US demand for disinfectants and antimicrobials to reach US$1.6bn in 2017
Annual growth of 4% to 2017 expected in the medical and healthcare sector
Demand for disinfectant and antimicrobial chemicals in the US is forecast to grow by 6.1% annually to $1.6 billion in 2017, forecasts a new report by the Freedonia Group.
Anxieties about food borne disease, healthcare-associated (HAI) illnesses and antibiotic-resistance will lead to annual growth of 4% to 2017 in the medical and healthcare sector amid increasing regulatory scrutiny and intensifying cleaning regimens, the Cleveland, Ohio-based industry market research firm says in its study, Disinfectant & Antimicrobial Chemicals.
Rising public concern about microbial pathogens will also support growth in some industrial markets as disinfectant and antimicrobial additives are incorporated into a broader array of products.
Several factors will result in more thorough disinfection regimens among food and beverage processors, hospitals and other healthcare providers.
Heightened public apprehension about foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and Salmonella, increased regulatory scrutiny following the Food Safety Modernisation Act of 2011, and growing liability concerns will contribute to increased disinfectant demand in the food and beverage processing market.
In the medical and healthcare market, concerns about HAIs such as C. difficile and antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as MRSA, changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rules, pressure from insurers, and coverage of deadly outbreaks in the media will continue to drive disinfectant and antimicrobial consumption, the study says.