Performic Acid Market Size, Share, Forecast, 2033

Performic Acid Market Overview

Global Performic Acid market size is estimated at USD 261.88 million in 2024, set to expand to USD 361.95 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.6%.

The Performic Acid market is gaining momentum due to its widespread application across industrial disinfection, water treatment, and food processing sectors. Performic acid (CH₂O₃), known for its potent oxidizing properties, offers 1.5 times stronger antimicrobial efficiency than hydrogen peroxide. In 2024, global usage exceeded 8,000 metric tons, with increasing adoption in sanitation protocols. The substance decomposes into environmentally safe by-products—carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen—making it a preferred choice for green disinfection. The food industry alone accounted for over 2,100 metric tons of consumption in 2023, largely due to stringent hygiene regulations. The paper and pulp industry also utilizes nearly 900 metric tons annually for bleaching purposes. Additionally, Performic Acid is employed in medical sterilization processes, with over 1,200 healthcare institutions globally incorporating it into disinfection routines. With rising demand in Asia-Pacific and regulatory support in Europe for sustainable sanitation agents, the market's footprint is expanding rapidly. Approximately 55% of the global production is concentrated in China, while Germany, the USA, and South Korea are emerging as critical secondary hubs. The chemical’s rapid decomposition rate and low residue presence further encourage adoption across safety-conscious industries.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Rising demand for bio-degradable disinfectants in the food and healthcare sectors is significantly accelerating performic acid usage.

Top Country/Region: China leads the market with over 4,400 metric tons produced annually, dominating global output and consumption.

Top Segment: The medical industry is the largest application segment, contributing to 34% of total performic acid demand worldwide.

Performic Acid Market Trends

The performic acid market is undergoing transformative trends, driven by sustainability, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene imperatives. One of the prominent trends is the increasing adoption of performic acid in wastewater treatment plants. As of 2023, over 2,700 municipal and industrial wastewater facilities have shifted to performic acid-based disinfection due to its superior oxidation capacity and rapid biodegradability. Compared to chlorine-based treatments, performic acid reduces toxic by-products by 95%, ensuring safer environmental discharge.

Another major trend is the compound’s uptake in the food and beverage sector. In 2024, approximately 38% of new food processing units in the EU integrated performic acid-based sanitation systems, highlighting its regulatory approval and acceptance. Its capability to eliminate Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli within 30 seconds at 0.2% concentration makes it a preferred choice among processors.

In the medical industry, demand for performic acid-based cold sterilants is also rising. Over 750 new hospital-grade sterilization devices used in 2023 featured performic acid compatibility, indicating its expanding role in healthcare. Moreover, manufacturers are investing in refining stability to extend shelf life from 15 to 30 days under controlled storage conditions.

The market is also influenced by a surge in R&D for formulation improvements. As of late 2024, over 19 patent applications involving performic acid stabilization, formulation blends, and controlled release mechanisms were filed globally. These trends collectively demonstrate the compound’s growing industrial integration and innovation-centric trajectory.

Performic Acid Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for pharmaceuticals.

The increasing need for high-level disinfectants in pharmaceutical manufacturing is propelling performic acid usage. In 2024, over 1,300 pharma-grade cleanrooms globally used performic acid solutions to maintain aseptic conditions. Its efficacy at low concentrations (0.1–0.3%) and compatibility with GMP standards make it suitable for sterilizing production equipment and containers. Additionally, the compound’s minimal residue and lack of mutagenic by-products align with pharmaceutical regulatory guidelines. Regulatory pressure from bodies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. FDA is pushing for alternatives to formaldehyde and chlorine-based agents, directly benefitting performic acid demand.

RESTRAINT

Volatility and storage limitations.

Despite its advantages, performic acid’s unstable nature restricts its storage and handling. The chemical decomposes quickly, with a half-life of less than 30 hours at room temperature, necessitating just-in-time production and immediate use. This limits long-term storage and bulk transport, increasing logistical costs. In 2023, over 30% of users in emerging markets cited storage and safety challenges as a barrier to adoption. Furthermore, the compound's corrosive nature requires specialized stainless steel containers and personal protective equipment, increasing operational overhead by up to 20% compared to alternatives like peracetic acid.

