Thiourea Market Expands Strongly: Targeting 1.56 Billion Yuan by 2031 with Sustained Growth Momentum

Among the myriad substances in the chemical world, thiourea shines like a bright star, radiating dazzling brilliance across multiple fields with its unique charm and extensive applications. This white, lustrous, bitter-tasting crystal holds a pivotal position in the chemical market due to its distinctive chemical properties, revealing exceptionally broad application prospects.

Thiourea's Unique Chemical Properties and Diverse Applications
Thiourea possesses distinctive physicochemical properties: it dissolves readily in cold water and ethanol, is slightly soluble in diethyl ether, and readily absorbs moisture from the air. At 150°C, it undergoes a remarkable transformation into ammonium thiocyanate, a process that fully demonstrates its potent reducing power—capable of reducing free iodine to iodide ions. This high reactivity makes thiourea a crucial raw material for synthesizing diverse compounds. It reacts with various oxidizing agents to generate a wide array of organic compounds and combines with inorganic compounds to form highly soluble adducts, opening boundless possibilities for chemical synthesis.

In the critical sectors of petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, thiourea finds exceptionally broad and deep applications. Within pharmaceutical chemistry, numerous medicinal molecules incorporate thiourea structural fragments, making it an indispensable intermediate for synthesizing heterocyclic compounds. Core components of popular oral hypoglycemic agents and antithyroid drugs on the market belong to the thiourea family, contributing significantly to human health. In the pesticide sector, thiourea compounds are widely utilized for their potent insecticidal activity, playing a vital role in safeguarding crop yields and quality.

Diverse Production Processes and China's Market Leadership
The production processes for thiourea are remarkably diverse, resembling a vibrant tapestry. Common synthesis routes include reactions using thioglyphos and amines, isothiocyanates and amines, thiocyanates and acyl chlorides with amines, carbon disulfide and amines, thiohydroxymethyl transfer agents and amines, as well as substituted thioureas and amines. However, in industrial production, the calcium cyanamide process has become the most prevalent method due to its mature technology and broad applicability, while other approaches have gradually been phased out due to technical challenges.

Notably, global thiourea production and consumption are highly concentrated in China, underscoring the nation's pivotal role in the global thiourea market. Authoritative data indicates that in 2024, China's thiourea production reached 61,155 tons, accounting for 76.20% of the global market. Eight domestic enterprises possess production capacities exceeding 5,000 tons, with some surpassing 20,000 tons, demonstrating a significant competitive edge over other nations. This leadership stems primarily from the fact that sulfuric acid production is also heavily concentrated in China. As sulfuric acid is the primary raw material for thiourea synthesis, China's substantial domestic demand for sulfuric acid has fostered a complete industrial chain ecosystem.

Market Expansion Continues, High-Purity Thiourea Leads New Trend
From the perspectives of product types and technological advancement, the thiourea market is experiencing vigorous growth. Taking industrial thiourea as an example, its market size reached $113 million in 2024, accounting for 87.04% of the global market. According to forecasts by professional institutions, this figure is projected to climb to $210 million by 2031. Although its global share will slightly decrease, it will still reach 86.41%, demonstrating strong market resilience.

With rapid technological advancement and evolving market demands, an increasing number of industries are placing higher requirements on thiourea purity. High-purity thiourea has emerged in response, and its market space is gradually expanding. Compared to standard thiourea, high-purity thiourea exhibits relatively lower price sensitivity, making it more competitive in high-end markets. Simultaneously, industry players have keenly recognized this market trend, significantly increasing R&D investments to actively develop high-purity thiourea operations. After all, high-purity thiourea not only commands higher prices but also offers more substantial gross margins, delivering substantial profit returns for enterprises.

According to the latest report released by the YHResearch research team, the global thiourea market size is projected to reach 1.56 billion yuan by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% over the coming years. This data clearly indicates that the thiourea market is in a golden period of rapid development, boasting immense growth potential and broad market prospects.

Global Market Landscape and Key Players
The global thiourea market exhibits a diversified competitive landscape, with numerous enterprises showcasing their strengths on this stage. According to in-depth research by YHResearch's Leading Enterprises Research Center, major global thiourea producers include renowned companies such as Shandong Yifeng, Guizhou Hongkai, and Haoyi Environmental Protection. In 2024, the top three global manufacturers commanded approximately 59.0% of the market share, leveraging their robust technological capabilities and market influence.