The calcium chloride market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.12 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.11 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from 2024 to 2031. The calcium chloride market is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period. Increasing applications in de-icing runways and roads during snowy and icy conditions will drive demand.

Market Driver - Increasing Demand for Packaged and Processed Foods

The food industry has seen significant changes over the past decade with an ever-growing demand for packaged and processed foods. Calcium chloride plays an important role in the manufacturing process of many foods as it helps control moisture, protects against spoilage, and enhances texture, shelf life and food safety. It is commonly used as a firming agent in canned foods to prevent softening during storage.

As urbanization accelerates, more people are living alone or in nuclear families with less time for cooking elaborate meals from scratch each day. Companies are endlessly innovating with new product varieties, flavors and packaging types to appeal to the calcium chloride market.

Furthermore, as world economies develop and household incomes rise across geographies, people are changing diets and adapting to westernized food consumption patterns. International food giants have expanded into vast new emerging markets catering to this evolving demand. All of these dynamics indicate that the growing preference for convenient packaged foods over traditional cooking methods continues to be a robust driver for the calcium chloride market on a global scale.

Market Driver - Expansion of the Construction Industry Globally

The construction industry is intricately tied to global economic growth patterns and is witnessing widespread activity globally like never before. Mega construction ventures involve an assortment of materials from cement and concrete to ceramics and glass, where calcium chloride plays a supporting role. Calcium chloride is also finding growing applications as a de-icing agent to clear roads, bridges and runways during winter weather events.

Especially in developing regions across Asia, Africa and Latin America, massive investments are channeling into new residential and commercial realms. Governments are allocating broader budgets towards expanding transportation networks, energy and social infrastructure like hospitals and schools to drive development progress. This opens new avenues of growth for calcium chloride market players.

Meanwhile in established economies, repair and replacement of aging buildings and public works also sustains ongoing construction activity. Multinational construction giants are active participants in these endeavors through transnational partnerships and contracts. Players in the calcium chloride can also explore growth opportunities in this sector in the coming years.

Market Challenge - Corrosive Nature of Calcium Chloride Leading to Infrastructure Damage

One of the key challenges faced by the calcium chloride market is the corrosive nature of the product, which can potentially cause damage to infrastructure over time. When used as a de-icing agent on roads and walkways during winter, the absorbed moisture reacts with metals, concrete and other materials used in construction. This leads to corrosion and accelerated wear of structures like bridges, roads and parking areas that are frequently exposed to calcium chloride.

Infrastructure facilities need to be repaired or replaced more often due to corrosion, which increases maintenance costs for municipalities and transportation departments. Several studies have pointed to concrete cancer and steel corrosion in bridges as a result of prolonged use of calcium chloride for de-icing.

The corrosive properties thus limit the long-term usage of calcium chloride, reducing its demand. Manufacturers in the calcium chloride market will need to develop special coating technologies or add corrosion inhibitors to calcium chloride products to address this challenge.

Market Opportunity - Growing Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry

One of the major market opportunities for calcium chloride going forward is its increasing applications in the oil and gas industry. Calcium chloride is widely used as a brine for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration activities. It enhances the viscosity and weight of drilling fluids, prevents blowouts during drilling by maintaining a stable pressure balance and transports cuttings to the surface.

With rising energy demand globally and the need for oil and gas companies to explore new reserves from more difficult terrains like offshore and ultra-deepwater, drilling activities are on the rise. This is expected to boost the consumption of calcium chloride brines.

The product is also employed for well completion and stimulation processes like hydraulic fracturing. The boom in North American shale gas and tight oil production driven by fracking will augment the demand for calcium chloride from the oilfield market. Its wide usage profiles thus make the oil and gas industry a major growth driver for calcium chloride market in the coming years.

Strategic Expansion through Acquisitions and Mergers: Players have expanded strategically through acquisitions and mergers to increase their market share and diversify their product portfolios. For example, Tetra Technologies acquired GE Water & Process Technologies' Production Management business in 2020.

Focus on Value-Added Products: Players have focused on developing and marketing value-added calcium chloride products to fetch higher margins. For example, Occidental Chemical Corporation markets specialty calcium chloride products for dust control and road stabilization that command 20-30% higher prices than commodity-grade flakes/pellets.

Leveraging Regional Presence: Leading players have leveraged their strong regional presence and local production capabilities to cater to the unique requirements of regional/local customers. For example, Weifang Taize Chemical Industry Co. focuses on the Chinese domestic market by maintaining a wide production and distribution network across major Chinese cities.

Emphasis on R&D: Players continuously invest in R&D to develop differentiated calcium chloride products. For instance, NedMag Industries invested over €5 million during 2015-2019 to expand its product portfolio beyond basic grades.

