Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market Research Report: Forecast (2021-2026)

Market Definition

Super Absorbents polymers possess capabilities of absorbing, retaining, & conserving massive water amounts, i.e., greater than their mass. Its ability to store liquid depends upon the ionic concentration of the aqueous solution. Due to these properties, the application of super absorbent polymers across different sectors like healthcare, agriculture, personal care, & packaging, among others, is rising at a steady pace.

Market Insights

The Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 5% during the forecast period, i.e., 2021-26. The growth of the market is driven primarily by the increasing application of super absorbent polymers across different sectors like medical, personal care, agriculture, packaging, among others, owing to its capabilities to absorb & retain a large amount of water. 

Additionally, the increasing consumer demand for products like diapers & sanitary napkins, etc., for personal hygiene is another crucial aspect expected to boost the market in the coming years. Besides, the adoption of these polymers across the agriculture sector for benefits like water retention, absorption, & conservation of polymers and their role as a reservoir for the field crops is another prominent aspect projected to augment the market growth through 2026. 

Moreover, the mounting focus on addressing issues associated with environmental degradation is encouraging the adoption of these polymers, principally due to their biodegradable & non-toxic nature. As a result, it is generating significant growth opportunities for the leading market players. Furthermore, the construction industry is likely to emerge as an area of lucrative growth opportunities for the market, especially across countries like the US, China, & India, due to the capabilities like self-healing concrete, which, in turn, would help promote the overall market growth.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 severely impacted the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market. Initially, the imposition of stringent restrictions & frequent lockdowns by governments of different countries worldwide introduced several unprecedented challenges for the market, including the shut down of manufacturing units, shortage of raw materials & human power, supply chain disruptions, etc. It resulted in delayed deliveries of pre-produced polymers and massive financial losses for the leading players in the market.

However, on the other hand, the healthcare & agriculture sectors were the saviors for the market, owing to the propelling demand for these polymers in different applications. Across the healthcare sector, these polymers were procured extensively for making medical textile products with high absorption capacities like feminine hygiene products, baby diapers, adult incontinence products, & others.

Additionally, due to the uncertainty of lockdowns & restrictions, some regions also witnessed panic shopping & stockpiling for such essentials by consumers. It, in turn, brought a temporary hike for the market amidst the global crisis.

Moreover, there's a swift decline in the number of Covid-19 cases since 2021, owing to which governments of different countries have uplifted restrictions & allowed the recommencement of business operations. Currently, the market is on its recovery path and is likely to generate numerous growth opportunities for the leading players in the coming years.

Market Segmentation

Based on the Product Type:

• Sodium Polyacrylate
• Polyacrylate/Polyacrylamide
• Copolymers

Of all product types, Sodium Polyacrylate is projected to dominate the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market with the largest share during 2021-26. It owes principally to its ability to absorb around 400 to 800 times more water than its mass. Sodium Polyacrylate is witnessing an increasing demand in the production of personal hygiene products like sanitary pads, baby diapers, & adult continence products, among others. On the other hand, it is used extensively for water retention, absorption, & consumption in crop fields.

Moreover, the burgeoning use of these polymers in several cosmetic & skincare products to improve the sensory feel & stability of products is also driving the global market. Hence, based on the aspects cited above, Sodium Polyacrylate is anticipated to witness a mounting demand as a thickening agent, film-forming agent, texture enhancer, & emulsion stabilizer and fuel the overall market growth in the coming years.

Based on the Application:

• Personal Hygiene
• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Others (Packaging industries)

Here, the Agriculture sector is projected to dominate the global market with the largest share during the forecast period. These polymers provide efficient utilization of water & retain the moisture in the soil while reducing the overall water consumption. Besides, the capabilities of higher water uptake of super absorbent polymers benefiting different agricultural applications are also generating significant growth opportunities for the leading market players. It, in turn, is enabling them to develop new products & increase the efficiency of their acrylic acids & cross-linking agents to enhance crop yield & field productivity.

Moreover, the surging concerns over rapidly increasing water scarcity entwined with an escalating need to raise crop production & suffice the burgeoning food requirement of the exponentially rising population are other crucial aspects propelling the demand for superabsorbent polymers across the agriculture sector and driving the global market. Furthermore, since these polymers are biodegradable & non-toxic, farmers find them suitable for agricultural applications to release moisture to plant roots & act as a reservoir for water in arid & semiarid regions.

Regional Landscape

Geographically, the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market expands across:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa
• Asia-Pacific

Amongst all regions globally, Asia-Pacific is likely to dominate the market with the largest share during 2021-26. It owes principally to the growing agricultural activities to increase crop production & suffice the food requirement of the increasing population. It, in turn, is propelling the demand for superabsorbent polymers owing to their capabilities to retain, absorb, and conserve water while acting as a reservoir for the field to enhance the crop yield.

Additionally, with escalating concerns over the mounting environmental issues like water scarcity & soil depletion, the demand for these polymers is rising swiftly due to their biodegradable & non-toxic nature. Besides, the swiftly expanding packaging industry, especially across China, is further augmenting the demand for these polymers & positively influencing the regional market growth. Moreover, the growing demand for personal hygiene products like sanitary napkins, baby diapers, & adult incontinence products, among others, entwined with the healthcare industry producing medical cloth, is another crucial aspect projected to drive the regional market in the coming years.

On the other hand, Europe is expecting the fastest market growth over the forecast years. Countries like France, Italy, the UK, Germany, & Spain are among the largest consumers of super absorbent polymers. It owes principally to several initiatives by the leading players like research & development activities for developing these polymers. Additionally, the expanding packaging industry across Europe is another crucial aspect expected to propel the demand for super absorbent polymers in the years to come.

Recent Developments by Leading Companies

• In July 2021, Nippon Shokubai Co. announced receiving biomass certification from the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) for their super absorbent polymers. The company intends to reach its carbon neutrality target by 2050.
• The same year, in March, BASF announced to expand its super absorbent polymer business by developing a Superabsorbents Excellence Center, projected to locate at Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The leader is entirely devoted to bringing hygiene as a vital part of its acrylic value chain.
• In August 2018, the leader showcased its Malaysia-based joint venture between BASF & Petroleum Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), with a plan to expand their acrylic acid & butyl acrylate plant capacities at its Verbund site in Kuantan, Malaysia.
• In December 2017, LG Chemicals Ltd. invested a substantial amount in expanding its acrylic acid & superabsorbent polymer production capabilities in the Southwestern city of Yeosu, South Korea.
• In May 2017, Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co. set up its production facilities for superabsorbent polymers in South Korea in line with its aim to increase its scalability across Asia-Pacific in the coming years.

Market Dynamics:

Key Driver & Opportunity Area: Mounting Demand for Personal Care & Hygiene Products

The swiftly increasing demand for personal care & hygiene products like sanitary napkins, diapers, cosmetics & skincare products, etc., by a voluminous population, is anticipated to create substantial growth opportunities for the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market during 2021-26.

Since these polymers retain a massive amount of water, they are witnessing an extensive application worldwide. Hence, the leading market players are developing new products & bringing innovations in their product offerings, which, in turn, would further boost the global market in the years to come.

Possible Restraint: Volatile Prices of Crude Oil & Petrochemicals

Acrylic acid generated from crude oil & petrochemicals is used as raw materials in producing Super Absorbent polymers. However, since these materials witness price fluctuations, it directly affects the production cost of super absorbent polymers. As a result, the volatile prices of these polymers might hinder the growth of the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market in the coming years.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation, Shares) of the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market?
2. What are the region-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market?
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market based on the competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from surveys conducted during the Global Super Absorbent Polymer Market study?