.0%
GLDA32.0%34.3%USD 148 mn8.5%
IDS18.0%18.4%USD 83 mn8.0%
EDDS and others16.0%15.6%USD 74 mn7.5%

By use

Exhibit 3Cooling and boiler water adds the most revenue by use, growing from USD 176 mn in 2026 to USD 350 mn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by use, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market by use, 2026 and 2036Revenue by use in 2026 and 2036. Cooling and boiler water: USD 176 mn in 2026, USD 350 mn in 2036, change +99%; Membrane cleaning and desalination: USD 102 mn in 2026, USD 233 mn in 2036, change +129%; Municipal and wastewater: USD 102 mn in 2026, USD 223 mn in 2036, change +119%; Industrial process water: USD 83 mn in 2026, USD 174 mn in 2036, change +109%.20262036 forecastChangeCooling and boiler water+99%176 mn350 mnMembrane cleaning and desalination+129%102 mn233 mnMunicipal and wastewater+119%102 mn223 mnIndustrial process water+109%83 mn174 mn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Cooling and boiler water38.0%35.8%USD 176 mn7.1%
Municipal and wastewater22.0%22.7%USD 102 mn8.2%
Membrane cleaning and desalination22.0%23.8%USD 102 mn8.7%
Industrial process water18.0%17.7%USD 83 mn7.7%

By form

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Liquid57.0%55.0%USD 263 mn7.4%
Powder28.0%28.0%USD 129 mn7.8%
Granule15.0%17.0%USD 69 mn9.2%

By customer type

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Detergent and cleaner formulators41.0%39.0%USD 190 mn7.3%
Water treatment service companies26.0%27.0%USD 120 mn8.2%
Industrial end users22.0%22.0%USD 102 mn7.8%
Municipal utilities11.0%12.0%USD 51 mn8.7%

By sales channel

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Direct sales47.0%44.0%USD 217 mn7.1%
Distributors38.0%38.0%USD 176 mn7.8%
Online and small-lot15.0%18.0%USD 69 mn9.8%

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%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 111 mn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 52.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 111 mn, 24.0%; China: USD 83 mn, 18.0%; Germany: USD 46 mn, 10.0%; Japan: USD 28 mn, 6.0%; India: USD 23 mn, 5.0%; France: USD 21 mn, 4.5%; United Kingdom: USD 18 mn, 4.0%; Brazil: USD 16 mn, 3.5%; Saudi Arabia: USD 14 mn, 3.0%; South Korea: USD 14 mn, 3.0%.United States111 mn 24.0%China83 mn 18.0%Germany46 mn 10.0%Japan28 mn 6.0%India23 mn 5.0%France21 mn 4.5%United Kingdom18 mn 4.0%Brazil16 mn 3.5%Saudi Arabia14 mn 3.0%South Korea14 mn 3.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 111 mn24.0%USD 214 mn6.8%
2ChinaUSD 83 mn18.0%USD 211 mn9.7%
3GermanyUSD 46 mn10.0%USD 84 mn6.2%
4JapanUSD 28 mn6.0%USD 48 mn5.6%
5IndiaUSD 23 mn5.0%USD 65 mn10.8%
6FranceUSD 21 mn4.5%USD 38 mn6.3%
7United KingdomUSD 18 mn4.0%USD 34 mn6.4%
8BrazilUSD 16 mn3.5%USD 35 mn8.1%
9Saudi ArabiaUSD 14 mn3.0%USD 32 mn8.8%
10South KoreaUSD 14 mn3.0%USD 27 mn7.1%
11ItalyUSD 6.1 mn1.3%USD 12 mn7.0%
12CanadaUSD 5.3 mn1.1%USD 11 mn7.7%
13NetherlandsUSD 4.9 mn1.1%USD 10 mn7.8%
14SpainUSD 4.9 mn1.1%USD 10 mn7.8%
15MexicoUSD 4.5 mn1.0%USD 10 mn8.6%
16United Arab EmiratesUSD 4.5 mn1.0%USD 10 mn8.6%
17AustraliaUSD 4.5 mn1.0%USD 9.6 mn7.8%
18TurkeyUSD 4.2 mn0.9%USD 9.4 mn8.5%
19SingaporeUSD 3.8 mn0.8%USD 8.0 mn7.8%
20PolandUSD 3.8 mn0.8%USD 8.5 mn8.4%
21SwitzerlandUSD 3.8 mn0.8%USD 8.0 mn7.8%
22BelgiumUSD 3.4 mn0.7%USD 7.2 mn7.8%
23IndonesiaUSD 3.4 mn0.7%USD 8.2 mn9.2%
24SwedenUSD 3.0 mn0.7%USD 6.4 mn7.6%
25ThailandUSD 3.0 mn0.7%USD 6.9 mn8.4%
Rest of worldUSD 25 mn5.3%USD 54 mn8.2%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 44% of the USD 517 mn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Biodegradable Chelating Water Treatment Agents market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 462 mn. China: +USD 127 mn; United States: +USD 103 mn; India: +USD 42 mn; Germany: +USD 38 mn; Japan: +USD 20 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 158 mn; Rest of world: +USD 30 mn. Market value 2036: USD 980 mn.Market value 2026462 mnChina+127 mnUnited States+103 mnIndia+42 mnGermany+38 mnJapan+20 mn20 other countries+158 mnRest of world+30 mnMarket value 2036980 mn

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.

Read the full research methodology

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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