CLEVELAND - World demand for biocides is projected to increase 5.4 percent per year to $6.9 billion in 2009. North America and Western Europe will remain the largest regional markets, accounting for over two-thirds of demand. The Asia/Pacific region, due mainly to continued double-digit growth in China, is expected to register the fastest growth among the major regions through this decade. Eastern Europe is also expected to register above-average growth, but will still account for less than five percent of global demand.

In more mature markets, such as the United States, Western Europe and Japan, advances will be modest, with gains prompted by the replacement of traditional products with higher-value formulations offering a combination of low toxicity, broad-spectrum efficacy, minimal effect on finished product quality and reduced environmental impact. Much of this shift will be prompted by the sizable regulatory framework under which the biocide industry operates.

"World Biocides" (published 07/2005, 331 pages) is available for purchase from The Freedonia Group, Inc., Cleveland. For further details, contact Corinne Gangloff at 440/684.9600, or e-mail pr@free doniagroup.com.