Furfural Market

Market Overview:

The global furfural market size reached USD 820 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,320 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% during 2025-2033. The increasing production of perfumes and fragrances, rising utilization in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, and the increasing environmental concerns represent some of the key factors driving the market.

Furfural (C₄H₃O-CHO) refers to the natural compound formed during the dehydration of sugars. It is manufactured from various raw materials, such as sugarcane bagasse, corn cobs, wood waste, and rice husk. It is a colorless liquid, oily in appearance, versatile, and completely miscible with alcohol and ether. It is also a corrosion-preventive substance that is especially effective on low-carbon steel surfaces. It can be easily converted into furfuryl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), tetrahydrofuran, furan, and diols. It offers thermosetting and physical resistance properties that are highly suitable for the production of resins. It is utilized as food flavoring, fragrance in personal care products, solvents in petrochemical refining to extract dienes from hydrocarbons, lubricants, decolorizing agents, and transportation fuels. It is also employed as pesticides and fertilizers, gasoline additives, jet fuel blend stocks, wood modifier, all-weather repair system for bomb-damaged runways and potholes. Besides this, C₄H₃O-CHO finds applications in the agriculture, food and beverage (F&B), paints and coatings, and pharmaceutical industries across the globe.

Furfural Market Trends:

At present, the rising demand for C₄H₃O-CHO to produce perfumes and fragrances in personal care products represents one of the primary factors supporting the growth of the market. Besides this, the growing demand for C₄H₃O-CHO to produce bioplastics polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which is an alternative to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and bio-PET for soft drink bottles, is offering a positive market outlook. Additionally, there is a rise in the demand for furfuryl alcohol to produce cores and mold for metal casting around the world. This, coupled with the increasing utilization of C₄H₃O-CHO in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), is propelling the growth of the market. Apart from this, the rising demand for C₄H₃O-CHO derivatives for manufacturing fiberglass and aircraft and automobile components is offering a lucrative growth opportunity to industry players. Moreover, the increasing employment of C₄H₃O-CHO due to the rising environmental concern around the world, along with the growing need to reduce the dependence on petrochemicals, is positively influencing the market. Furthermore, the rising usage of C₄H₃O-CHO in the food and beverage (F&B) industry as a flavoring agent or adjuvant in various products is strengthening the market growth.

Key Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global furfural market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on process, raw material, application, and end-user.

Process Insights:

• Quaker Batch Process
• Chinese Batch Process
• Rosenlew Continuous Process
• Others
   

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the furfural market based on the process. This includes quaker batch process, Chinese batch process, rosenlew continuous process, and others. According to the report, Chinese batch process represented the largest segment.

Raw Material Insights:

• Corn Cobs
• Rice Husk
• Sugarcane Bagasse
• Others
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the furfural market based on the raw material has also been provided in the report. This includes corn cobs, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and others. According to the report, corn cobs accounted for the largest market share.

Application Insights:

• Furfuryl Alcohol
• Solvent
• Others
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the furfural market based on the application has also been provided in the report. This includes furfuryl alcohol, solvent, and others. According to the report, furfuryl alcohol accounted for the largest market share.

End-User Insights:

• Agriculture
• Petroleum Refineries
• Paints and Coatings
• Pharmaceuticals
• Others
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the furfural market based on the end-user has also been provided in the report. This includes agriculture, petroleum refineries, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, and others. According to the report, petroleum refineries accounted for the largest market share.

Regional Insights:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and Others); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Asia Pacific was the largest market for furfural. Some of the factors driving the Asia Pacific furfural market included the rising usage in agriculture, easy accessibility of raw materials, application in numerous industry verticals, etc. 

Competitive Landscape:

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global furfural market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, market share by key players, player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include Behran Oil Company, Central Romana Corporation Ltd., Hongye Holding Group Corporation Limited, Illovo Sugar Ltd. (Associated British Foods plc), KRBL Limited, Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft, Linzi Organic Chemical Inc. Ltd., Pennakem LLC, Shandong Crownchem Industries Co. Ltd, Silvateam S.p.a., Tanin d.d., Sevnica, TransFurans Chemicals bvba, Xian Welldon Trading Co. Ltd, etc. Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

Report Coverage:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the furfural market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global furfural market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the furfural industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.