Insights, By Grade: Reliability Drives Demand for Industrial Grade Calcium Chloride

In terms of grade, industrial grade contributes 33.4% share of the calcium chloride market in 2024, owing to its reliable performance across various industries. Industrial grade calcium chloride is valued for its consistency in chemical composition and physical properties, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into industrial production and manufacturing processes. This translates to reliable operation of machinery, minimal disruption, and efficient throughput for industries.

A key factor is its heat absorbing properties which provide thermal reliability. Industrial grade calcium chloride effectively regulates temperatures in diverse industrial settings from power plants to food processing facilities. Moreover, its high solubility in water grants chemical reliability. The brine provides reliable inhibition against corrosion and scaling inside piping, vessels and other water-retaining infrastructure.

Overall, industrial grade calcium chloride successfully delivers physical, thermal, and chemical reliability demanded by various manufacturing industries. This will drive upcoming trends in the calcium chloride market.

Insights, By Application: Snow and Ice Control Drives Demand for De-icing and Dust Control Applications

In terms of application, de-icing & dust control contributes 40.1% share of the calcium chloride market owing to expansive use for winter maintenance activities. Calcium chloride effectively lowers the freezing point of water, making it a versatile tool for melting snow and ice. As a de-icing agent, it keeps critical infrastructure clear during winter months for safe travel and transportation. This includes maintaining paved surfaces, such as roads, highways, rail lines, runways and sidewalks ice-free.

A key factor is its low cracking and corrosion potential on concrete and asphalt compared to other de-icing alternatives like sodium chloride. This property has increased its preference among civil engineers and winter maintenance contractors.  Dust control is another major application area. Calcium chloride effectively binds with dust particles and suppresses them from becoming airborne.

Overall, calcium chloride has cemented its place as the gold standard for de-icing and dust suppression especially in colder regions. This drives its high demand for de-icing and dust control applications across multiple sectors.

Insights, By Product: Flakes Dominate as Form for Calcium Chloride Applications

In terms of product, flakes contributes the highest share of the calcium chloride market owing to its versatility and easy handling over other forms. A key factor is its ability to dissolve quickly. Calcium chloride flakes possess a high surface area which allows for rapid dissolution in water forming a brine solution. Secondly, flakes are less susceptible to caking or sticking together compared to granules and powder. This improves flow properties important for pourable and spreadable applications such as road de-icing.

Flakes are also preferred for dust control. In addition, flakes store well and does not undergo any physical or chemical change over time under normal storage and handling practices. This translates to long shelf life while retaining performance.

Overall, calcium chloride flakes have cemented a strong consumer preference especially for de-icing, dust control, industrial, and construction applications.

• Dust Control in Australian Mining Roads: The application of calcium chloride for dust suppression on mining roads in Australia led to significant cost savings and improved safety conditions, showcasing its effectiveness in industrial settings.
• Growth in Food & Beverage Industry Usage: The use of calcium chloride in the food and beverage industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7% due to increasing demand for processed and preserved foods.
• De-icing in North American Airports: Major airports in North America adopted calcium chloride-based de-icing agents to maintain runway safety during harsh winters, highlighting its critical role in transportation infrastructure.
• Application Segment Insights: The de-icing and dust control segment dominated the calcium chloride market, accounting for over 40% of the global calcium chloride market share in 2022.
• Regional Market Share: North America held the largest share in the global calcium chloride market, contributing approximately 35% to the global revenue in 2022, driven by significant demand in de-icing applications.

The major players operating in the calcium chloride market include Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Tetra Technologies, Inc., Solvay S.A., Ward Chemical Ltd., Tangshan Sanyou Group Co., Ltd., Zirax Ltd., Weifang Taize Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Tiger Calcium Services, Qingdao Huadong Calcium Producing Co. Ltd., Weifang Haibin Chemical Co. Ltd., Nedmag B.V. and Gujarat Alkalies, and Chemicals Ltd.

• In June 2024, Kemin Industries introduced CholiGEM™, an advanced rumen-protected choline supplement, into the U.S. dairy market. This product is designed to address fatty liver and ketosis in lactating dairy cows, enhancing liver health during the critical transition period.
• In May 2024, Fast&Up, a leading active nutrition brand in India, introduced the Fast&Up Reload Ready-to-Drink beverage. This product is tailored for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and individuals with active lifestyles, offering a convenient solution to maintain energy and peak performance.

• By Grade
  • Industrial Grade
  • Food Grade
  • Pharmaceutical Grade
  • Agriculture Grade
• By Application
  • De-icing & Dust Control
  • Drilling Fluids
  • Agriculture
  • Healthcare
  • Construction
  • Food & Beverages
• By Product
  • Flakes
  • Granules
  • Powder
  • Liquid