The global Sodium Chlorite market is a critical segment within the industrial chemicals sector, serving as a key precursor for chlorine dioxide—a potent and selective oxidizing agent. Valued at an estimated USD xxxx million in 2025, the market is projected to reach USD xxxx million by 2036, growing at a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of xx% from 2026 to 2036. This growth is underpinned by its essential role in municipal and industrial water treatment, the pulp bleaching process, and specialized disinfection applications, driven by increasingly stringent environmental and public health standards worldwide.
Market Segmentation Analysis
By Form & Concentration:
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Liquid Sodium Chlorite Solution (Typically 25-32%): Preferred for ease of handling and direct use in on-site chlorine dioxide generation systems.
-
Solid Sodium Chlorite (Flake, Crystalline, Powder >80% purity): Used for transportation efficiency, long-term storage, and formulations.
By Grade:
-
Industrial Grade: For water treatment, pulp bleaching, and chemical synthesis.
-
Technical Grade: For textile bleaching and other industrial processes.
-
High-Purity/Stabilized Grades: For specialized applications in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and high-end disinfection.
By Application (Refined & Expanded):
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Water & Wastewater Treatment (Leading Application)
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Municipal Drinking Water: Generation of chlorine dioxide for disinfection, taste/odor control, and biofilm removal.
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Industrial Water: Cooling tower treatment, process water disinfection in food & beverage, power generation.
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Pulp & Paper Bleaching
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Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) bleaching sequences, replacing chlorine gas for environmental compliance.
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Textile Processing
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Bleaching of textiles and denim to achieve specific finishes.
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Disinfection & Sanitation
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Healthcare & Institutional: High-level disinfection of surfaces and medical equipment.
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Food Processing: Sanitation of surfaces and produce wash water.
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Oil & Gas: Biocide in hydraulic fracturing fluids and pipeline treatment.
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Chemical Synthesis & Other Industrial Uses
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Manufacturing of chlorates, other chemicals, and metal surface treatment.
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Regional Analysis
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Asia-Pacific: The largest and fastest-growing market, driven by massive industrial expansion, urbanization, and stringent new water quality regulations in China, India, and Southeast Asia. A major production and consumption hub.
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North America: A mature, high-value market with advanced water treatment infrastructure and strict EPA regulations for disinfection by-products (DBPs), favoring chlorine dioxide use. Significant demand from the pulp & paper industry.
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Europe: A well-established market with the world's most rigorous environmental directives (e.g., EU Water Framework Directive). Demand is stable in pulp bleaching and growing in advanced water treatment applications.
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Latin America & Middle East/Africa: Emerging growth markets linked to investments in water infrastructure, mining activities, and industrial development.
Competitive Landscape – Key Players
The market is consolidated, with a few global players and several strong regional manufacturers.
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OxyChem (Occidental Petroleum Corporation) – Global leader.
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DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (Chlorine dioxide technology & solutions)
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ERCO Worldwide (A division of ICL Group) – Major global producer.
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Ercros S.A.
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Shree Chlorates Pvt. Ltd. (India)
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Gaomi Kaixuan Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
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Shandong Gaoyuan Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
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Lianyungang Xingang Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
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Dongying Shengya Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
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International Dioxide Inc. (IDI) (Added – US, chlorine dioxide specialist)
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Sabre Energy LLC (Added – US, technology and supply)
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Chemtrade Logistics Inc. (Added – North American supplier)
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Hasa Inc. (Added – US, water treatment chemicals)
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Vikram Electronics (Added – India)
Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
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Threat of New Entrants: Low to Moderate. Entry barriers include high capital intensity for chlor-alkali integration or secure precursor supply, complex and hazardous production technology, stringent safety and environmental regulations, and established customer relationships in critical infrastructure.
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Bargaining Power of Suppliers: High. Sodium chlorite production is integrated with the chlor-alkali industry, relying on chlorine and sodium chlorate. Suppliers of these key precursors (often the same large chemical companies) hold significant power over cost and supply security.
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Bargaining Power of Buyers: Moderate to High. Large municipal water authorities and pulp & paper mills have considerable purchasing power. However, the critical nature of the application and the limited number of qualified suppliers for consistent, high-quality product can moderate this power.
