Formic acid is a colourless and smelly liquid having the chemical formula HCOOH. It is the most basic carboxylic acid and gets its name from the Latin word for ant, "Formica," because it was discovered in ants in the 18th century. Formic acid is found naturally in a variety of creatures, including insects, plants, and animals. It is commercially generated by catalytic oxidation of methanol and has numerous industrial applications. Formic acid is used as a reducing agent, preservative, and coagulating agent due to its extremely reactive and caustic character. It is also used in leather tanning, textile colouring, and as a cleaning product component. 

Several driving factors contribute to the demand and growth of formic acid in various industries. One major driving factor is the increasing need for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. Formic acid, derived from renewable sources and biodegradable in nature, aligns with the growing emphasis on environmental consciousness and sustainable practices. Its application as a greener alternative to certain harsh chemicals in industries such as agriculture, textiles, and cleaning products contributes to its market growth. Another driving factor is the rising demand for animal feed preservation and hygiene. As the global population grows, there is a need to enhance livestock productivity and ensure animal health. Formic acid, used as a preservative in animal feed, helps inhibit microbial growth and improves feed quality, leading to better livestock performance.

Formic acid market confronts a number of hurdles that could have an impact on its widespread adoption and commercial expansion. One major issue is that it is corrosive. Because formic acid is a powerful acid, it can damage equipment, pipelines, and storage facilities, if necessary, measures are not taken. This creates difficulties for handling, shipping, and storage, necessitating the use of specialised materials and infrastructure to assure safe operations. Another issue is the production expense. While formic acid can be generated from renewable sources such as methanol, the manufacturing process frequently includes the use of expensive precious metal catalysts such as rhodium or cobalt. This cost element may have an impact on formic acid's competitiveness in the market when compared to other compounds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on the formic acid market. Like many other industries, the formic acid market faced disruptions due to the global economic slowdown and lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of the virus. The restrictions on travel, trade, and manufacturing activities resulted in supply chain disruptions, reduced production capacities, and logistical challenges, affecting the availability and distribution of formic acid.

Furthermore, the pandemic had a significant impact on the end-use industries of formic acid. Sectors such as automotive, textiles, leather, and construction experienced a downturn, leading to reduced demand for formic acid in these applications. 

The market study provides market data by competitive landscape, revenue analysis, market segments and detailed analysis of key market players such as BASF SE, per torp Holding AB, Eastman Chemical Company, and Fei Cheng Acid Chemicals Co., Ltd., among others. Competition in the formic acid market is influenced by factors such as product quality, pricing, reliability of supply, and customer service.

By Production Method: Based on the Production Method, Global Formic Acid Market is segmented as; Carbonylation of Methanol, Oxalic Acid.

By Application: Based on the Application, Global Formic Acid Market is segmented as; Animal Feed, Cleaning Agent, Dyeing, Finishing Textile, Leather Production, Preservatives, Rubbers, Others

By End User: Based on the End User, Global Formic Acid Market is segmented as; Agriculture, Pharmaceutical, Others

By Concentration: Based on the Concentration, Global Formic Acid Market is segmented as; 85%, 90%, 94%, 99%

By Region: This report also provides the data for key regional segments of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America, Latin America.

This study also encompasses various drivers and restraining factors of this market for the forecast period. Various growth opportunities are also discussed in the report.