The global oxalic acid market is projected to expand from USD 514.5 million in 2025 to USD 830.1 million by 2035, reflecting a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period. Demand is being supported by consistent application across pharmaceuticals, rare earth processing, electronics, and textiles, where oxalic acid functions as a reducing agent, complexing agent, and cleaning chemical.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Industry Size (2025E) | USD 514.5 million |
| Industry Value (2035F) | USD 830.1 million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 4.9% |
Increased consumption in 2024 was primarily observed in the Asia-Pacific region, where industrial expansion and growth in automotive and construction sectors have supported the use of oxalic acid in metal surface treatments. Applications such as rust removal, bleaching, and metal cleaning continued to account for steady demand. Simultaneously, oxalic acid has remained a core intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Rising pharmaceutical output in India and China contributed to a measurable uptick in pharmaceutical-grade oxalic acid consumption.
In parallel, environmental policies in Europe and North America are influencing production practices. Regulatory measures aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing chemical safety have accelerated the shift toward cleaner synthesis routes. In response, manufacturers are investing in fermentation and catalytic oxidation technologies to produce oxalic acid using renewable feedstocks. These methods are gaining attention due to their compatibility with the EU’s REACH framework and the USA EPA’s guidelines on environmentally preferable chemicals.
A shift toward high-purity oxalic acid grades has also become more evident. In the electronics sector, manufacturers are using refined grades for cleaning semiconductor components and precision substrates. The pharmaceutical industry, facing tighter global regulatory requirements, is adopting oxalic acid with controlled impurity profiles to meet purity standards in drug synthesis. To support this trend, producers are upgrading purification systems and implementing advanced process controls to ensure consistent quality and traceability across batches.
Technical/pharma grade oxalic acid is projected to hold approximately 52% of the global oxalic acid market share in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% through 2035. With purity ranging from 99% to 99.9%, this grade is widely used in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) processing, bleaching of textiles, and as a precipitating agent in rare earth metallurgy.
Its suitability for controlled applications with minimal impurities makes it the preferred grade in regulated industries. Demand is particularly strong across Asia-Pacific and Europe where pharmaceutical manufacturing and specialty chemical production are expanding, driving consistent uptake of high-purity oxalic acid in batch and continuous processes.
The pharmaceutical segment is estimated to account for approximately 26% of the global oxalic acid market share in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% through 2035. Oxalic acid is used for removing calcium deposits, purifying intermediates, and preparing oxalates that serve as key inputs in drug manufacturing. It also functions as a pH adjuster and cleaning agent in laboratory and formulation environments.
With increased global investment in generic drug production, active ingredient capacity, and cleanroom operations, demand for technical-grade oxalic acid continues to rise. Pharmaceutical applications are especially prominent in India and China, where cost-competitive manufacturing and export-focused operations rely on high-quality oxalic acid inputs.
China stands as the global epicenter for production and consumption, anchored by robust industrial ecosystems and domestic demand from metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. In 2025, the Chinese industry is projected to reach USD 310 million, driven by vertically integrated manufacturing hubs in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces. These regions not only supply commodity-grade volumes but also lead the transition toward battery-grade and high-purity electronic variants. Government incentives supporting localized supply chains for LFP battery components have accelerated product usage in cathode precursor production.
Environmental compliance remains a major lever China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has tightened emissions thresholds, compelling producers to invest in closed-loop crystallization and zero-liquid discharge systems. Companies like Shandong Fengyuan Chemical are capitalizing on this policy shift, expanding capacity while meeting low-carbon targets. As China advances toward green manufacturing goals under the "Made in China 2025" strategy, demand for high-purity products will scale further. By 2035, the industry is forecast to reach USD 525 million, growing at a CAGR of 5.4%, fueled by high-tech manufacturing, new energy vehicles, and regulatory-driven upgrades in industrial chemical standards.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| China | 5.4% |
India represents the fastest-growing industry for oxalic acid globally, supported by expanding pharmaceutical production, metal cleaning operations, and water treatment sectors. Valued at USD 130 million in 2025, the Indian industry benefits from both domestic supply strength and increasing downstream demand. Key players like Krishna Chemicals and India Glycols are scaling up high-purity production facilities, often leveraging renewable feedstocks. Policy push from the Central Pollution Control Board has made effluent reduction and cleaner chemistry mandatory, indirectly favoring firms with sustainable oxalic acid solutions.
India's pharmaceutical export ambitions, especially in API production, are boosting the consumption of pharma-grade products. Additionally, industrial users in the automotive and construction sectors rely on the product for precision cleaning and surface treatment.
