Glyoxal Market Report Scope & Overview

The glyoxal market size was USD 335.97 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 467.44 million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 4.21% % over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Glyoxal market analysis reveals that increasing utilization in the textile industry is a major factor propelling market growth. The rapid growth in the demand for glyoxal from the textile industry is a primary driver influencing the uptake of the glyoxal market over the forecast period. The use of glyoxal as a crossling agent in textile processing, especially for wrinkle-less and dimensional stability improvement of cotton and cotton blend fabrics, is well recognized. Textile manufacturers are shifting toward the increasing adoption of glyoxal-based formulations to increase different fabric functionality with the growing demand for easy-care and long-lasting clothing, particularly in emerging markets.

The Indian textile & apparel industry, which gives jobs to more than 45 million people, is on the path of growth. Textile and garment shipments of the country increased by more than 7% year-on-year to over USD 23 billion in November 2024.

In the same time frame, exports of readymade garments saw an increase of over 11% year on year, reaching a value close to USD 10 billion, and are predicted to exceed USD 16 billion by March 2025. The significant growth of the textile industry represents the growing demand for glyoxal in fabric processing applications.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Development Of Glyoxal-Based Derivatives Drives the Market Growth

Increasing glyoxal-based derivatives development is one of the key factors driving the glyoxal market growth. Thus, with industries moving towards more specialty glyoxal chemical compound and high-performance chemical solutions, there has also been a rise in glyoxal derivatives in the market, such as glyoxal resins, and other crosslinkers have become a bigger focal point of interest. Derivatives of these products improve the performance of a range of end-use sectors, including textiles, paper and paperboard, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and cosmetics. They come with several advantages, such as increased adhesion, durability, and chemical resistance, and are used in higher-performance formulations.

The Chemical Manufacturing subsector (NAICS 325) accounted for a value of shipments of USD 832.3 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM). That means the chemical manufacturing subsector was the third-largest manufacturing subsector by shipment value in the U.S.

Restrain

• Challenges In Large-Scale Bio-Based Production May Hamper the Market Growth

 The glyoxal market growth can be hindered as large-scale bio-based production may prove challenging, given increasing interest towards other bio-chemicals as eco-friendly and sustainable chemical alternatives. Despite the major lower toxicity and environmental advantages of bio-based glyoxal over the petrochemical-derived counterpart, the technology for its cost-effective bulk production is still under development. Biomass or renewable feedstock routes to glyoxal are typically elaborate with high operating costs, low scalability, and poor overall yield. Additionally, as there is little in the way of production infrastructure or proliferation of assured production methods for bio-based counterparts, the economics found in conventional glyoxal is out of reach for manufacturers.

Opportunities

• Increased investment in bio-based glyoxal production creates opportunities in the market.

Higher investment in bio-based glyoxal production is generating a major boost to opportunities for the global glyoxal market as industries seek sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Glyoxal is traditionally produced through petrochemical pathways that alter the environment and are hazardous to human beings. On the other hand, glyoxal of bio-origin is safer and has a positive environmental impact. Chemical manufacturers and research institutions are making significant investments in the development and scaling of bio-based glyoxal technologies in response to increasing consumer demand and evolving environmental regulations. These investments are aimed at enhancing the efficiency of yield, lowering the cost of production, and setting up commercial-scale plants.

In April 2025, BETO announced up to USD 23 million in funding through the Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) Initiative. The funding will also support research and development of next-generation chemicals and domestic chemicals, and fuels from biomass and other waste resources, and other innovative technology pathways for sustainable, low-cost fuels and products, which drive the glyoxal market trends.

Segmentation Analysis

By Application

Crosslinking held the largest market share, around 44%, in 2024 in the glyoxal market, owing to its significant part in improving the properties and performance of materials in several industries. Glyoxal is an important commercial chemical that is commonly utilized as a crosslinking agent in the textile, paper, and leather industry due to its ability to react with polymers to create strong covalent bonds between molecular chains. The latter improves the crease resistance of fabrics, the wet strength of paper, and the durability of leather significantly.

