pH Adjuster Market Outlook:
pH Adjuster Market size was estimated at USD 11.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to surpass USD 18.9 billion by the end of 2035, rising at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-2035. By the end of 2026, the industry size will reach USD 12.1 billion.
The main growth driver of the market is increasing demand in municipal water treatment, especially for corrosion control and balancing pH levels in drinking and industrial water systems. Citing the U.S. EPA, the U.S. has approximately 19 manufacturing facilities for phosphoric acid, a commonly used pH-adjusting agent. Historically, most of the domestic consumption of phosphoric acid has been for water treatment applications. Moreover, sulfuric acid serves as a key component in pH adjusters, providing rapid and precise acidification for water treatment, mining, and chemical manufacturing processes. Its high acid strength and cost-effectiveness make it a preferred choice for large-volume applications. The trade of sulfuric acid ensures the consistent availability of this critical raw material, supporting the production and supply of pH adjusters globally. Regions with active sulfuric acid import and export see higher adoption of pH-adjusting chemicals. Overall, sulfuric acid trade directly influences market growth by stabilizing supply, pricing, and industrial accessibility.
Worldwide Trade - Sulfuric Acid (2021)
|
Top Exporters |
Top Importers |
||
|
China |
3,000 M kg |
U.S. |
3,252 M kg |
|
Canada |
1,094 M kg |
Chile |
2,451 M kg |
|
Germany |
1,136 M kg |
Morocco |
2,109 M kg |
|
Peru |
1,110 M kg |
India |
1,874 M kg |
|
Mexico |
970 M kg |
Philippines |
1,522 M kg |
Source: WITS
The raw material supply chain consists of phosphate rock and chlorine/caustic soda sectors, with domestic phosphate rock production requiring imports to supplement the shortfall for company-specific demands, underscoring limited capacity. The variety of manufacturing capacity in chloride acid and phosphoric acid is widely dispersed, 19 manufacturing sites for phosphoric acid and 94 for hydrochloric acid. Phosphoric acid imports primarily come from Canada, while phosphoric acid exports go to Mexico. Hydrochloric acid imports exhibited the U.S. as potentially the largest hydrochloric acid importer and roughly tenth in exports for 2021. Hydrochloric acid is tariff-free except for a 27% import charge associated with sources from China. R&D investment continues for defining viable purification methods for wet-process phosphoric acid and examining optimized chlor-alkali routes. It is not possible to assume investment or spending patterns, as recent expenditure reporting remains aggregated within reporting for EPA chemical policies.
