Air and Water Monitoring Revenues to Exceed $25 Billion By 2017

Regulations and efficiency are two of the largest factors ensuring the growth of the market for air and water monitoring products to more than $25 billion/yr by 2017. This is the conclusion reached in Air and Water Monitoring: World Market published by the McIlvaine Company (USA). 

East Asia will experience the largest growth. Air and water monitoring revenues will approach $9 billion/yr.  NAFTA will exceed Western Europe by nearly $2 billion. The oil and gas activity in the U.S. is generating a direct as well as indirect monitoring market. Shale oil and gas extraction includes monitoring the product, the fracturing fluids and byproducts. The processing of the raw gas requires additional monitoring. Monitoring of water supplies before fracturing establishes a bench mark. Monitoring during and after fracturing detects any contamination caused by the fracturing.

Indirect monitoring revenues will result from the lower cost of energy and the construction of new chemical, fertiliser and metal processing plants. Another positive factor is regulation of toxics.  New air regulations imposed on U.S. coal-fired power generators, cement plants and waste incineration operators require measurement of mercury, toxic metals, HCl and toxic organics.

The developing world is increasing its expenditures for ambient monitoring of air and water. This is the first step toward reduction. National as well as local governments are the main customers for these products.  Academia and research institutions are major purchasers of air and water monitoring equipment.