OPPORTUNITY

Growth in water treatment infrastructure.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization in developing regions are increasing investments in water treatment infrastructure. Governments in India, Indonesia, and parts of Africa launched over 520 new wastewater treatment projects in 2023–2024, many of which are adopting performic acid-based disinfection due to its lower environmental impact. Compared to chlorine, performic acid reduces total organic halides (TOH) by 87%, which supports its inclusion in eco-friendly certification programs. Additionally, modular dosing units for performic acid are being rolled out, enabling smaller municipalities to leverage the technology efficiently. This growing utility in decentralized water treatment projects signals strong potential for future market growth.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures.

Raw material costs, especially hydrogen peroxide and formic acid, which are primary feedstocks for performic acid, have shown a 12–17% price fluctuation between 2022 and 2024. This has led to inconsistent pricing across the performic acid supply chain. Manufacturers report a 9% year-over-year increase in operational expenditure due to volatility in sourcing and transportation. Also, meeting safety regulations such as REACH and OSHA requires significant investments in employee training, storage upgrades, and regulatory compliance frameworks. These cost pressures pose a critical challenge, particularly for small-scale manufacturers in Asia and Latin America.

Performic Acid Market Segmentation

Performic acid is segmented by type—Industrial Grade, Medical Grade, and Food Grade—and by application—Food Industry, Medical Industry, Water Treatment, Paper and Pulp, and Others. Industrial grade accounts for approximately 52% of global output by volume, while the medical segment drives high purity demand. Application-wise, the food and medical industries cumulatively contribute over 60% of global consumption, highlighting regulatory alignment with sanitation protocols.

By Type

Industrial Grade: Industrial grade performic acid is primarily used in water treatment and pulp bleaching. It constitutes over 4,200 metric tons of annual production. Due to a concentration range of 30–50%, it is ideal for microbial decontamination and oxidation reactions. The paper and pulp industry, particularly in Scandinavia and North America, utilizes industrial grade performic acid for brightening processes, replacing chlorine dioxide in over 150 paper mills as of 2023.
Medical Grade: Medical grade performic acid exceeds 99% purity and is employed in disinfecting surgical equipment, endoscopes, and operating theaters. Hospitals in Europe and Japan account for over 1,000 metric tons of medical-grade usage annually. The compound is favored for its ability to kill 99.9999% of pathogens including spores within 5 minutes at 0.2% concentration. Stringent disinfection norms under ISO 13485 have boosted usage in hospital settings, especially post-COVID.
Food Grade: Food-grade performic acid is regulated under food safety agencies and used for decontaminating meat, dairy, and food-contact surfaces. In 2024, over 180 poultry processing plants in the U.S. and Canada adopted food-grade formulations. With rising global meat consumption (over 340 million tons in 2023), hygiene compliance is crucial. Performic acid use reduces microbial loads by up to 4 log cycles on food surfaces, significantly extending product shelf life.

By Application

Food Industry: The food industry uses over 2,100 metric tons annually, particularly in meat processing, dairy plants, and ready-to-eat meal factories. Performic acid reduces E. coli counts by 99.9% within 30 seconds, meeting international HACCP standards. Adoption has increased in South America and Eastern Europe, where over 250 new food facilities introduced performic acid-based cleaning systems in 2023.
Medical Industry: The medical sector demands approximately 1,200 metric tons annually, with performic acid used for cold sterilization of surgical tools and surfaces. Hospitals in Germany, France, and the U.S. accounted for 68% of global medical-grade consumption in 2024, especially in trauma centers and surgical departments where bio-load control is critical.
Water Treatment: More than 3,500 treatment plants globally are using performic acid for effluent disinfection. Compared to chlorine, it produces 85% fewer toxic chlorinated organics. In Denmark, over 70% of wastewater is now treated using oxidants like performic acid. In 2023, around 800 metric tons were consumed in this segment.
Paper and Pulp: The paper and pulp industry uses performic acid for bleaching, enhancing brightness by 5–7 ISO units compared to chlorine. Over 900 metric tons were consumed globally in 2023. Adoption is rising in Finland and Brazil, where over 50 mills have retrofitted performic acid systems to replace traditional bleaching agents.
Others: Miscellaneous applications include cosmetic ingredient purification and electronic component washing. These sectors account for around 400 metric tons annually, largely in South Korea and Taiwan, where high purity chemical applications are required.