Intermediate held a significant glyoxal market share, which is due to its wide range of downstream products. Intermediate applications accounted for the largest share in the glyoxal market, owing to the application of glyoxal in other intermediate materials. Glyoxal is a key building block for the synthesis of a variety of resins, polymers, oxaldehyde, and specialty chemicals, primarily used in industries like pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and textiles. It has the ability of a bifunctional aldehyde structure, which makes it a highly reactive compound and also makes it suitable for complex organic syntheses to make higher chemical formulations.

By End-Use Industry

Textile held the largest market share, around 31%, in 2024.  It is owing to the importance of glyoxal in improving the processing efficiency of textiles as well as in enhancing the performance characteristics of fabrics. Textile finishing, especially fabric-making for wrinkle-free, shrink-proof, easy-to-care, smoothing and softening, hydrogen bonding, cross-linking, are the prominent applications of glyoxal. Due to the reactive characteristic of the cellulose present in cotton and other natural fibers, it has a great ability to be a more effective means for enhancing dimensional stability as well as surface smoothness.

Derivatives held a significant market share because of the extensive use of glyoxal as a refined chemical precursor to manufacture high-value products. Glyoxal derivatives are used in specialty chemical synthesis, including glyoxylic acid, imidazoles, and heterocyclics, which are all important classes of compounds used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and water treatment applications.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific held the largest market share, around 43%, in 2024. It is attributed to the strong contribution of textile, leather, and paper production in the region, which in turn is expected to create growth opportunities for upstream raw material suppliers and glyoxal industry. China, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam are large textile-producing countries, where textile manufacturing heavily depends on glycol for crosslinking applications. It also benefits from a well-developed chemical manufacturing base and low-cost labor, leading to high-scale production and consumption of glyoxal and derivatives. Moreover, the growth in demand is expected to be driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increasing end-use industries, such as personal care, construction, and agrochemicals.

India has rolled out its PLI scheme to benefit small textile firms, with a target to increase garment exports to reach USD 50 billion by 2030. Under this scheme, 64 proposals for production in man-made fibre fabrics, garments, and technical textiles amounting to 198 billion rupees have been approved by the scheme already.

North America held a significant market share and is the fastest-growing segment in the forecast period. It is owing to a strong demand in sectors such as oil & gas, paper, textiles, and personal care, where glyoxal is being used as a crosslinking agent, intermediate, and preservative is bolstering the region specifically in the United States. Strong Multinational Chemical Companies' Presence and robust R&D capabilities have resulted in continuous innovation and consumption of glyoxal in high-performance top applications.

U.S. glyoxal market size was USD 58.86 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 91.81 million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 5.72% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. It is owing to its well-established industrial base, development in technology, and presence of key end-use sectors demanding glyoxal. In the U.S., glyoxal is primarily used in textiles, oil & gas, paper, and personal care for applications including crosslinking, intermediate synthesis, and as a preservative in personal care. Presence of major glyoxal companies with significant investment towards research and development, driving innovation over glyoxal-based applications and derivatives in the country.

In addition, domestic production of chemicals is incentivized by the US government, e.g., the USDA Bio Preferred Program promotes the use of bio-based chemicals, including glyoxal, which drives the market growth.

Europe held a significant market share in the forecast period. It is owing to high sustainability in chemistry, process industries, and controlled chemical manufacturing structure. In addition, the region houses some well-known specialty chemical manufacturers who have a significant economic penetration of glyoxal in textiles, paper, personal care, and leather processing. Glyoxal is primarily one of the several alternatives that have been identified for usage in environmentally safe preparations in Europe in response to the very strict environmental regulations like REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), which is to promote the usage of less harmful, biodegradable compounds instead of the more lethal materials.

Key Players

BASF SE, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., WeylChem International GmbH, Zhonglan Industry Co., Ltd., Hubei Hongyuan Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Amzole India Pvt. Ltd., Haihang Industry, Eastman Chemical Company, Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation.

Recent Development:

• In 2024, BASF to Build New World-Scale Glyoxal Production Plant in Germany with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons of glyoxal 2024, BASF has announced plans for a new world-scale glyoxal production facility in Germany. This is to replace the existing plant to be more efficient and accommodate increasing demand.

• In 2022, Clariant AG & India Glycols Ltd. announced a joint venture with a focus on renewable ethylene oxide derivatives to meet the rising demand for sustainable chemicals.