Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Open Loop Scrubbers, Closed Loop Scrubbers, and Hybrid Scrubbers), By Application (Commercial Ships and Industrial Ships), Regional Insights and Forecast From 2034

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SHIP EXHAUST GAS SCRUBBERS MARKET OVERVIEW

The ship exhaust gas scrubbers market value at USD 18.81 billion in 2025, and reaching USD 122.1 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 23.1% from 2025 to 2034

The United States Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers market size is projected at USD 6.57 billion in 2025, the Europe Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers market size is projected at USD 4.83 billion in 2025, and the China Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers market size is projected at USD 4.98 billion in 2025.

Ship exhaust gas scrubbers, also known as marine scrubbers, are emission control devices installed on ships to reduce air pollution from their exhaust gases. These systems primarily target sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter emissions produced by the combustion of fuel in marine engines. The operation of ship exhaust gas scrubbers involves removing pollutants from the ship's engine exhaust gases before they are released into the atmosphere.

The installation of ship exhaust gas scrubbers helps ships meet the emissions limits set by international regulations such as the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) sulfur emission limits. By reducing SOx and particulate matter emissions, scrubbers contribute to improving air quality and reducing the environmental impact of shipping activities.

KEY FINDINGS

COVID-19 IMPACT

Fuel Price Volatility to Boost Hamper Significantly

The COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with ship exhaust gas scrubbers market experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to the market’s growth and demand returning to pre-pandemic levels.

COVID-19 had a life changing impact globally. The ship exhaust gas scrubbers market was significantly affected. The virus had various impacts on different markets. Lockdowns were imposed in several nations. This erratic pandemic caused disruptions on all sorts of businesses. Restrictions tightened during the pandemic due to increasing number of cases. Numerous Industries were affected. However, the market for ship exhaust gas scrubbers experienced a reduced demand.

The pandemic disrupted the supply chain and caused delays in the installation of ship exhaust gas scrubbers. Restrictions on international travel, workforce availability, and reduced shipyard operations affected the timeline for retrofitting scrubber systems on existing ships. The pandemic led to a decline in global trade and shipping activities, resulting in financial challenges for shipping companies. With reduced revenues and uncertain market conditions, some shipowners may have faced difficulties in financing the installation of scrubbers or may have postponed such investments.

The discharge of scrubber effluents into the ocean is subject to regulations and guidelines to prevent water pollution. Compliance with these regulations may have required additional resources and operational adjustments, considering the potential impacts on water quality and marine ecosystems. The market is anticipated to boost the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share following the pandemic.

LATEST TRENDS

Hybrid Scrubber Systems to Broaden Market Growth

Hybrid scrubber systems have gained popularity as they offer flexibility in complying with emission regulations. These systems can switch between open loop mode, closed loop mode, and hybrid mode based on operational conditions and compliance requirements. Hybrid systems provide more control over the discharge of scrubber effluents while ensuring compliance with local regulations. There is an increasing focus on developing retrofit solutions for installing scrubbers on existing ships. Retrofitting scrubber systems onto older vessels poses unique challenges due to limited space availability and integration with existing engine and exhaust systems. Companies are developing compact and modular scrubber designs to facilitate easier retrofit installations.

The latest developments in ship exhaust gas scrubbers include advanced monitoring and control systems. These systems utilize real-time data collection and analysis to optimize the scrubber operation, monitor emission levels, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Automated control systems help optimize performance, reduce operating costs, and enhance environmental performance. These latest developments are anticipated to boost the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share.

• As of April 2019, 60% of cruise ships had installed scrubbers, indicating robust adoption in passenger shipping—according to the Cruise Lines International Association
• By end‑2020, around 3,600 vessels had scrubbers fitted (or on order), collectively discharging at least 10 gigatonnes of washwater per year, as estimated by the International Council on Clean Transportation

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SHIP EXHAUST GAS SCRUBBERS MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on type, the market is divided into open loop scrubbers, closed loop scrubbers, and hybrid scrubbers.

Open loop scrubbers hold a major share of the global market.

By Application

Based on application, the market is bifurcated into commercial ships and industrial ships.

Commercial ships as application holds a major share of the global market.