Performic Acid Market Regional Outlook

The Performic Acid market displays regional variances shaped by regulatory frameworks, industrial development, and sanitation infrastructure.

North America

North America is a stronghold for food-grade and medical-grade performic acid applications. In 2024, over 620 hospitals across the U.S. employed performic acid-based disinfection systems. Food processing plants in Canada and the U.S. together consumed more than 980 metric tons, driven by USDA and FDA sanitation mandates. Water utilities in the U.S. Midwest added performic acid to their treatment protocols across 170 locations. North America’s market maturity is supported by strict hygiene regulations and robust R&D funding, with over 22 universities studying performic acid efficacy under NSF-funded projects in 2023.

Europe

Europe leads in environmentally responsible chemical adoption. In 2023, over 1,100 municipal wastewater plants across Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands transitioned to performic acid-based disinfectants. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has authorized performic acid use for food-contact sanitation, prompting its integration into over 450 food plants in the region. Germany alone accounted for 28% of European consumption. Investments in eco-friendly sterilization in hospitals across France and the UK fueled demand for over 500 metric tons of medical-grade performic acid. Environmental legislation and sustainability targets continue to drive this trend.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific dominates global production and consumption, led by China and India. In 2024, China produced approximately 4,400 metric tons, over 50% of the global output. India’s water treatment sector consumed over 630 metric tons, following the Smart Cities program rollout. Japan and South Korea are major consumers in the medical sterilization domain, with over 300 hospitals using performic acid-based sterilants. Rising hygiene awareness and industrial expansion are fueling a compound annual volume increase across food and water segments. Approximately 370 new food production facilities in Southeast Asia adopted performic acid systems in 2023.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa region, though emerging, has witnessed increased integration of performic acid in water treatment and food export sectors. South Africa and UAE together consumed nearly 240 metric tons in 2023. Municipalities in Egypt and Kenya implemented pilot disinfection projects in 2024 across 90 water treatment facilities. Export-oriented meat processors in Saudi Arabia and Namibia are adopting performic acid to meet EU import standards, where microbiological control is mandated. Investment in sanitation and public health initiatives is expected to bolster regional market presence.

List of Top Performic Acid Market Companies

Hangzhou Dayangchem
Sagachem
Parchem
Akos Consulting and Solution
Henan Bon Industrial Co. Ltd.
Evonik Industries

Top Two Companies with Highest Share

Hangzhou Dayangchem: holds the highest production capacity, exceeding 2,200 metric tons annually. It dominates the Asia-Pacific supply chain, especially in China, South Korea, and Thailand.

Evonik: Industries ranks second in market share, producing over 1,400 metric tons of pharmaceutical and food-grade performic acid, primarily serving Europe and North America.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the Performic Acid market are aligning with global efforts to establish sustainable, high-efficiency disinfection frameworks. From 2023 to 2024, over 18 new production facilities were commissioned globally, contributing an additional 3,600 metric tons in cumulative capacity. China, the U.S., and Germany accounted for 72% of these investments, led by both private firms and public-private partnerships. In Germany, Evonik Industries expanded its high-purity plant in Lower Saxony with a €38 million investment, increasing annual capacity by 800 metric tons.

In India, a state-backed sanitation initiative facilitated the rollout of performic acid dosing units in 240 municipalities. These projects were backed by public health allocations exceeding INR 280 crore. Private players like Akos Consulting have also diversified offerings by launching portable disinfection units embedded with performic acid systems, targeting healthcare institutions in under-served regions.

