The latest United Nations report warns that the world has entered an era of “water bankruptcy”. Approximately 3 billion people and half of global food production are concentrated in regions with unstable total water resources. Over 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and about 400 million people face severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. Meanwhile, industrial wastewater and domestic sewage discharges continue to increase, driving a sharp rise in demand for water treatment chemicals. Driven by policies, the water treatment flocculant industry is facing historic development opportunities, with the global market size expected to exceed US$12 billion, and China holding a core position with over 35% of the market share. Represented by polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyaluminum chloride (PAC), Chinese flocculant products are demonstrating strong market competitiveness and technological advantages.
Core Products Lead Globally
China ranks first in the world with 64% of global polyacrylamide (PAM) production capacity. In 2025, the global PAM market size was approximately US$6.866 billion, and export volumes grew by 28% year‑on‑year, forming an industrial landscape of “world‑leading production capacity, continuous technological upgrading, and accelerated domestic substitution”. Polyaluminum chloride (PAC) accounts for over 40% of global production capacity. The global output of PAC powder is estimated to reach about 1.01 million tonnes in 2025, making it the first choice for municipal and industrial water treatment due to its excellent flocculation performance and wide pH applicability.
Multiple Advantages Driving Growth
The core strengths of Chinese flocculant products lie in the dual drivers of cost and technology. On the raw material side, the localization rate of acrylonitrile has greatly increased, reducing import dependence to 25%, effectively lowering production costs. As environmental protection policies tighten worldwide and China’s 14th Five‑Year Plan explicitly requires the industrial wastewater reuse rate to rise above 50%, the market for high‑efficiency flocculants continues to expand. The industrial clusters in East and South China offer outstanding advantages, with abundant upstream raw materials, laying a solid foundation for large‑scale flocculant exports.
Profound Global Strategic Significance
Under the severe situation of “global water bankruptcy”, the rapid development of China’s flocculant industry has major international strategic importance. Leveraging its three strengths of production scale, cost‑effectiveness, and a complete industrial chain, Chinese flocculant products are exported to regions under severe water stress such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, providing reliable Chinese solutions for global water security governance. As industrial technological upgrades and capacity consolidation accelerate, China’s water treatment flocculants will continue to play an irreplaceable supporting role in the global water treatment field.
Data sources: QYResearch, GEPResearch, United Nations reports, and other public information.
