Zinc Chemicals Market Report Scope & Overview:

The zinc chemicals market size was valued at USD 10.20 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 14.27 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.28% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Zinc chemicals market analysis indicates that increasing usage in the rubber & tire sector is one of the major reasons for market growth. This zinc chemical is used mainly in vulcanization to produce hardened rubber with improved strength, elasticity, and resistance to heat and wear. The global automotive sector is expanding, especially in developing countries like China, India, and Brazil, hence increasing the demand for high-performance tires, which, in return, drives the overall consumption of specialty zinc chemicals. Moreover, the demand for zinc-based tire additives is also on an upward trajectory due to the growing focus on electric vehicles, along with a new premium for softer, longer-lasting tires. This trend will continue that resulting in stable zinc chemicals market growth.

For instance, more than 50-60% of global zinc oxide is used in rubber. The predominant use of zinc oxide in rubber, which global data from zinc industry sources confirms but which diverges from more recent estimates based largely on European data, is due to its part in sulfur vulcanization, coupled with stearic acid.

Additionally, in 2023, U.S.-based ZincOx Resources expanded its zinc oxide production facility in Ohio to meet increasing demand from domestic tire manufacturers.

Market Dynamics:

Drivers

•   Rising Demand for Micronutrient Fertilizers Drives the Market Growth

 It is a widely used fertilizer for correcting zinc deficiency in crops and improving yield and soil health. Fortified fertilizers are increasingly promoted by governments or some institutions with a global awareness of food security. Zinc-based soil conditioners and foliar sprays are growing rapidly in the agricultural zinc chemicals industry, particularly in developing nations like India and African countries. Similarly, advantages from a transition to precision agriculture and sustainable farming corroborate this trend. This demand will grow rapidly as the soil micronutrient levels are reducing and farmers become aware of this.

For Instance, the 2024 Soil Health Card of the Government of India showed that more than 40% of Indian soils were found to lack zinc and therefore, subsidies on zinc-based fertilizers were placed under the PM-PRANAM scheme.

Restrain

•  Fluctuating Zinc Raw Material Prices May Hamper the Market Growth

Fluctuating zinc raw material prices create a significant challenge for producers, as the prices of zinc metal, the key raw material for zinc chemicals, are highly volatile. Zinc prices are directly impacted by mining disruptions, supply chain troubles, and swings in global demand. In any case, a sudden increase in the price of their raw materials directly affects and reduces the margins of zinc chemical manufacturers, which might delay certain projects or render some of them unprofitable. There is always uncertainty which is not good for long-term investments and prices stability among downstream industries such as agriculture, rubber and paints.

Opportunities                                          

•   Growth of Zinc-based Battery Technologies Creates an Opportunity in the Market

As the world is moving towards decarbonization and energy transition, zinc-based batteries present a much more feasible substitute for traditional lithium-ion systems. These batteries, such as zinc-air, zinc-carbon, and the new generation of zinc-ion, have considerable advantages, including built-in safety (non-combustibility), low environmental impact, low raw material cost, and greater recyclability. In addition to being low-cost, zinc is widely available, less constrained by geopolitics than lithium, and easier/cheaper to extract and process for large-scale use. Zinc-air batteries, especially, are being developed for long-duration grid storage, which is key to absorbing power from intermittent renewable generation like wind and solar, which drive the zinc chemicals market trends.

In 2024, Zinc8 Energy Solutions is focused on the development of zinc-air energy storage systems and announced a USD 68 million investment to build a battery manufacturing facility in Ulster County, New York.

Segmentation Analysis:

By Type

Zinc Sulfate held the largest zinc chemicals market share, around 38.00%, in 2024. It is widely used in various end-use industries with major demand from the agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors. Zinc sulfate is widely used in agriculture as a micronutrient fertilizer applied directly to the soil for treating zinc-deficient soils, which are common in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of the U.S. The lowest cost, high solubility, and great effectiveness in yielding better crops have made it a common soil and foliar application choice! In addition, its adoption has been further accelerated by government-supported initiatives promoting balanced fertilization and food security. Zinc sulfate trumps the benefits of agriculture, agricultural feed, dietary supplements, and chemical male processing companies.

Zinc Oxide held a significant Zinc Chemicals market share. It is attributed to the rapid growth of the rubber, tire, pharmaceutical, personal care, and ceramic industries, which see broad applications for the product in 2024. This is more commonly used in industrial use of it, which is mainly in the rubber and tire industry, to act as one of the prominent activators in the turning process to formulate tires that are stronger, more elastic, and can withstand high temperatures. Global automotive production is slated in neighboring nations such as China, India, and the U.S, registering significant production growth, and the demand for high-performance rubber compounds has subsequently increased over time.