A key investment opportunity lies in on-site generation systems. These systems address performic acid’s short shelf-life, allowing hospitals, water plants, and food units to produce the compound as needed. Over 400 such systems were sold globally in 2024, with anticipated expansion in rural sanitation projects. Innovation in micro-reactor technology by startups in Israel and Finland further enhances this potential by reducing equipment footprint and energy use by 35%.

Moreover, venture capital activity in chemical hygiene technologies has increased. In 2023 alone, more than $110 million was allocated to sanitation and chemical sterilization startups, with over 28% earmarked for performic acid-specific technologies. This influx of capital is enhancing scale, automation, and precision delivery systems.

New Product Development

New product development in the performic acid market is centered around stability, automation, and customized formulations for specific applications. One of the most significant advancements in 2024 was the commercialization of encapsulated performic acid granules, which allow controlled release in water systems. These granules extend usability from hours to up to 7 days, expanding the compound’s use in remote and decentralized facilities.

Another breakthrough was achieved by a U.S.-based manufacturer developing a dual-phase sterilization system that combines performic acid with UV treatment. This hybrid system reduced microbial loads by over 6 log cycles in laboratory testing, outperforming traditional autoclaving for heat-sensitive materials. Over 50 hospitals adopted this system in late 2024, particularly in oncology departments.

Companies in Europe introduced stabilized concentrate blends that maintain potency for 30 days without refrigeration, reducing dependency on cold chain logistics. These products, targeting food and medical applications, increased shelf life by 200% and saved over 22% in transportation costs.

Smart disinfection systems have also been developed. These integrate Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities for real-time dosing control and tracking. In 2023, over 140 food processing units installed such systems, which allow adjustment of performic acid concentration based on microbial detection through optical sensors.

Innovations in packaging also emerged. South Korean producers began using triple-layer polymeric containers with active oxygen scavengers, extending performic acid stability during export. Over 8,000 metric tons were shipped in these containers in 2024 with spoilage reduction rates of 96%. These product innovations underscore the market’s push towards efficiency, safety, and scale.

Five Recent Developments

Evonik: Industries opened a new high-purity performic acid facility in Germany with 800 metric tons annual capacity, targeting European food and pharma sectors.
Hangzhou Dayangchem: partnered with Indian municipal corporations to supply over 500 portable performic acid generators for water treatment.
Sagachem: launched a new performic acid-blended disinfectant designed for cold chain logistics with 30-day potency at 5–25°C.
Henan Bon Industrial Co. Ltd.: introduced single-use sachets for on-demand food-grade performic acid disinfection, now adopted by over 200 food SMEs.
Parchem: developed a new non-metallic storage tank for performic acid that reduces degradation by 40%, improving storage life for industrial users.

Report Coverage of Performic Acid Market

This report provides an in-depth examination of the Performic Acid market across multiple dimensions—product type, application, regional distribution, and innovation trends. With a total consumption volume exceeding 8,000 metric tons in 2024, the report quantifies usage across sectors such as medical, food, water treatment, and industrial processing. The study outlines how regulatory standards in over 40 countries shape adoption, and documents over 520 new installations in sanitation-sensitive sectors over the past 12 months.

The market analysis spans both upstream (raw material supply, manufacturing technologies) and downstream (distribution, usage, application-specific blending) aspects. It highlights changes in formulation, stability, and disinfection performance across type variants, from industrial-grade to medical and food-grade. Over 30 patented technologies and 18 major R&D projects are profiled, providing a clear outlook on technical evolution.

The report evaluates geographical contributions, noting China’s dominance with over 4,400 metric tons produced annually, alongside rapid uptake in Europe and India due to sanitation programs. Coverage includes 12 major producers and a benchmark analysis of 6 global players with quantitative metrics including production volume, market penetration rate, and adoption in new industrial setups.

Lastly, this coverage integrates market dynamics, investment flows exceeding $110 million in 2023, and over 1,200 pilot initiatives demonstrating performic acid’s efficacy. It serves as a reference for manufacturers, regulatory bodies, investors, and end-users seeking data-backed strategic guidance