Table of Contents
Overview
New York, NY – October 30, 2025 – The Global Naphthalene Market is projected to reach USD 7.1 billion by 2034, growing from USD 5.2 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 3.2% (2025–2034). Strong urbanization and infrastructure development across the Asia Pacific, valued at USD 3.5 billion, continue to drive growth.
Naphthalene, a white crystalline compound (C₁₀H₈) derived mainly from coal tar and petroleum, serves as a vital intermediate in producing resins, dyes, surfactants, and plasticizers. Its demand spans multiple sectors, including construction, textiles, chemicals, and agriculture.
Rising use of naphthalene sulfonates in concrete admixtures and agrochemical formulations enhances market stability. Moreover, sustainability-driven innovation is emerging as a key trend, with companies exploring bio-derived or eco-friendly alternatives to traditional intermediates.
A notable funding milestone includes Scotland’s SOLASTA Bio securing £4 million in pre-seed financing to advance nature-inspired pesticides, highlighting the shift toward greener agrochemical pathways.
Considering that farmers spend about USD 60 billion annually on pesticides, and new MIT-developed technologies may halve that figure, there is a clear opportunity for next-generation intermediates. These advances position the naphthalene market to evolve alongside sustainable chemistry and agriculture, promoting both industrial diversification and environmental progress.
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Key Takeaways
- The Global Naphthalene Market is expected to be worth around USD 7.1 billion by 2034, up from USD 5.2 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2025 to 2034.
- In 2024, the naphthalene market saw coal tar-derived products dominate with a 77.3% share, driven by a stable supply.
- Flake form held 44.2% market share in 2024, favored for easy storage and industrial handling applications.
- Naphthalene with 99% and above purity captured a 67.7% share, preferred in dyes, plastics, and specialty chemicals manufacturing.
- Phthalic anhydride applications accounted for 45.5% of the market share, supporting plasticizer and resin production across global industries.
- The Asia Pacific USD 3.5 Bn region dominated due to strong industrial demand and chemical production capacity.
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Report Scope
| Report Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Market Value (2024) | USD 5.2 Billion |
| Forecast Revenue (2034) | USD 7.1 Billion |
| CAGR (2025-2034) | 3.2% |
| Segments Covered | By Source (Coal Tar, Petroleum), By Form (Flakes, Cake, Powder, Crystals), By Purity (Less than 99%, 99% and Above), By Application (Phthalic Anhydride, Naphthalene Sulfonates, Low-Volatility Solvents, Moth Repellent, Pesticides, Others) |
| Competitive Landscape | ALOK INDUSTRIES, ARHAM PETROCHEM PRIVATE LIMITED, Bilbaína de Alquitranes, S.A., Carl Roth, China Steel Chemical Corporation (CSCC), Deza, a.s., Epsilon Carbon Private Limited., Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, JFE Chemical Corporation, Junsei Chemical Co., Ltd., Koppers Inc. |
Key Market Segments
By Source Analysis
In 2024, Coal Tar dominated the By Source segment of the Naphthalene Market with a 77.3% share, underscoring its critical industrial role. It serves as the principal raw material for naphthalene extraction due to its high aromatic hydrocarbon yield and cost efficiency compared to alternative feedstocks.
Derived mainly from coke oven operations, coal tar ensures a stable and continuous supply chain. Its derived naphthalene exhibits superior purity and performance, making it indispensable in producing dyes, resins, and plasticizers. The combination of availability, affordability, and chemical reliability reinforces coal tar’s leadership, particularly within large-scale chemical and construction sectors, where it supports consistent production and end-use versatility.
This dominance reflects both its entrenched industrial infrastructure and the economic advantages associated with established coal-based extraction methods, which continue to outperform emerging alternative sources in global market utilization.
By Form Analysis
In 2024, Flakes dominated the By Form segment of the Naphthalene Market with a 44.2% share, reflecting their critical role in industrial manufacturing. Their popularity stems from ease of handling, uniform melting behavior, and enhanced storage stability, which make them ideal for large-scale production of dyes, resins, and plasticizers.
Flake naphthalene’s controlled sublimation and consistent composition enable efficient processing within automated production systems, improving output quality and reducing material losses. Strong demand from the construction and textile industries continues to reinforce their dominance, as flakes are favored for creating high-performance chemical intermediates requiring purity and stability.
