Effective performance and environ-mental acceptability will be the key characteristics of successful biocide products through 2004. Demand for specialty products will continue to advance, as users increasingly eschew commodity chemicals, such as chlorine, due to regulatory pressures. Meanwhile, production cost and finished product quality and longevity concerns will continue to be important criteria for users of biocides. The extent to which these variables will affect demand, pricing and product mix are all dis-cussed in full in this study. Key Developments EPA guidelines continue to affect product mix, as does the European Union s Biocidal Products Directive.
Producers seek new geographic markets and application areas for their existing product lines.
Companies introduce blended pro-ducts which incorporate more than one active ingredient, rather than entirely new product types. Water treatment companies strive to become full product and service providers. Conglomerates spin off specialty chemicals businesses. Biocides will continue to compete with other products and technology, such as hydrogen peroxide, ozonifi-cation, ultraviolet light treatment and aseptic packaging. Market Highlights Pool and spa owners increasingly gravitate toward chlorine-free treatment chemical options.