Global Emulsion Polymers Market, 7th Edition

Report Overview

Suppliers Benefit from Growing Adoption of Water-Based Coatings and Adhesives

Global demand for emulsion polymers is forecast to rise 4.2% per year to 12.5 million metric tons in 2020, valued at $37.2 billion. Gains will be fueled by strong growth in the production of high quality coatings, paper, and adhesives, particularly in the emerging economies of Southeast Asia. Worldwide, the rising adoption of more environmentally friendly water-based coatings and adhesives -- which are manufactured using emulsion polymers -- will also continue to fuel demand growth.

Key Findings in the Global Emulsion Polymers Market Study:

China Intensifies Emission Regulations and Boosts Water-Based Coatings Output

China is projected to account for over one-quarter of global emulsion polymer sales in 2020, a position bolstered by the country’s massive coatings, paper, and adhesives sectors, as well as by increasingly stringent emissions regulations favoring water-based formulations. The fastest growth worldwide is projected for India, spurred

by especially strong increases in the architectural paint segment as household incomes rise. Suppliers of nitrile latex will continue to find significant growth opportunities in Malaysia, where local output of nitrile gloves is climbing at a robust pace.

Opportunities emerge in Industrial Coatings and Adhesives

Opportunities are increasingly emerging in industrial & specialty applications as functional improvements to waterborne formulations enable their use in a wide range of markets historically dominated by solvent

-based products, including motor vehicle coatings, traffic paints, and industrial maintenance coatings. Emulsion suppliers worldwide are also benefiting from intensifying regulatory pressures aimed at reducing the VOC content of coatings and adhesives.

Acrylics Demand Grows on Rising Adoption in High Performance Coatings

Acrylic-based emulsion polymers will remain the largest and fastest growing product type through 2020, spurred by expanding use of latex architectural paints in developing regions, as well as by their increased penetrat

ion of high performance industrial and specialty coatings. Strong gains in the adhesives market will boost sales of vinyl acetate polymers, while improved output of high quality coated paper is expected to support demand for styrene-butadiene (SB) latex.

Study Coverage

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the global emulsion polymers market, which totaled 10.2 million metric tons ($27.5 billion) in 2015. It presents historical demand data (2005, 2010, 2015) and forecasts (2020 and 2025) by product (acrylic, SB latex, vinyl acetate polymers) and market (paint & coatings, paper & paperboard coatings, adhesives, carpet backing) for 16 major countries and 6 world regions. The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry participants including Arkema, BASF, Celanese, DIC, Dow Chemical, DSM, OMNOVA Solutions, Synthomer, Trinseo, and Wacker Chemie.