Optical whitening agents market seen rising to $3.38 billion by 2030

The Business Research Company says the optical whitening agents market will grow from $2.01 billion in 2025 to $2.22 billion in 2026, then reach $3.38 billion by 2030. Demand from textiles, paper, plastics and detergents is driving the market, with North America leading in 2025 and Asia-Pacific expected to grow fastest.

Why it matters: - Optical whitening agents are used to make materials look brighter and less yellow, which affects product appeal in textiles, paper, plastics and detergents. - The market’s projected rise to $3.38 billion by 2030 signals sustained demand across consumer and industrial supply chains. - Faster growth in emerging markets and tighter chemical rules could reshape sourcing, formulation and compliance costs.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released its optical whitening agents market report for 2026, with forecasts through 2035. - The market is projected to grow from $2.01 billion in 2025 to $2.22 billion in 2026, a 10.8% CAGR. - The report forecasts the market will reach $3.38 billion by 2030, at an 11.0% CAGR. - North America is expected to hold the largest market share in 2025. - Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period.

The details: - Optical whitening agents absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, which counteracts yellowing and improves visual clarity. - The report points to textile manufacturing, paper and pulp production, household detergents, plastics processing and consumer demand for brighter fabrics as key growth drivers. - Stricter chemical regulations, demand for high-efficiency whitening formulations, manufacturing growth in emerging markets, specialty-chemicals innovation and research into additive performance are expected to support growth through 2030. - The report covers Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa. - The 2026 report package includes market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics and tables, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics, and key-technology and future-trend analysis. - A free sample is available here. - The full report is available here.

Between the lines: - The forecast suggests the market is shifting from basic brightness applications toward more regulated, performance-driven formulations. - Industrial expansion appears to be an important demand tailwind, especially where higher textile and manufacturing output increases use of whitening additives. - North America’s current lead and Asia-Pacific’s growth outlook point to a market that is both mature and geographically expanding.

What's next: - Buyers and suppliers will likely focus on formulations that balance whitening performance with regulatory compliance. - Competitive pressure may intensify around specialty additives, manufacturing efficiency and regional expansion. - The report’s forecasting tools suggest companies will use the data for planning, hotspot mapping and market sizing.