Membrane Bioreactor Market Report

Attractive Opportunities

Global Demand Analysis & Sales Opportunities in Membrane Bioreactor Market 

• The annual demand for membrane bioreactor was USD 4.45 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.82 billion in 2025, up 8.3% than the value in 2024.
• During the next 8 years (forecast period of 2025-2032), the membrane bioreactor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9%. The annual demand will reach USD 8.21 billion in 2032, which is almost 2 times the demand in 2025.
• During 2025-2032, the membrane bioreactor industry is expected to generate a cumulative sales opportunity of USD 51.24 billion, which is almost 2.5 times the opportunities during 2019-2024.

High-Growth Market Segments: 

• Asia-Pacific is expected to be the dominant and the fastest-growing region over the forecasted period.
• By membrane type, Flat Sheet segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the membrane bioreactor market during the forecast period.
• By system configuration type, External MBR System segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the membrane bioreactor market during the forecast period.
• By application type, Municipal Wastewater Treatment segment accounted for the largest share of the membrane bioreactor market and is further expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.

Market Statistics 

Have a look at the sales opportunities presented by the membrane bioreactor market in terms of growth and market forecast.

Market Dynamics

Introduction:

What is a membrane bioreactor?

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) is an advanced wastewater treatment technology that combines a biological treatment process with membrane filtration. MBRs employ microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes to filter solids from treated water and yield a quality effluent that can be reused. MBRs offer many advantages over traditional activated sludge systems, such as smaller footprint, better performance, and better contaminant removal and are thus applicable for reuse in municipal and industrial wastewater.

Market Drivers: 

Increased Demand for Advanced High-Tech Wastewater Treatment Systems

• The membrane bioreactor (MBR) market is primarily being driven by growing demand for efficient wastewater treatment because of stringent regulatory requirements and environmental considerations. 
• MBR provides high-efficiency effluent with the integration of biological treatment and membrane filtration, which ensures the stringent discharge requirements specified by governments as well as regulatory agencies globally.

Alignment with Urban Growth and Sustainability

• With rising awareness of global water scarcity, MBR systems support water reuse in irrigation and industrial applications, aligning with sustainability goals.
• Rapid urbanisation and industrialization are leading to increased generation of wastewater, further enhancing the use of MBR technology as a safe and effective treatment method.

Market Challenges: 

Complexity of MBR Systems

• Technical complexity poses a major challenge to the membrane bioreactor (MBR) market due to its advanced design, specialized equipment, and operational demands.
• Optimal performance requires skilled personnel to manage membrane materials, flux rates, and cleaning. The complexity increases capital and operational costs, which is a challenge to MBR adoption where technical capability is poor, thus limiting market expansion opportunities.

Market Opportunities:

Combining MBR Systems with Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies

• Integrating membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems with advanced treatment technologies, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and advanced oxidation, enhances contaminant removal and overall treatment efficiency. This synergy supports compliance with stringent regulations, enables water reuse and nutrient recovery, and aligns with sustainability goals.
• MBRs' modular design also facilitates retrofitting into existing infrastructure, making them a preferred solution for upgrading conventional wastewater treatment systems.

Segments' Analysis

By Membrane Type 

“Flat Sheet segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the membrane bioreactor market during the forecast period.”

• The membrane bioreactor market is segmented by membrane type into hollow fiber, flat sheet, and multi-tubular.
• Flat Sheet segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the membrane bioreactor market during the forecast period, due to its durable structure and lower maintenance requirements, along with the lower risk of clogging or breakage than that of hollow fiber membranes.
• Moreover, the efficient design of membranes ensures stable permeate flow and fouling resistance, reducing maintenance needs. Thus, their ease of cleaning and compliance with strict regulations drive adoption in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.

By Application Type 

“Municipal Wastewater Treatment segment accounted for the largest share of the membrane bioreactor market and is further expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.”

• The membrane bioreactor market is segmented by application type into municipal wastewater treatment and industrial wastewater treatment.
• Municipal Wastewater Treatment segment accounted for the largest share of the membrane bioreactor market and is further expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period, driven by urbanization, population growth, and stricter discharge regulations.
• MBR systems offer compact designs and produce high-quality effluent, making them ideal for urban areas with limited space. Growing government efforts to modernize wastewater infrastructure and promote sustainable water reuse further support MBR adoption in municipal sectors.

Regional Analysis 

“Asia-Pacific is expected to be the dominant and the fastest-growing region over the forecasted period.”

• In terms of region, the membrane bioreactor market is segmented into the North American region, the European region, the Asia-Pacific region, and the rest of the world.
• Asia-Pacific is expected to be the dominant and fastest-growing region over the forecasted period. China, Japan, India, Australia, and South Korea being the major countries with lucrative growth opportunities.
• The growth of this market is driven by the growing population, increasing demand for clean water, growing level of water stress, and change in climate, which is generating huge demand for membrane bioreactors and the presence of a large number of membrane bioreactor manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Competitive Landscape

Top Players 

Most of the major players compete in some of the factors, including price, service offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the membrane bioreactor market -  

• General Electric
• B&P Water Technologies S.r.l.
• CITIC Envirotech Ltd.
• MANN+HUMMEL Water & Fluid Solutions
• Suez
• Veolia
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• Aquatech International LLC
• Toray Industries
• Kubota Corporation

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

Are you a leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Please write to us at [email protected]

Recent Developments/Mergers & Acquisitions: 

• In early 2024, CERAFILTEC, a leader in ceramic flat membrane (CFM) technology, secured four MBR projects with a combined capacity of 13.7 million litres per day. These projects underscore the growing demand for robust membrane solutions in various water and wastewater treatment applications.
• In January 2023, Xylem, a prominent global player in water technology, acquired Evoqua Water Technologies LLC. This merger created the world’s largest dedicated water technology company. The acquisition enhanced Xylem’s capacity to address pressing water-related issues, including scarcity and quality concerns, by integrating Evoqua’s advanced water treatment technologies and service offerings into its portfolio.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market.

The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

Market Segmentation 

This report studies the market, covering a period of 15 years of trend and forecast. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The membrane bioreactor market is segmented into the following categories. 

Membrane Bioreactor Market, by Membrane Type

• Hollow Fiber
• Flat Sheet
• Multi-Tubular

Membrane Bioreactor Market, by System Configuration Type

• Submerged MBR System
• External MBR System

Membrane Bioreactor Market, by Application Type

• Municipal Wastewater Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Membrane Bioreactor Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, Italy, The UK, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)

Research Methodology

• This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s membrane bioreactor market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. 
• The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market.
• The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruits available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
• This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
• More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
• We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Customization Option

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to 3 players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to 3 players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances.

Custom Research: Stratview Research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry at [email protected].