The Thiourea Market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.6 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% over the forecast period.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Thiourea Market Estimated Value in (2025 E) | USD 1.6 billion |
| Thiourea Market Forecast Value in (2035 F) | USD 2.6 billion |
| Forecast CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.2% |
The Thiourea market is witnessing steady growth, driven by its critical role in metal extraction and industrial applications. Increasing demand for precious metals such as silver and gold is contributing to higher adoption of thiourea in ore leaching processes, where it acts as an effective alternative to cyanide-based chemicals. Advancements in metallurgical techniques and process optimization have enhanced its efficiency in extracting metals from complex ores while reducing environmental impact.
Rising investments in mining activities, particularly in regions with abundant precious metal reserves, are supporting market expansion. The chemical’s versatility and effectiveness in achieving high recovery rates in ore processing make it a preferred choice for metallurgical industries. Additionally, regulatory emphasis on safer and environmentally compliant leaching agents is further accelerating thiourea adoption.
Research and development initiatives focused on improving the performance, purity, and handling of thiourea are enhancing its industrial applicability As global demand for precious metals continues to rise, the thiourea market is expected to witness sustained growth, supported by both technological advancements and increased adoption in industrial leaching operations.
The thiourea market is segmented by application, and geographic regions. By application, thiourea market is divided into Ore Leaching (Silver & Gold), Auxiliary Agent (Diazo Paper), Isomerization Catalyst, Additive (Slurry Explosives), Metal Refinement (Copper), Metal Cleaning, and Others (Fertilizer). Regionally, the thiourea industry is classified into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Russia & Belarus, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.
The ore leaching segment for silver and gold is projected to account for 33.7% of the Thiourea market revenue in 2025, establishing it as the leading application area. Growth in this segment is driven by the increasing need for efficient extraction methods in mining operations to maximize metal recovery and reduce processing costs. Thiourea is preferred due to its high solubility, effectiveness in low-pH conditions, and ability to replace more toxic cyanide-based leaching agents, making it safer for operators and the environment.
Process optimization and chemical formulation improvements have further enhanced its efficiency in extracting silver and gold from complex ores. The adoption of thiourea in ore leaching is also supported by the growing demand for precious metals in electronics, jewelry, and industrial applications, which has led to higher production volumes.
Mining companies are increasingly integrating thiourea-based processes to improve operational efficiency and comply with environmental regulations As the need for safer and sustainable extraction methods continues, the ore leaching segment is expected to remain the primary driver of growth in the Thiourea market, supported by ongoing technological and process innovations.
Thiourea also known as thiocarbamide, a reagent in organic synthesis and finds application in the food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors. The thiourea is a white crystalline solid and is soluble in water and insoluble in non-polar solvents. It has a bitter taste and reacts with the organic salt and metals.
This compound boosts the crop productivity and also helps in understanding the redox regulatory mechanisms in the plants. Thiourea is similar to urea except that the oxygen atom is replaced by the sulfur atom. Thiourea exhibits many chemical properties of urea but it has very less commercial applications.
Thiourea, when heated to 130°C, can change to ammonium thiocyanate and after cooling the ammonium salt converts back to thiourea. Thiourea is majorly used in ore leaching, which includes silver and gold extraction from minerals. The different applications of thiourea include as a raw material in resin and paints industries as well as a medicine intermediate.
Thiourea also acts as an isomerization catalyst for the conversion of maleic to fumaric acid. Thiourea is not recommended to be used in foods. Thiourea is toxic and heavy exposure to compound might cause hazards to the human health.
| Country | CAGR |
|---|---|
| China | 7.0% |
| India | 6.5% |
| Germany | 6.0% |
| Brazil | 5.5% |
| USA | 4.9% |
| UK | 4.4% |
| Japan | 3.9% |
The Thiourea Market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period, exhibiting varied country level momentum. China leads with the highest CAGR of 7.0%, followed by India at 6.5%. Developed markets such as Germany, France, and the UK continue to expand steadily, while the USA is likely to grow at consistent rates. Japan posts the lowest CAGR at 3.9%, yet still underscores a broadly positive trajectory for the global Thiourea Market. In 2024, Germany held a dominant revenue in the Western Europe market and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.0%. The USA Thiourea Market is estimated to be valued at USD 564.0 million in 2025 and is anticipated to reach a valuation of USD 564.0 million by 2035. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 0.0% over the forecast period between 2025 and 2035. While Japan and South Korea markets are estimated to be valued at USD 75.3 million and USD 51.5 million respectively in 2025.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Units | USD 1.6 Billion |
| Application | Ore Leaching (Silver & Gold), Auxiliary Agent (Diazo Paper), Isomerization Catalyst, Additive (Slurry Explosives), Metal Refinement (Copper), Metal Cleaning, and Others (Fertilizer) |
| Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa |
| Country Covered | United States, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, China, Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa |
| Key Companies Profiled | FLEXSYS, Sanshin Chemical, SHIKOKU CHEMICALS, Prism Sulphur, SHELL, Kennecott, Chevron Phillips Chemical, SKW Piesteritz, Hebei Xinji Chemical Group, Tianjin Ruister International, and Guizhou Hongkai Chemical |
The global thiourea market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.6 billion in 2025.
The market size for the thiourea market is projected to reach USD 2.6 billion by 2035.
The thiourea market is expected to grow at a 5.2% CAGR between 2025 and 2035.
The key product types in thiourea market are ore leaching (silver & gold), auxiliary agent (diazo paper), isomerization catalyst, additive (slurry explosives), metal refinement (copper), metal cleaning and others (fertilizer).
In terms of , segment to command 0.0% share in the thiourea market in 2025.
Thiourea Market
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