The government’s Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for specialty chemicals further catalyze capacity expansion and import substitution. With growing food processing, textile, and water purification sectors, the country is poised to become a significant product exporter as well. The industry is expected to reach USD 240 million by 2035, registering a CAGR of 6.3%, the highest among the top 10 countries.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| India | 6.3% |
The USA industry, valued at USD 105 million in 2025, is driven by high-end demand in pharmaceuticals, food-grade applications, and electronics. Unlike volume-heavy industries, the USA skews toward value-added segments where purity and regulatory compliance are paramount. Stringent oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shapes usage patterns, pushing adoption of cleaner, high-purity products, particularly in drug manufacturing and food sanitation.
The USA also uses products in niche areas such as beekeeping (as a miticide) and semiconductor cleaning. However, limited domestic production has made the country dependent on imports, especially from Asia. Recent reshoring initiatives, including incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act, are prompting localized investments in chemical manufacturing and semiconductor supply chains.
If capacity expands, the industry can reduce import reliance and enhance supply resilience. The USA market is projected to grow to USD 165 million by 2035, registering a steady CAGR of 3.6%, led by premium-grade applications and ongoing regulatory upgrades in industrial processing.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United States | 3.6% |
Germany’s industry is projected to reach USD 82 million in 2025 and is supported by strong demand from the pharmaceutical, textile, and metallurgical industries. As Europe’s industrial heartland, Germany leverages its product primarily in high-precision cleaning processes, rare earth separation, and as a pharmaceutical intermediate.
Regulatory leadership under the REACH framework ensures that only low-toxicity, high-purity variants are used, especially in pharma and food applications. Domestic manufacturers emphasize green chemistry, with R&D funding from both public and private sectors enabling cleaner production processes. Germany's advanced automotive and semiconductor sectors, including BMW and Infineon, have also contributed to increased use in micro-cleaning and surface preparation.
Additionally, the shift toward sustainable metallurgy in response to EU decarbonization targets supports usage in pickling and refining applications. With sustainability as a strategic pillar under the European Green Deal, the product is poised to benefit from greener industrial transitions. The market is forecast to reach USD 128 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 4.6%.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 4.6% |
Japan’s industry, valued at USD 74 million in 2025, is characterized by high standards in purity and performance, driven by its mature electronics, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical sectors. Companies like Tokyo Electron and Shin-Etsu Chemical indirectly contribute to the rising demand for electronic-grade products, used in wafer cleaning and etching processes.
Additionally, Japan’s advanced pharmaceutical infrastructure utilizes products as an intermediate for antibiotic synthesis. Regulatory oversight from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ensures tight control over input purity and emission levels, favoring domestic producers with advanced crystallization and filtration technologies.
The ongoing energy transition is also pushing Japanese steelmakers and material scientists to adopt eco-efficient metal cleaning agents, including products, as part of low-emission metallurgy. The domestic industry is further supported by research-driven collaborations between universities and industrial players, accelerating innovation in bio-based products. By 2035, the industry is projected to reach USD 115 million, with a steady CAGR of 4.5%.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 4.5% |
South Korea’s industry is estimated at USD 62 million in 2025 and is set to expand steadily on the back of its electronics, semiconductor, and fine chemical sectors. The country’s positioning as a global semiconductor leader (via Samsung and SK Hynix) necessitates high-purity chemical inputs, including products for ultra-cleaning and etching processes.
The Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) has promoted cleaner chemical manufacturing under its green certification framework, leading to increased investment in closed-loop product systems. Pharmaceuticals and food processing sectors also demand regulated, low-residue chemicals, which has sustained demand for food and pharma-grade products.
Additionally, the steel and materials sector uses products for surface preparation and pickling of stainless steel components. With government-led initiatives such as K-New Deal supporting clean tech and localization of chemical supply chains, the industry is projected to reach USD 95 million by 2035, at a CAGR of 3.8%.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| South Korea | 3.8% |
Brazil represents Latin America's product growth engine, valued at USD 58 million in 2025. Growth is primarily driven by water treatment, textiles, and industrial cleaning applications. Brazil’s expanding agrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors also support steady demand for technical-grade products. The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has implemented new purity benchmarks for excipients and intermediates, nudging importers toward higher-quality variants.
Domestic demand is also rising in the sugar refining and ethanol sectors, where the product is used to purify process lines and descale equipment. As urban water infrastructure upgrades across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro advance, water treatment chemicals, including products, are in greater demand. Though the country lacks large-scale manufacturing capacity, its position as a value-driven importer will remain strategic. By 2035, the industry is expected to reach USD 90 million, growing at a CAGR of 4.5%.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 4.5% |
The United Kingdom's industry, valued at USD 51 million in 2025, is shaped by regulated applications in pharmaceuticals, beekeeping, and food-grade sanitation. The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has endorsed oxalic acid as a legal miticide for beekeeping, creating a consistent, if niche, source of demand. Additionally, the NHS-driven medical supply ecosystem and domestic pharmaceutical packaging sector rely on high-purity inputs, where the product plays a role as a cleaning agent and formulation excipient.