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Threat of Substitutes: Moderate. Faces competition from alternative disinfectants/oxidants like chlorine, ozone, UV, and hydrogen peroxide. Sodium chlorite's advantage is its role as the safe precursor for chlorine dioxide, which itself is a superior substitute for chlorine in many applications due to fewer harmful by-products.
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Industry Rivalry: Moderate to High. Competition among the few global players and Chinese regional producers is significant. It is based on price, supply reliability, technical service for on-site generation equipment, and global/regional footprint.
SWOT Analysis
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Strengths: Essential precursor for a highly effective and selective biocide/oxidant (ClO₂); key to environmentally superior ECF pulp bleaching; well-established technology and regulatory acceptance.
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Weaknesses: Classified as a strong oxidizer and hazardous material, requiring strict handling and storage; production and transportation are regulated and costly; entirely dependent on the chlor-alkali chain.
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Opportunities: Growing global focus on safe drinking water and advanced wastewater treatment; replacement of chlorine gas in disinfection due to DBP concerns; expansion in oilfield and industrial sanitation.
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Threats: Volatility in energy and chlor-alkali feedstock costs; potential for severe accidents leading to increased regulation; competition from non-chemical water treatment technologies (e.g., advanced membranes, UV-LED).
Market Trends
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On-Site Generation (OSG) Dominance: The market is increasingly shifting towards on-site, automated chlorine dioxide generation systems using sodium chlorite (and an acid or chlorine), enhancing safety and efficiency for end-users.
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Sustainability in Pulp & Paper: Continued global shift from elemental chlorine to ECF bleaching, where sodium chlorite is fundamental, driven by sustainability goals and regulations.
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Safety & Stabilization Innovations: Development of more stable liquid formulations and improved packaging/shipping protocols to enhance supply chain safety.
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Digital Monitoring & Dosing: Integration of smart sensors and IoT-based control systems with ClO₂ generators for precise, real-time dosing in water treatment, optimizing chemical use and compliance.
Drivers & Challenges
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Primary Drivers:
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Stringent global regulations on disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water, favoring chlorine dioxide.
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Expansion of water treatment infrastructure in developing economies.
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Environmental mandates in the pulp & paper industry promoting ECF bleaching.
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Key Challenges:
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Inherent safety risks in manufacturing, transportation, and handling.
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High dependence on the cyclical and energy-intensive chlor-alkali industry.
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Regulatory complexity and public perception concerns around chlorine-based chemicals.
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Value Chain Analysis
The chain originates with Salt (NaCl) Mining. Chlor-Alkali Producers electrolyze brine to produce chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen. Sodium Chlorate Producers further process chlorine and caustic to make sodium chlorate. Sodium Chlorite Manufacturers react chlorate with a reducing agent (and chemicals) to produce sodium chlorite. Distributors & System Integrators supply the chemical and often the on-site generation equipment. End-Users (Water Utilities, Paper Mills, Industrial Plants) generate chlorine dioxide on-site for their processes. Environmental & Public Health Regulators are dominant influencers throughout the chain.
Quick Recommendations for Stakeholders
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For Sodium Chlorite Producers: Focus on integration upstream (chlorate/chlor-alkali) to secure margins and supply. Invest heavily in application technology and safe handling education. Develop strong service offerings around on-site generation systems to lock in customer relationships.
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For Water Utilities & Industrial Users: Invest in modern on-site generation technology for safety, cost control, and regulatory compliance. Develop contingency plans for sodium chlorite supply disruptions. Prioritize suppliers with robust safety records and technical support.
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For Investors: The market offers stable, utility-like growth. Target companies with vertical integration, strong positions in water treatment and pulp markets, and a global service and technology footprint. Be mindful of regulatory and safety-related ESG risks.
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For New Entrants: Direct entry into production is extremely difficult. Opportunities may lie in developing novel, safer stabilization technologies, specialized distribution in underserved regions, or digital control/analytics software for optimization of ClO₂ generation and dosing systems.
