The global zeolites market size is estimated to be USD 12.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 14.1 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 3.1% between 2021 and 2026, owing to an increase in demand of zeolites in detergent industry. The construction & building materials segment is the biggest application for natural zeolites. The rising demand for lightweight concrete material in the construction industry is expected to drive the use of natural zeolites.
Based on type, the zeolites market is segmented into natural and synthetic zeolites. Natural zeolites was the largest segment in the overall zeolites market in 2020, in terms of value and volume. This is majorly due to the growing demand for natural zeolites in various applications such as construction & building materials, soil remediation, animal feed and wastewater treatment among others.
Based on function, catalyst segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the overall zeolites market, in terms of value, in 2020. Increasing demand for zeolites as catalysts in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) applications in oil & gas and petroleum industry is driving the growth of this segment. Zeolites are the most important inorganic material used in the production of oil & gas in the petrochemical and oil refining industries. They are routinely used as catalysts in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydrocarbon cracking (HC) applications. Zeolite catalysts have the advantage of removing hydrogen from alkanes at the acidic sites or reaction sites.
