







Thiourea is a white, crystalline compound with reducing properties, soluble in cold water and ethanol. It serves as a versatile chemical intermediate across multiple industries due to its reactivity with oxidants and inorganic compounds. The compound finds significant applications in pharmaceuticals, where it acts as a key structural fragment in antithyroid and oral hypoglycemic drugs, as well as in pesticides and gold mining operations.
109 MILLION
The market growth is driven by increasing gold mining activities, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Africa, where cyanide leaching remains the dominant extraction method. However, environmental concerns and stringent regulations pose challenges to market expansion.
The pharmaceutical industry's growing reliance on thiourea as a key intermediate is creating substantial momentum in the market. With over 30% of orally administered antithyroid drugs containing thiourea derivatives, the demand is directly tied to the expanding pharmaceutical sector globally. Recent studies indicate that the global active pharmaceutical ingredients market, which stood at $192 billion in 2023, will maintain a steady 6% CAGR through 2030, creating a parallel growth trajectory for thiourea consumption. The compound's versatility in synthesizing heterocyclic structures makes it indispensable for developing medications treating conditions from hyperthyroidism
The global push toward sustainable chemistry is creating unexpected opportunities for thiourea derivatives. Recent breakthroughs in catalytic systems utilizing thiourea-based organocatalysts show remarkable efficiency in pharmaceutical synthesis, reducing solvent usage by 70% compared to traditional methods. With green chemistry investments surpassing $4 billion annually, patent filings for thiourea-containing catalysts have grown at 22% CAGR since 2020.
Global thiourea market is experiencing robust growth, primarily fueled by Asia-Pacific's manufacturing capabilities and increasing industrial demand. China alone accounts for 85.79% of global production volume, with domestic output reaching 64,048 tons in 2024.
This regional concentration stems from comprehensive supply chains, competitive production costs, and strong downstream applications in textiles and mining sectors. While China maintains production leadership, neighboring countries like India are emerging as significant consumers due to expanding pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.
The North American thiourea market is shaped by stringent environmental regulations and the region's advanced pharmaceutical and electronics industries. While the U.S. dominates demand with applications in mining (gold flotation) and specialty chemicals, growth is moderated by shifting production to Asia.
Europe’s market hinges on REACH compliance and the pharmaceutical sector’s demand for high-purity thiourea intermediates. Germany and France lead consumption, leveraging thiourea’s role in synthesizing antithyroid drugs and agrochemicals.
• Shandong Xinke (China)
• LOUYANG LIDA CHEMICAL (China)
• Ningxia Danske (China)
• Zaozhuang Yongli Chemical (China)
These companies represent some of the major key players driving innovation and growth in the market, contributing significantly to global supply and competitive dynamics.
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