The antimicrobial coatings market is being propelled by the increasing awareness on proper hygiene and safety, stringent regulations being implemented in this regard, and surging consumption of such materials in a range of industries and applications. Additionally, with time, doctors have come to prefer these products over disinfectants because coatings prevent the sticking of microbes on the surface of medical devices, thus helping prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). As a result, the market stood at $3.6 billion in 2020, and it will grow significantly during 2021–2030 (forecast period).
Medical & healthcare, building & construction, food & beverage, heating ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, transportation, and protective clothing are the categories of the application segment. Among these, the medical & healthcare category dominated the market during the historical period (2015–2020) due to the increasing prevalence of HAIs. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day, among every 25 hospital patients in the U.S., at least one contracts an HAI. Thus, the hygiene and safety regulations implemented for healthcare settings are becoming stricter, thereby driving the market.
Research activities to come up with better materials are the key antimicrobial coatings market trend. Such activities have especially picked up during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, during which the market players are making concrete efforts to come up with antimicrobial coatings that can damage the cell structure of the virus, to kill them. For instance, the Nerolac Excel Virus Guard emulsion paint, developed with the Japanese Shiquy Technology, has shown effectiveness in reducing microbial growth on walls significantly.
North America has been the largest antimicrobial coatings market till now, mainly because of the favorable government initiatives. For instance, the construction of hospitals and other medical settings in the U.S. is encouraged under the Affordable Healthcare Act, which is propelling the consumption of such anti-infective agents. Moreover, due to the strict government regulations, manufacturers of HVAC systems are using such coatings in their products, especially now, during the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, with the surging public awareness on infection prevention, currently and long after the pandemic has ended, the market will witness continuous growth.
