In 2026, the global water treatment chemicals market is being driven by both policy regulations and climate factors. Stricter wastewater discharge standards in Southeast Asia, Asia, and China, combined with increasing water scarcity, are significantly boosting demand for industrial wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment. According to recent reports, the global water treatment chemicals market was valued at approximately USD 48 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 51 billion in 2026, with polyacrylamide (PAM) and related products as the main growth drivers.

Policy Drivers: Stricter Discharge Standards Drive Upgrades

In 2026, several Asian countries implemented new environmental regulations that pushed companies to upgrade water treatment solutions:

• Vietnam enforced the revised Environmental Protection Law, tightening industrial effluent standards for suspended solids and COD, prompting upgrades in coagulants and flocculants formulations.
• Indonesia raised wastewater treatment requirements in the palm oil sector, requiring all mills to complete tertiary treatment by 2027, directly increasing demand for high-performance flocculants and water-soluble polymers.
• China and Thailand implemented stricter municipal and industrial wastewater standards, requiring high-quality polyacrylamide, acrylamide monomer, and complementary additives to ensure eco-compliance and sustainability.

Policy tightening has shifted buyer priorities from price to performance, compatibility, and long-term stability for industrial water treatment chemicals and high-performance flocculants.

Climate Drivers: Water Scarcity Increases Treatment Pressure

In 2026, abnormal droughts in parts of Southeast Asia intensified industrial and municipal water stress. Water scarcity and rising polluted water bodies accelerated the adoption of advanced flocculants solutions and industrial water treatment chemicals:

• In northern Vietnam industrial parks, anionic polyacrylamide and cationic flocculants reduced turbidity by over 85% and COD by 60%.
• In Indonesian palm oil mills, high-molecular-weight PAM combined with Aluminum Sulfate and Ferric Chloride significantly improved treatment efficiency, while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Climate factors highlight the stability and reliability of high-performance water treatment chemicals in complex conditions.

Technical Trends: High-Performance and Customized Products

With the combined pressure of policy and climate, demand for water treatment polymers and high-performance flocculants continues to rise:

• High-molecular-weight HPAM enhances water viscosity, reducing short-circuiting and ensuring stable industrial wastewater treatment;
• Low-residual acrylamide monomer meets safety and environmental standards for both drinking water and industrial wastewater;
• Liquid and powder formulations with intelligent dosing systems enable precise application and higher dispersibility, adapting to complex process requirements.

Technical innovation not only improves treatment performance but also offers customized solutions for different water qualities and process needs.

In 2026, policy and climate factors jointly drive upgrades and growth in the water treatment chemicals market. The application value of polyacrylamide and high-performance flocculants in industrial wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment continues to rise.