1. Market Overview of Sodium Chlorite
1.1 Sodium Chlorite Market Overview
1.1.1 Sodium Chlorite Product Scope
1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook
1.2 Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Regions:
1.3 Sodium Chlorite Historic Market Size by Regions
1.4 Sodium Chlorite Forecasted Market Size by Regions
1.5 Covid-19 Impact on Key Regions, Keyword Market Size YoY Growth
1.5.1 North America
1.5.2 East Asia
1.5.3 Europe
1.5.4 South Asia
1.5.5 Southeast Asia
1.5.6 Middle East
1.5.7 Africa
1.5.8 Oceania
1.5.9 South America
1.5.10 Rest of the World
1.6 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Impact Will Have a Severe Impact on Global Growth
1.6.1 Covid-19 Impact: Global GDP Growth, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Projections
1.6.2 Covid-19 Impact: Commodity Prices Indices
1.6.3 Covid-19 Impact: Global Major Government Policy
2. Covid-19 Impact Sodium Chlorite Sales Market by Type
2.1 Global Sodium Chlorite Historic Market Size by Type
2.2 Global Sodium Chlorite Forecasted Market Size by Type
2.3 Liquid Sodium Chlorite
2.4 Solid Sodium Chlorite
3. Covid-19 Impact Sodium Chlorite Sales Market by Application
3.1 Global Sodium Chlorite Historic Market Size by Application
3.2 Global Sodium Chlorite Forecasted Market Size by Application
3.3 Textile Application
3.4 Water Treatment
3.5 Pulp Application
3.6 Metal Surface Treatment
4. Covid-19 Impact Market Competition by Manufacturers
4.1 Global Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers
4.2 Global Sodium Chlorite Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers
4.3 Global Sodium Chlorite Average Price by Manufacturers
5. Company Profiles and Key Figures in Sodium Chlorite Business
5.1 Oxy Chem
5.1.1 Oxy Chem Company Profile
5.1.2 Oxy Chem Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.1.3 Oxy Chem Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.2 Dupont
5.2.1 Dupont Company Profile
5.2.2 Dupont Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.2.3 Dupont Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.3 Shree Chlorates
5.3.1 Shree Chlorates Company Profile
5.3.2 Shree Chlorates Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.3.3 Shree Chlorates Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.4 Ercros
5.4.1 Ercros Company Profile
5.4.2 Ercros Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.4.3 Ercros Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.5 Gaomi Kaixuan
5.5.1 Gaomi Kaixuan Company Profile
5.5.2 Gaomi Kaixuan Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.5.3 Gaomi Kaixuan Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.6 Shandong Gaoyuan
5.6.1 Shandong Gaoyuan Company Profile
5.6.2 Shandong Gaoyuan Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.6.3 Shandong Gaoyuan Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.7 Dongying Shengya
5.7.1 Dongying Shengya Company Profile
5.7.2 Dongying Shengya Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.7.3 Dongying Shengya Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.8 Lianyungang Xingang
5.8.1 Lianyungang Xingang Company Profile
5.8.2 Lianyungang Xingang Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.8.3 Lianyungang Xingang Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.9 Gaomi Hoyond
5.9.1 Gaomi Hoyond Company Profile
5.9.2 Gaomi Hoyond Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.9.3 Gaomi Hoyond Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.10 ERCO
5.10.1 ERCO Company Profile
5.10.2 ERCO Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.10.3 ERCO Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.11 Gaomi Yongkang
5.11.1 Gaomi Yongkang Company Profile
5.11.2 Gaomi Yongkang Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.11.3 Gaomi Yongkang Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.12 Shandong Xinyu
5.12.1 Shandong Xinyu Company Profile
5.12.2 Shandong Xinyu Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.12.3 Shandong Xinyu Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
5.13 Gaomi Dengshun
5.13.1 Gaomi Dengshun Company Profile
5.13.2 Gaomi Dengshun Sodium Chlorite Product Specification
5.13.3 Gaomi Dengshun Sodium Chlorite Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
6. North America
6.1 North America Sodium Chlorite Market Size
6.2 North America Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
6.3 North America Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
6.4 North America Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
7. East Asia
7.1 East Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size
7.2 East Asia Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
7.3 East Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
7.4 East Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
8. Europe
8.1 Europe Sodium Chlorite Market Size
8.2 Europe Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
8.3 Europe Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
8.4 Europe Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
9. South Asia
9.1 South Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size
9.2 South Asia Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
9.3 South Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