By End Use

The rubber compounding segment held the largest market share, around 28%, in 2024.  The steady growth in vehicle consumption, especially in emerging markets such as China, India, and Southeast Asia, is expected to provide significant traction for the global compounded rubber materials market over the coming years. Moreover, it is also fueled by steady demand from the North American and European tire replacement base. Apart from automotive, rubber compounding is also crucial in manufacturing shoes, hoses, belts, and industrial rubber items. Due to the excellent properties of zinc chemicals as reinforcing as well as anti-aging agents, it is difficult not to use zinc chemicals in the rubber formulations; therefore, this segment is the largest in the global market.

Agriculture holds a significant market share in the zinc chemicals market. It is due to the governments and agriculture bodies across the globe that have been urging the application of micronutrient fertilizers for a long time in order to enhance soil properties and productivity. One such measure that has hastened the use of zinc fertilizers, such as zinc chloride is the Soil Health Card Scheme in India and balanced fertilization programs in China. Moreover, the tendency for precision and sustainable farming practices is increasing the demand for zinc chemical compounds properties that improve crop quality and disease resistance are anticipated to make the agriculture sector a prominent contributor to market expansion.

Regional Analysis:                          

Asia Pacific zinc chemicals market held the largest market share, around 42.23%, in 2024. It is due to the rapid industrialization in developing economies, especially in Asia, with India and China as key centers, that the zinc chemicals market is expected to increase the demand for zinc chemicals in rubber, construction, coatings, agriculture, and electronics applications. The consumption of zinc compounds such as zinc oxide and zinc sulfate is being driven by large-scale infrastructure and urban development projects and increasing automotive sector growth. Apart from these, the significant government policies to minimize emissions from industries and promote green manufacturing practices have resulted in the growth of eco-conscious zinc chemical products.

In 2024, the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) with Rubamin Ltd., India, a partnership on making green zinc oxide production technology.

North America zinc chemicals market held a significant market share and is the fastest-growing segment in the forecast period. It is driven by sectors like manufacturing rubber, agriculture, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Which is likely to be the key driving factor for the market growth of the region on a global scale till 2024. The region also has tremendous efficiency across production and innovation, supported by leading industry players including U.S. Zinc, Zochem, American Zinc Recycling, and Ever Zinc, as well as strong EPA-backed safety regulations and USDA-led sustainability initiatives. A comparatively recent example is American Zinc Recycling LLC expanding its North Carolina facility in May 2024 to provide a major increase in the recovery of zinc from steel mill dust, providing higher purity zinc oxide to the industrial and consumer market for eventual final products.

 The U.S Zinc Chemicals market size was USD 1.82 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2.74 billion by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 4.90% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. The U.S. market is positioned as the largest component of North America's zinc chemicals ecosystem by drawing from its extensive history of mining, refining, recycling, and downstream industrial usage. This leadership is supported by domestic zinc sources, e.g., Alaska's Red Dog mine and secondary smelting, combined with robust cosmetic-grade zinc oxide (FDA approved) demand. The acquisition of Zochem by U.S Zinc in 2024 was a major recent development that greatly strengthened the company’s production capacity and reach in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

Europe held a significant market share in the forecast period. It is owing to established industries, stringent environmental regulations, and high demand from the automotive, coating, pharmaceutical, electronic, and cosmetics sectors. High-purity zinc chemicals, especially zinc oxide employed in tire production, sunscreens, and pharmaceutical formulations, are produced and consumed in high volumes primarily in Germany and France, and also in the Netherlands. Due to the stringent regulatory standards in the region, manufacturers are encouraged to use safer, high-quality, and eco-friendly materials, leading to cleaner production technologies in Europe.

Key Players:

The major zinc chemicals companies are U.S. Zinc, EverZinc, Zochem, Akrochem Corporation, American Chemet Corporation, Hindustan Zinc, Glencore, Nyrstar, Weifang Longda Zinc Industry, and TIB Chemicals AG.

Recent Development:

• In May 2024, American Zinc Recycling LLC (USA) announced a big expansion at its Rutherford County, North Carolina facility. To greatly increase the processing of steel mill dust into high-purity zinc oxide and improve domestic supplies for industrial and consumer-grade uses

• In April 2024, EverZinc opened a new manufacturing line for high-purity zinc oxide at its Zwijndrecht, Belgium factory, targeting the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors.