South America is a region rich in hydrocarbon resources, with significant oil and natural gas reserves that are crucial to both its own economy and the global energy supply. However, the raw natural gas extracted from these reserves is rarely pure enough for immediate use. It often contains significant amounts of acidic gases, primarily hydrogen sulfide (H2​S) and carbon dioxide (CO2​), which are corrosive, toxic, and reduce the heating value of the gas. The process of removing these impurities is known as "gas sweetening," and it is a critical step in the midstream sector. The South America Gas Treatment Market By Product is dominated by the chemical solvents used in this process, with amine-based products representing the most widely used and established technology for effectively capturing and removing these acid gases.

Amines are organic compounds derived from ammonia and are highly effective at reacting with and absorbing acidic gases from the natural gas stream. The market for these products in South America is segmented into different types of amines, each with specific advantages. Primary amines, such as Monoethanolamine (MEA), are highly reactive and effective but can be more corrosive and require more energy to regenerate. Secondary amines, like Diethanolamine (DEA), offer a good balance of reactivity and lower regeneration energy. However, the most significant share of the market often belongs to tertiary amines, such as Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). MDEA is particularly valued because it selectively reacts with H2​S while allowing some CO2​ to "slip" through, which is desirable in applications where complete CO2​ removal is not necessary, leading to significant operational cost savings. Formulated or blended amines, which combine different types of amines and additives, are also a major part of the market, offering tailored solutions to meet the specific composition of a gas stream.