The Global Air Release Additives Market was valued at USD 238.5 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 336.2 Million by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is primarily driven by increasing industrialization, stringent environmental regulations for wastewater treatment, and the rising demand for high-quality coatings and adhesives across various manufacturing sectors.

As industries worldwide prioritize operational efficiency and product quality, the role of air release additives—specialized chemicals that prevent and eliminate foam in process liquids—has become critically important. These additives are essential for ensuring smooth operations in sectors ranging from paints and coatings to water treatment and food processing. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Air Release Additives Industry, highlighting the key players whose innovations and market strategies are shaping the future of foam control.

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🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Foamaster®, FoamStar® series of defoamers and air release agents

BASF is a global chemical giant and a leading supplier of high-performance additives. Its comprehensive portfolio of air release agents is engineered for a wide array of applications, including industrial coatings, adhesives, printing inks, and construction chemicals. The company’s strong R&D focus ensures products that offer superior compatibility and long-term foam control.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Development of silicone-free and bio-based defoamer technologies

• Solutions tailored for low-VOC and environmentally compliant formulations

• Global production network ensuring supply chain resilience

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9️⃣ 2. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: DOW CORNING® and XIAMETER® brand defoamers

Dow leverages its expertise in silicone technology to offer a broad spectrum of highly effective air release additives. These products are critical in demanding applications such as oil and gas processing, pulp and paper manufacturing, and industrial water treatment, where efficient foam suppression is crucial for process stability and equipment protection.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Advanced organomodified siloxane chemistries for harsh conditions

• Emphasis on products that enhance energy and water efficiency in customer processes

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8️⃣ 3. Evonik Industries AG

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: TEGO® Foamex and TEGO® Airex range of defoamers

Evonik is a specialty chemicals leader renowned for its innovative TEGO brand additives. Its air release products are highly regarded in the coatings, inks, and construction industries for their efficiency at low dosage levels and excellent compatibility, which helps prevent surface defects like craters and fish-eyes.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Focus on multifunctional additives that combine defoaming with other performance benefits

• Development of products supporting sustainable formulation trends (e.g., high-solids, water-borne systems)

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7️⃣ 4. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: KS and X series of silicone-based defoamers

Shin-Etsu is one of the world’s largest producers of silicon-based materials. Its air release additives are known for their high purity and performance consistency, serving critical roles in the agrochemical, textile, and food processing industries across the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Continuous improvement of emulsion stability and shear resistance in defoamer products

• Investment in expanding production capacity to meet growing regional demand

Download FREE Sample Report: Air Release Additives Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 5. Wacker Chemie AG

Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Key Offering: SILFOAM® and DEHYSOL® defoaming agents

Wacker is a leading silicones supplier with a strong focus on customizing air release solutions for specific customer challenges. Its products are widely used in the construction sector (e.g., cement, gypsum) and in the manufacturing of plastics and detergents, where they improve processability and final product quality.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Expertise in both oil-based and powder-type defoamers

• Commitment to developing eco-friendly solutions with improved biodegradability profiles

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5️⃣ 6. Elementis plc

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: specialized defoamers for coatings, personal care, and energy sectors

Elementis is a global specialty chemicals company that provides high-performance air release additives designed for complex formulations. Its technologies are particularly valuable in the coatings industry, where they help achieve flawless finishes by eliminating microfoam that can cause visual and functional defects.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Strong application development support for customers

• Portfolio alignment with the global shift towards sustainable and water-based technologies

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4️⃣ 7. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Cereton® and Dehydran® defoamer range

Clariant offers a comprehensive line of air release additives tailored for the paints and coatings, plastics, and textile industries. Its products are engineered to be highly efficient and easy to incorporate, helping manufacturers reduce production times and minimize waste due to foam-related issues.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Development of “ECO” labeled products meeting stringent environmental and health standards

• Focus on additives that enhance the performance of recycled materials

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3️⃣ 8. Arkema Group

Headquarters: Colombes, France
Key Offering: Coatex rheology modifiers with integrated defoaming properties

While known for its expertise in acrylics and performance additives, Arkema provides solutions that address foam control, often through multifunctional products. Its additives are critical in water treatment, architectural coatings, and construction applications, where they ensure process efficiency and material performance.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Integration of defoaming action into dispersants and thickeners

• Strong commitment to bio-based raw materials and circular economy principles

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2️⃣ 9. Münzing Chemie GmbH

Headquarters: Abstatt, Germany
Key Offering: Tego® (historical association, now part of Evonik) and dedicated defoamer lines

Münzing is a specialized additive manufacturer with a long history of innovation in foam control. The company provides highly effective air release agents for the paint, ink, adhesive, and construction industries, with a reputation for solving difficult application problems.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Pioneering work in developing mineral oil-free and VOC-compliant defoamers

• Strong technical service and custom formulation capabilities

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1️⃣ 10. Kemira Oyj

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: Broad range of defoamers for pulp & paper and water treatment

Kemira is a leading chemicals company focused on water-intensive industries. Its air release additives are essential for controlling foam in large-scale processes like pulp washing, papermaking, and municipal wastewater treatment, where foam can severely impact production efficiency and cost.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus:

• Development of high-performance, cost-effective defoamers for circular water systems

• Focus on reducing the environmental footprint of industrial processes through advanced chemistry

Get Full Report Here: Air Release Additives Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Air Release Additives Is Smarter and More Sustainable

The air release additives market is evolving rapidly, influenced by megatrends such as digitalization, sustainability, and the demand for higher-performing materials. While traditional mineral oil and silicone-based products continue to hold significant market share, innovation is accelerating toward multifunctional, eco-friendly, and high-efficiency solutions.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Growing demand for bio-based and biodegradable defoamer chemistries

• Increasing adoption in emerging economies, particularly in Asia-Pacific’s manufacturing sector

• R&D focused on additives compatible with advanced materials and digital manufacturing processes

• Regulatory pressures driving the development of low-VOC and non-hazardous formulations

Get Full Report Here: Air Release Additives Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies leading this market are not just supplying chemicals; they are providing essential solutions that enable industrial efficiency, product quality, and environmental compliance across the globe.