DRIVING FACTORS

Fuel Cost Savings to Boost Market Share

Scrubbers allow ships to continue using high-sulfur fuel, which is often less expensive than low-sulfur alternatives. By installing scrubbers, shipowners can take advantage of cost savings in fuel expenditures, particularly for vessels that operate on longer voyages or consume a significant amount of fuel. Ships equipped with scrubbers have operational flexibility in fuel choices. They can switch between high-sulfur fuel and low-sulfur fuel, depending on market conditions, fuel availability, and regional regulations. This flexibility helps shipowners adapt to changing fuel prices and availability.

• Since January 1 2020, the IMO’s global sulfur limit dropped from 3.5% to 0.5%, prompting widespread adoption of scrubbers to burn high-sulfur fuel—a mandate under MARPOL Annex VI
• Special regulations in at least four ECAs (Baltic Sea, North Sea, North America, Caribbean) enforce stricter sulfur limits (0.1%), driving investment in scrubbers across vessels operating in these zones

Emission Regulations to Boost Market Size

Stringent international and regional regulations governing air pollution from ships drive the adoption of ship exhaust gas scrubbers. Regulations, such as the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) sulfur emission limits, require ships to reduce their sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions. Scrubbers offer a viable solution for shipowners to comply with these regulations while continuing to use high-sulfur fuel. The growing global focus on environmental sustainability and reducing air pollution from shipping is a significant driving factor. Ship exhaust gas scrubbers help reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, contributing to improved air quality and reduced environmental impact. These factors are anticipated to drive the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Operational Consideration to Hamper Market Share

Ship exhaust gas scrubbers require careful operational management to ensure their effective performance. Factors such as scrubber system maintenance, control of scrubber wash water discharge, and compliance with environmental regulations related to effluent discharge pose operational challenges. Compliance with wash water discharge regulations can require additional investments in treatment systems or alternative compliance methods. The installation and operation of ship exhaust gas scrubbers require technical expertise and knowledge. The complexity of scrubber systems, including integration with ship engines and exhaust systems, necessitates proper engineering and design considerations. The factors are anticipated to hinder the growth of the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share.

• Open-loop scrubbers discharge acidic washwater laden with heavy metals and PAHs; global discharges reached a minimum of 10 Gt annually by 2020, raising ecological alarms
• Multiple governments, including U.S. port authorities and the state of California, have banned open-loop scrubber use in territorial waters—adding regulatory hurdles

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SHIP EXHAUST GAS SCRUBBERS MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Europe Dominates the Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers Market

Europe is the major shareholder for the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share. Europe has been at the forefront of implementing stricter emission regulations for the shipping industry. The European Union (EU) has introduced the sulfur emission limits and established emission control areas (ECAs) in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the English Channel. These regulations have driven the adoption of ship exhaust gas scrubbers in European waters, making Europe a major shareholder in the market. North America is the second major shareholder for the ship exhaust gas scrubbers market share.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Leading Players adopt Acquisition Strategies to Stay Competitive

Several players in the market are using acquisition strategies to build their business portfolio and strengthen their market position. In addition, partnerships and collaborations are among the common strategies adopted by companies. Key market players are making R&D investments to bring advanced technologies and solutions to the market.

• Yara Marine Technologies: By 2015, Yara had completed ~100 installations since 2011, including the marine world's largest SOx scrubber system—cleaning 76.8 MW worth of engine power aboard M/V Norwegian Escape
• Saacke: While no publicly available numeric data from government/association reports, Saacke is globally recognized as a major scrubber OEM alongside Yara. Further numeric analysis may require proprietary or industry-specific sources

List of Top Ship Exhaust Gas Scrubbers Companies

• Yara
• Saacke
• DuPont
• Puyier
• Wartsila
• Alfa Laval

REPORT COVERAGE

This research profiles a report with extensive studies that take into description of the firms that exist in the market affecting the forecasting period. With detailed studies done, it also offers a comprehensive analysis by inspecting the factors like segmentation, opportunities, industrial developments, trends, growth, size, share, restraints, etc. This analysis is subject to alteration if the key players and probable analysis of market dynamics changes.