Antimicrobial Textile Additive Market Research Report Information By Active Agents (Synthetic Organic Compounds, Metal & Metallic Salts, Bio-based), By Fabric (Cotton, Polyester, Polyamide, Others) and By Application (Medical Textile, Apparels, Technical Textiles, Domestic Textiles) – Forecast to 2030

Antimicrobial Textile Additive Market Synopsis

According to MRFR analysis, the  Antimicrobial Textile Additive Market is projected to register a CAGR of 5.7% to reach USD 13.1 Billion by the end of 2027.

Antimicrobial textile additives are active agents that can be applied to the fabrics at any stage of the production process to change their surface characteristics. These additives inhibit the growth and proliferation of microorganisms and alter the physio-chemical characteristics of the fabric. Thus, the fabrics showcase high degrees of performances in terms of longevity and durability when compared to conventional natural or synthetic fabrics. Owing to the aforementioned properties the antimicrobial textile additives are widely used in the manufacturing of sportswear, intimates, technical textiles and other range of textile products. Due to the potential resistance to pathogens, the antimicrobial textile additives are majorly used in foray of healthcare and hospital applications such as wound textile, medical masks, hospital gloves, and beddings. In the market, some of the popular antimicrobial textile additive trade names: AlphaSan, Silvadur, Cosmocil CQ, Saraguard-5700, Irgaguard, Silpure, and SmartSilver.

The major factor driving the growth of the market is rising demand for antimicrobial textile for multifarious industrial and household textile applications owing to their effective performance and durability. The most prominent among all the industrial applications is the surging demand for healthcare and medical textiles in the developing economies across the globe. The expanding healthcare industry in developing countries such as China and India offer a huge scope for the utilization of antimicrobial textiles. The latter thus create lucrative opportunities for the players operating in antimicrobial textile additives. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the Indian hospital industry is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 16-17% and is expected to reach USD 132.84 billion by 2022 from 61.79 billion in 2017.

Furthermore, the up-surging interest to produce high-performance automobile textiles, and sports clothing coupled with rising awareness of general sanitation and prevention against Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) is further expected to drive the market growth for antimicrobial textile additives during the review period.

However, the fluctuating raw material prices and stringent regulations pertaining to the use of certain antimicrobial additives such as PHMB and Triclosan in certain regions are likely to hamper the global antimicrobial textile additive market in the foreseen period.

Pricing and Regulatory Analysis

In 2018, the antimicrobial textile additives market was priced around USD 1800 to USD 2400 per ton across the globe. The product has witnessed a gradual rise of USD 0.15 to USD 0.40 in its price from 2016 till 2018 and this trend is likely to continue during the forecast period owing to fluctuating raw material prices.

The stringent standards for evaluating antimicrobial finishes on textiles are likely to boost the demand for antimicrobial textile additives during the forecast period. Some of the standards are the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Standards- AATCC 147-2004 for “Quantitative Assessment by Parallel Streak Method”, AATCC 100-2004 for “Quantitative Assessment by Percentage Reduction Test”, AATCC 174 for “Antimicrobial activity assessment of carpets”; Swiss Norm - SN 195920-1992 for “Quantitative Assessment by Agar Diffusion Method”; International Standard -ISO 20743 for “Determination of Antibacterial Activity of Antibacterial Finished Products”; Japanese Industrial Standards- JIS L 1902-2002 for “Testing for antibacterial activity and efficacy on textile products”

Market Drivers

• High demand for eco-friendly, hygienic and non-toxic textiles in medical and healthcare applications.


• Surging demand for high moisture-retaining and skin-friendly apparels is likely to fuel the demand for antimicrobial textile additives in the textile industry.


• Growing awareness related to pathogenic effects and health risks associated with some microorganisms.

Market Restraints

• Fluctuating raw material prices


• Stringent governmental regulations pertaining to the use of certain antimicrobial additives such as PHMB and Triclosan in Europe.

By Active Agents

• Synthetic Organic Compounds: The segment accounted for the largest share of the antimicrobial textile additive market in 2018 and is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period on the account of its cost-effectiveness and activeness against a wide range of microorganisms. Among the synthetic active agents, quaternary ammonium compounds

•  are likely to showcase higher growth during the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to its excellent antibacterial efficiency against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
  
  
  
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  
  
  • Triclosan
  
  
  • Poly hexamethylene Biguanides (PHMB)
  
  
  • N-halamines
  
  
  • Others
  
  
  
  

• Metal & Metallic Salts: Among all the metals, silver is widely used as an active antimicrobial ingredient owing to its high antibacterial effectiveness.
  
  
  
  • Silver
  
  
  • Copper
  
  
  • Zinc
  
  
  • Others
  
  
  
  

• Bio-based: These are naturally occurring antimicrobial agents. Terpenoids, quinones, and tannins polypeptides are derived from plants and chitosan, cyclodextrin, and sericin are some natural antimicrobial agents extracted from animals.
  
  
  
  • Plant-Based
  
  
  • Animal-Based
  
  
  
  

By Fabric

• Cotton: The antimicrobial cotton fabric segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018. This is primarily attributed to the high susceptibility of microbial attack on natural fibers rather than synthetic fabrics.


• Polyester: Polyester fabrics used in healthcare applications such as aprons, masks, and gloves are incorporated with antimicrobial additives.


• Polyamide: Antimicrobial additives are blended with synthetic polyamide fabrics that are used in artificial tendons, sutures, and other applications.


• Others

By Application

• Medical Textile: It is expected to be the largest application segment. The increasing demand for woven and non-woven textiles in medical devices, hygienic care, and beddings is fueling the growth of the segment. The segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is attributed to rapidly rising medical and healthcare industries in the emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil.


• Apparels: Mainly antimicrobial additives are infused in undergarments, cycling jerseys, and gym shorts.


• Technical Textiles: Antimicrobial fabrics find a variety of applications in the production of automobile carpets, awnings, tents, and parachutes.


• Domestic Textiles: Antimicrobial textiles on account of high odor-resistance are used in domestic home furnishings applications such as carpets, drapes, and upholstery.

By Region

• North America


• Europe


• Asia-Pacific


• Latin America


• Middle East & Africa

Regional Analysis

• North America: The regional market held the largest share in 2018. This is primarily due to the high demand for the product in the well-established healthcare industry in the region. In 2018, the US healthcare segment was valued at USD 554.2 million. The US followed by Canada is the leading country in the region on account of improved healthcare facilities.

• Europe: High automobile production coupled with increasing demand for automotive textiles with anti-odor and antimicrobial properties is driving the regional market growth.

• Asia-Pacific: The region is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to rapid industrialization and urbanization. This is primarily due to the high demand for the product in the manufacturing of antimicrobial fabrics for the rapidly growing healthcare and textile industries in the region. China is the leading country followed by India and other South-East Asian countries on account of growing demand in the region.

• Latin America: The rapidly expanding healthcare and textile industries are expected to boost the growth of the antimicrobial textile additive market in the region.

• Middle East & Africa: The growing healthcare facilities in the region is contributing to regional market

Key Players

• BASF SE (Germany)—IRGAGUARD


• Sanitized AG (Switzerland)—Sanitized


• Merck KGaA (Germany)—Irgasan


• Lonza (Switzerland)—Cosmocil CQ


• Thomson Research Associates, Inc (Canada)—Ultra fresh


• Milliken & Company (US)—AlphaSan


• DuPont (US)—SILVADUR


• Sarex (India)—Saraguard 5700


• Sciessent (US)—Agion


• BioCote Limited (UK)—BioCote


• Microban International (US)—AEGIS, Microban


• F Group Nano (US)—SmartSilver