Specialty chemicals
Specialty chemicals, also known as effect chemicals, are chemicals which provide different effects when added to other chemical or substances. They include:
- Adhesives (substance applied at the surfaces of materials binding them together to resist separation)
- Agrichemicals (pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides).
- Cleaning materials
- Cosmetic additives
- Construction chemicals
- Elastomers
- Flavours
- Food additives (food preservatives such as salt, sugar, vinegar and sulphur dioxide),
- Fragrances
- Industrial gases
- Lubricants
- Polymers
- Surfactants (emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants)
- Textile auxiliaries
Sectors such as the automobile, aerospace, food, cosmetics, agriculture, manufacturing and textile industries are the major end-user of specialty chemicals.
Asia-Pacific leads the global specialty chemicals market followed by North America and Europe. Increasing industrial activities in developing countries such as India and China will increase the demand for specialty chemicals in these countries.
China and Japan are expected to lead the Asia-Pacific market.
Specialty polymers, industrial and institutional cleaners, construction chemicals, electronic chemicals, and flavours and fragrances are the major uses of specialty chemicals by the manufacturing industry. The rise in disposable income in developing countries is expected to drive the demand for these products.
Increasing industrial activities in the field of cosmetics, food, agriculture and other manufacturing sectors in the developing countries such as India and Brazil are expected to increase, thus increasing the overall demand for specialty chemicals. Additionally, specialty chemicals are increasingly used in water treatment. The introduction of more sophisticated water treatment technologies such as ion-exchange include the use of specialty chemicals. However, government regulation of the use of certain chemicals in the food processing industry and other manufacturing industries may hinder the growth of global specialty chemicals industry.
The chemical industry is very fragmented with many companies operating in this industry. Some of the major companies are; Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, BASF SE, Akzo Nobel N.V., Clariant International Ltd, Evonik Industries AG, Chemtura Corporation, Cytec Industries Inc., Albemarle Corporation and Ferro Corporation.
Featured articles and news
BSRIA Statutory Compliance Inspection Checklist
BG80/2025 now significantly updated to include requirements related to important changes in legislation.
Shortlist for the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards
Talent and innovation showcase announcement from the trussed rafter industry.
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.