Glycol Ethers Market Size

Glycol Ethers Market size was valued at USD 8745.67 million in 2023 and is poised to grow from USD 9191.7 million in 2024 to USD 13684.14 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2025-2032).

The high demand for water-soluble active ingredients across end-use industries including printing and personal care industries is predicted to boost the growth of the market.

The major reason for the global glycol ethers market growth has been attributed to an increase in the consumption of water-based coatings that comprise of glycol ether as a coalescing agent across the printing and personal care sectors. It has large growth opportunities in the glycol ethers market due to its wide variety of applications in critical industries. The construction industry is witnessing rapid growth, especially in the emerging economies due to the ever-increasing urbanization. Such growth is driving the demand for paints, coatings, and adhesives, which use glycol ethers as solvent. This is further supported by investments in a variety of infrastructure projects, which encompass the construction of both residential and commercial structures.

Additionally, there is substantial potential for expansion within the automotive sector. Automotive fluids, including brake fluids, windshield wiper fluids, and coolants, are among the most critical glycol ethers for manufacturing. The demand for glycol ethers is on the rise as vehicle production increases globally and automotive technologies continue to develop. The pharmaceutical industry is also a lucrative glycol ethers market. The demand for glycol ethers as solvents and intermediates is expected to rise substantially with an expanding pipeline of pharmaceutical medications, especially injectable formulations and vaccines. Glycol ethers' importance in the pharmaceutical market is further strengthened by the growing focus on drug innovation and research and development investments.

Even more, the concern is towards sustainability practices and bio-based glycol ethers with the environmental issue on hand. This offers a prospect for developing greener glycol alternatives that are more environmentally friendly or more environmentally strict, thus more appealing to consumers who now are more eco-sensitive. Growth in the market is also driven by developments in high-performance solvents and cleaning agents. The glycol ethers market possesses a good scope for growth based on the ever-rising demand in construction, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries and the requirement of sustainability.

BASF SE announced in 2023 that medium-sized chemical manufacturing facilities face an ever-growing need to meet increasingly stringent environmental and safety regulations. A typical plant may have to commit around $5 million over five years to improve its facilities and processes. The aim of this investment is to increase production efficiency and comply with sustainability regulations. The relocation is part of the commitment of BASF to sustainable development, with a focus on improving operational performance and reducing the environmental impact along its global value chain.

A general price increase for a range of Eastman Chemical Company's solvents became effective in September 2023. Affected solvents include Eastman™ DB Solvent, Eastman™ EB Solvent, and Eastman™ DTB Solvent. The average increase in North and Latin America is US cents 0.05 per pound or US dollars 0.11 per kilogram. That the increase is brought about to supplement the demand for high-performance solvents in automobiles, coatings, and in pharmaceutical industries whereby the cost for production is balanced with the risen cost.

Shell has taken significant strides in its circular economy workstream, with a special focus on recycling glycol ether. In June 2023, to research the development of procedures for the recovery and use of glycol ethers from industrial waste streams multiple partnerships and collaborations entered. This business will continue to support Shell's goal of sustainable and resource efficiency for the chemical industry. To lessen the environmental impact, it makes sure that waste is decreased and recycled resources are reintegrated into the supply chain.