China Municipal Wastewater Market: Private Player Opportunities & Strategies, 2015-2020

30 Nov 2015
Available with corporate subscription

This report is the most up-to-date assessment of the private sector’s expanding role in municipal wastewater.

The rapid adoption of build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts in China’s wastewater sector has firmly positioned the country as the world’s largest market for private water investment. China now accounts for more than 50% of privately financed treatment capacity additions in emerging markets and represents a significant opportunity for both domestic and foreign players.

Bluefield’s Market Insight delivers an in-depth, up-to-date competitive analysis of leading companies by value chain position, market-share, and strategies for growth- including M&A, partnerships, and greenfield project developments. Accompanying the report is access to a complete and up-to-date database of leading private players’ project portfolios across the leading 11 provinces.

Report Features

  • Analysis and details (e.g. capacity, location, contract type, investment value, equity stakes, and more) for 897 municipal wastewater treatment projects
  • Critical insights on more than 36 M&A transactions, totaling more than 14 million m3/d of capacity
  • Comprehensive profiles of the 11 most active provinces, including drivers, inhibitors, and operating & planned capacity
  • Value chain positioning, geographic footprints, and strategies of largest domestic and foreign stakeholders 

Bluefield Takeaways

  • China stands out as epicenter for private water.
    The rapid growth of build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts in China’s wastewater sector has firmly positioned the country as the world’s largest market for private water investment. More than two-thirds of China’s wastewater treatment capacity is now managed by private firms.
  • Top-tier firms scale domestically, position for international expansion.
    Roughly one-quarter of China’s wastewater market – 30 million m3/day across 500 facilities – is operated by 15 companies that are strengthening their positions through M&A and geographic expansion domestically and internationally.
  • Market scale too big for foreign firms to ignore.
    A host of globally diversified foreign firms from Europe and Asia are gaining entry into China’s private water sector. These firms have taken various routes to market, including partnerships, third-party service offerings, and supply chain positions that leverage their technology and operations experience.
  • Tightening regulations highlight new markets of opportunity.
    Bluefield has identified ten provinces that stand out as hotspots for new build, including private water opportunities — led by Beijing, Guangdong, Henan, Liaoning and Shandong – with several more interior provinces aiming for greater compliance.