Their reliability, compatibility with modern industrial processes, and cost-effectiveness position flakes as the preferred form of naphthalene, ensuring sustained adoption across multiple downstream applications.
By Purity Analysis
In 2024, 99% and above purity grades dominated the By Purity segment of the Naphthalene Market with a 67.7% share, emphasizing its importance in high-performance industrial applications. This grade is essential for producing dye intermediates, surfactants, and resins, where chemical precision and consistency are critical. The extremely low impurity levels enable stable reactions and enhance overall process efficiency.
Growing demand for refined intermediates in construction and coating formulations has strengthened the adoption of this purity level. Its ability to meet stringent global quality standards ensures consistent product reliability, making it the preferred choice for manufacturers focused on achieving high efficiency and durability. Consequently, the 99% and above purity grade continues to hold a leading position across industries relying on superior-quality naphthalene.
By Application Analysis
In 2024, Phthalic Anhydride led the By Application segment of the Naphthalene Market with a 45.5% share, reflecting its critical role in global chemical production. This dominance stems from its extensive use as an intermediate in producing plasticizers, resins, and dyes, where naphthalene acts as a vital feedstock through oxidation processes.
Its strong presence is further supported by expanding applications in coatings, polymers, and construction materials, which demand high-performance intermediates. Phthalic anhydride’s efficiency, consistent quality, and versatility make it indispensable across industrial manufacturing chains.
As infrastructure and polymer production continue to grow worldwide, the reliance on naphthalene-derived phthalic anhydride remains strong, reinforcing its leadership within the application spectrum and sustaining long-term demand for high-purity naphthalene feedstock.
Regional Analysis
In 2024, the Asia Pacific dominated the Global Naphthalene Market with a 68.9% share, valued at USD 3.5 billion. This leadership stems from rapid industrialization and strong chemical manufacturing bases in China, India, and Japan. The region’s demand is fueled by widespread use of naphthalene-derived intermediates in dyes, resins, and concrete additives.
North America maintained steady growth, supported by advances in specialty chemical production and infrastructure upgrades, while Europe sustained stable demand through strict quality and environmental standards.
The Middle East & Africa saw gradual expansion from rising petrochemical investments, and Latin America benefited from growing industrial output. Overall, Asia Pacific remains the core growth hub, backed by expanding urban infrastructure, chemical exports, and large-scale downstream industries, reinforcing its role as the most influential region in global naphthalene production and consumption.
Top Use Cases
- Concrete superplasticiser: Naphthalene-based sulfonates are used in modern concrete mixes to make the slurry more fluid and reduce water content, which boosts strength and durability in buildings and infrastructure.
- Dye intermediate: Naphthalene derivatives help manufacture dyes and pigments by acting as starting chemicals, allowing fabrics and other materials to gain bright, long-lasting colour.
- Raw material for phthalic anhydride: Naphthalene is oxidised to produce phthalic anhydride, which is then used in making plasticisers, resins, and coatings, forming a key step in chemical manufacture.
- Dispersant in agriculture/pesticides: Naphthalene-sulfonate products help pesticides and fertilizers spread uniformly and stick properly on plant surfaces, improving the efficiency of agricultural chemicals.
- Fabric/textile processing aid: In textile dyeing, naphthalene-derived chemicals help keep dye particles well-dispersed in water, which gives more uniform coloring and fewer defects in fabrics.
- Moth-repellent/fumigant (traditional use): Historically, naphthalene was used in mothballs and storage fumigants to protect clothes and fabrics from moths by sublimating vapor that drove pests away.
Recent Developments
- In September 2025, CSCC scheduled a new product launch of naphthalene (according to their investor-brief notice), expanding their naphthalene offering in the market.
- In October 2024, Carl Roth published a new Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for its “Solvent Naphtha 150 ND 175-210 naphthalene-depleted” product (which references naphthalene content <1%).
Conclusion
The Naphthalene Market continues to evolve as industries shift toward sustainable and high-efficiency chemical solutions. Its strong presence in construction, dyes, resins, and agrochemical applications reflects its enduring industrial relevance. Ongoing innovations in cleaner production methods and automated processing systems are reshaping its value chain.
Growing interest in eco-friendly derivatives and renewable feedstocks further supports market transformation. As global manufacturing and infrastructure development expand, naphthalene remains a key chemical intermediate, bridging traditional industrial chemistry with emerging sustainable technologies and greener production pathways, ensuring continued significance in multiple downstream industries.
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