9.4 South Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
10. Southeast Asia
10.1 Southeast Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size
10.2 Southeast Asia Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
10.3 Southeast Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
10.4 Southeast Asia Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
11. Middle East
11.1 Middle East Sodium Chlorite Market Size
11.2 Middle East Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
11.3 Middle East Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
11.4 Middle East Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
12. Africa
12.1 Africa Sodium Chlorite Market Size
12.2 Africa Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
12.3 Africa Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
12.4 Africa Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
13. Oceania
13.1 Oceania Sodium Chlorite Market Size
13.2 Oceania Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
13.3 Oceania Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
13.4 Oceania Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
14. South America
14.1 South America Sodium Chlorite Market Size
14.2 South America Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
14.3 South America Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
14.4 South America Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
15. Rest of the World
15.1 Rest of the World Sodium Chlorite Market Size
15.2 Rest of the World Sodium Chlorite Key Players in North America
15.3 Rest of the World Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Type
15.4 Rest of the World Sodium Chlorite Market Size by Application
16 Sodium Chlorite Market Dynamics
16.1 Covid-19 Impact Market Top Trends
16.2 Covid-19 Impact Market Drivers
16.3 Covid-19 Impact Market Challenges
16.4 Porter
Market Segmentation Analysis
By Form & Concentration:
-
Liquid Sodium Chlorite Solution (Typically 25-32%): Preferred for ease of handling and direct use in on-site chlorine dioxide generation systems.
-
Solid Sodium Chlorite (Flake, Crystalline, Powder >80% purity): Used for transportation efficiency, long-term storage, and formulations.
By Grade:
-
Industrial Grade: For water treatment, pulp bleaching, and chemical synthesis.
-
Technical Grade: For textile bleaching and other industrial processes.
-
High-Purity/Stabilized Grades: For specialized applications in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and high-end disinfection.
By Application (Refined & Expanded):
-
Water & Wastewater Treatment (Leading Application)
-
Municipal Drinking Water: Generation of chlorine dioxide for disinfection, taste/odor control, and biofilm removal.
-
Industrial Water: Cooling tower treatment, process water disinfection in food & beverage, power generation.
-
-
Pulp & Paper Bleaching
-
Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) bleaching sequences, replacing chlorine gas for environmental compliance.
-
-
Textile Processing
-
Bleaching of textiles and denim to achieve specific finishes.
-
-
Disinfection & Sanitation
-
Healthcare & Institutional: High-level disinfection of surfaces and medical equipment.
-
Food Processing: Sanitation of surfaces and produce wash water.
-
Oil & Gas: Biocide in hydraulic fracturing fluids and pipeline treatment.
-
-
Chemical Synthesis & Other Industrial Uses
-
Manufacturing of chlorates, other chemicals, and metal surface treatment.
-
Regional Analysis
-
Asia-Pacific: The largest and fastest-growing market, driven by massive industrial expansion, urbanization, and stringent new water quality regulations in China, India, and Southeast Asia. A major production and consumption hub.
-
North America: A mature, high-value market with advanced water treatment infrastructure and strict EPA regulations for disinfection by-products (DBPs), favoring chlorine dioxide use. Significant demand from the pulp & paper industry.
-
Europe: A well-established market with the world's most rigorous environmental directives (e.g., EU Water Framework Directive). Demand is stable in pulp bleaching and growing in advanced water treatment applications.
-
Latin America & Middle East/Africa: Emerging growth markets linked to investments in water infrastructure, mining activities, and industrial development.
Competitive Landscape – Key Players
The market is consolidated, with a few global players and several strong regional manufacturers.
-
OxyChem (Occidental Petroleum Corporation) – Global leader.
-
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (Chlorine dioxide technology & solutions)
-
ERCO Worldwide (A division of ICL Group) – Major global producer.
-
Ercros S.A.
-
Shree Chlorates Pvt. Ltd. (India)
-
Gaomi Kaixuan Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
-
Shandong Gaoyuan Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
-
Lianyungang Xingang Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
-
Dongying Shengya Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)
-
International Dioxide Inc. (IDI) (Added – US, chlorine dioxide specialist)
-
Sabre Energy LLC (Added – US, technology and supply)
-
Chemtrade Logistics Inc. (Added – North American supplier)
-
Hasa Inc. (Added – US, water treatment chemicals)
-
Vikram Electronics (Added – India)