Post-Brexit regulatory alignment under the UK REACH scheme encourages the use of low-toxicity, traceable specialty chemicals, giving domestic manufacturers a slight competitive edge. Water utilities and food processing industries are beginning to adopt the product more widely, aided by updated sanitation standards from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The UK industry is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.2%, reaching USD 78 million by 2035.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 4.2% |
Russia's industry, estimated at USD 46 million in 2025, is concentrated in metallurgy, rare earth processing, and chemical manufacturing. The country's mining and refining sectors use the product for rare earth precipitation and de-scaling applications. Domestic policies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade have promoted self-sufficiency in specialty chemicals, leading to increased internal sourcing and localized production. However, international sanctions have restricted access to high-grade purification technologies, limiting the scale of battery-grade or food-grade development.
While agricultural demand (including apiculture) remains modest, the country continues to invest in water treatment and industrial hygiene chemicals, indirectly benefiting product demand. Over the forecast period, Russia is expected to register a CAGR of 4.0%, with industry value rising to USD 68 million by 2035, provided trade and regulatory pathways remain relatively stable.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Russia | 4.0% |
France’s industry is valued at USD 42 million in 2025 and is positioned around pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food-grade sanitation. The AgenceNationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) has emphasized stricter controls on intermediates and excipients, leading to sustained demand for pharma-grade products. Textile clusters in Lyon and Lille continue to use products in fabric whitening and dye processing.
Moreover, with rising environmental awareness, water treatment facilities in regions like Île-de-France have shifted toward biodegradable chelating agents, including oxalic acid, for scale and heavy metal removal. The French National Strategy for Ecological Transition supports the use of cleaner, bio-based acids in industrial processes. By 2035, France’s industry is projected to grow to USD 65 million, registering a CAGR of 4.5%, supported by policy, precision manufacturing, and food-grade compliance initiatives.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| France | 4.5% |
The oxalic acid market is moderately consolidated, with a mix of global and regional producers competing on purity, cost-efficiency, and application-specific formulations. Key players are prioritizing sustainable production processes and regional expansions to meet rising demand from Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Investments in bio-based synthesis routes and ultra-pure grades for high-end electronics and pharma sectors are reshaping the competitive landscape. Collaborative ventures with end-use industries and R&D institutions are enhancing product performance and environmental compatibility. As demand surges for low-toxicity, high-purity oxalic acid across industrial and specialty sectors, the market is poised for strategic product innovation and capacity expansions.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Total Market Size (2025) | USD 514.5 million |
| Projected Market Size (2035) | USD 830.1 million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 4.9% |
| Base Year for Estimation | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2020 to 2024 |
| Projections Period | 2025 to 2035 |
| Report Parameter | Revenue in USD billion/ Volume in metric tons |
| By Grade | Standard Grade (Purity 96% to 99%), Technical/Pharma Grade (Purity 99% to 99.9%), Electronic/Food Grade (Purity 99.9% to 99.999%) |
| By Application | Bleaching & Purifying Agents, Reducing Agents, Stain & Rust Removers, Miticide , Precipitation Agents, Others |
| By End Use | Petrochemicals, Water Treatment Chemicals, Metallurgy, Textiles & Leather, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics & Semiconductors, Food, Wood Pulp, Bee-hiving |
| Regions Covered | North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, Middle East , and Africa |
| Countries Covered | United States, Japan, Germany, India, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland |
| Key Players | Mudanjiang Fengda Chemical Co., Ltd., Oxaquim , Merck KGaA , UBE Industries Ltd., Clariant International Limited, Indian Oxalate Limited, Shijiazhuang Taihe Chemical Co., Ltd., Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp., Shandong Fengyuan Chemical Co., Ltd., Penta s.r.o |
| Additional Attributes | Dollar sales by value, market share analysis by region, and country-wise analysis |
| Customization and Pricing | Available on request |
The industry is segmented into standard grade (purity 96%-99%), technical/pharma grade (purity 99%-99.9%), and electronic/food grade (purity 99.9%-99.999%).
The industry is segmented into bleaching & purifying agents, reducing agents, stain & rust removers, miticide, precipitation agents, and others.
The industry is segmented into petrochemicals, water treatment chemicals, metallurgy, textiles & leather, pharmaceuticals, electronics & semiconductors, food, wood pulp, and bee-hiving.
The industry is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, and Middle East and Africa.
The global oxalic acid market is projected to reach USD 830.1 million by 2035, up from USD 514.5 million in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.
The technical/pharma grade oxalic acid segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 5.2%, driven by rising demand in pharmaceutical synthesis and regulated industrial processes.
Bleaching and purifying agents hold the leading share among applications, forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.3%, due to strong demand in rare earth processing, wood pulp, and electronics cleaning.
India is the fastest-growing national market, projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, supported by its growing pharmaceutical, water treatment, and textile sectors.
Standard-grade oxalic acid (purity 96% to 99%) holds the largest market share at 40% due to its widespread use in industrial applications like metal cleaning and textile processing.
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Oxalic Acid Market
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