Global Filters

Global Filters

Global demand for filters is projected to expand 4.4% annually to $112 billion in 2028. In real terms, filter demand will improve significantly from its performance during the 2018-2023 period, when it was negatively affected by the pandemic’s impact on a variety of filter end users and the temporary implementation of China’s Zero-COVID policy, which adversely affected some of that country’s manufacturing industries.

Going forward, filter sales will be driven by:

• improving conditions in the global motor vehicle industry, the single largest end use market for filters
• concerns over air and water pollution, spurring greater investment in filtration devices among utilities, businesses, and consumers

In addition, market value will be boosted by increasing demand for advanced filtration technologies in mature markets – spurred on by the adoption of new regulations – and the ongoing transition to more advanced filter types in developing filter markets.

The Asia/Pacific Region to Account for More than Half of New Filter Demand

Between 2023 and 2028, Asia/Pacific is projected to account for 52% of global gains; with the two largest regional markets featuring favorable growth prospects:

• Following its recovery in 2023 after a difficult 2022 that resulted from the country’s Zero-COVID policy, the immense Chinese filter market is expected to continue to grow at a healthy rate as key end-use markets perform well; consumer filters spending rises; and the Chinese government continues to strengthen environmental regulations.
• Demand for filters is expected to accelerate in India, the region’s second largest market. In addition to strong economic and manufacturing growth, the country faces many environmental challenges, ranging from air pollution to water and soil contamination, which will drive demand for wide ranges of new and existing filtration technologies.

Electric Vehicles Offer Obstacle to Filter Sales Despite Increasing ICE Vehicle Production

Motor vehicles represent the largest global market for filters, and they are expected to account for more than 25% of absolute demand gains. From 2020 to 2022, motor vehicle production was negatively impacted by pandemic-related supply chain issues and a global chip shortage, with production finally reaching pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Going forward, the motor vehicle industry is expected to see its output steadily rise. This in turn will boost demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) filters. In addition, an increase in the global motor vehicle parc will support increased demand for replacement filters.

Despite the relative health of these underlying indicators, the ongoing shift to electric vehicles will continue to serve as a restraint against stronger growth in this market. While they do offer some opportunities for filter suppliers – specifically cabin air filters, which are generally larger in electric vehicles – the absence of fuel, air intake, and oil filters in these vehicles is a more significant impediment to sales.

This Freedonia industry analyzes the $90 billion global market for filters. It presents historical supply and demand data (2013, 2018, and 2023) and forecasts (2028 and 2023), as well as annual data for the 2020-2027 period. Value demand by product data is shown for ICE filters (oil filters, air intake filters, fuel filters, cabin air filters, transmission filters, and all other ICE filters), fluid filters (fluid power filters, water treatment filters, and all other fluid filters), and air filters (panel and pocket filters, fabric air pollution filters, and all other air filters). The study also presents global filter demand by market (motor vehicles, motorcycles, other transportation equipment, manufacturing, consumer, utilities, off-road equipment, and all other markets). Data are provided in US dollars. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors, including Atmus (formerly part of Cummins), Corning, Daikin, Danaher, Donaldson, Filtration Group, Mahle, MANN+HUMMEL, NGK Insulators, Parker-Hannifin, Tenecco, and 3M. It presents market share data for both the ICE filter market, and the air and fluid filter market.