Bio Polyols Market- By Raw Materials , By Type , By Application, By End-Use Industry , By Geography - Global Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast, 2024 - 2030.

Bio Polyols Market Overview

Bio Polyols Market Size is forecast to reach $11486 Million by 2030, at a 10.20% during forecast period 2024-2030.The increasing awareness about the environment and the rising prices of petroleum are the reasons for soaring demand of bio polyols. Bio polyols, also known as natural oil polyols, are polyols derived from vegetable oils. A polyol is an organic compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups. Bio polyols are extracted from natural oils like castor oil, soybean oil, canola oil, coconut oil and others. Out of these oils only castor oil is the only commercially available bio polyol that is produced directly from a plant source while the others require chemical modifications. The two types of bio polyols are polyether polyols and polyester polyols. The primary use of polyols is in the production of polyurethanes. Traditional polyols are petroleum based but growing environmental concerns and sustainability have led to the development of natural oil polyols from renewable resources. The eco-friendly and sustainable nature of bio polyols, supply of bio-based feedstock and fluctuations of crude oil prices are driving the global bio polyols market.

COVID-19 Impact

Owing to the pandemic, the core industries such as automotive and construction industry are impacted. Lockdowns and social distancing have caused many manufacturing plants to shut down. The construction industry has been majorly hit due to labor shortages and the lockdown imposed by governments during COVID-19, which is aggravated by the resulting supply chain issues and financing pressures due to the non-adherence to the completion times. According to a report by European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the total investment in construction declined by 5.8% in 2020 and amounted to $13.48 trillion, which equals 10.7% of EU GDP, the decrease was particularly dramatic in Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic and Poland. This in turn has impacted the bio polyols market in 2020.

Report Coverage

The report: “Bio Polyols Market – Forecast (2024-2030)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of Bio Polyols Market.

By Raw Materials: Soybean oil, Canola oil, Castor oil, Palm oil, Corn oil, Coconut oil, Sunflower oil, Linseed oil, Sawgrass oil, Mustard oil and Others
By Type: Polyester polyols and Polyether polyols
By Application: Foam, Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers and Others
By End-Use Industry: Automotive, Construction, Electricals and Electronics, Furniture, Packaging, Footwear, Pipes & fittings, Textiles and Others
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa) 

Key Takeaways

• North America dominates the bio polyols market, owing to the increase in production of soy-based polyols which result in increased usage of bio polyols in the region.
• The escalating use of polyurethanes in the automotive industry consecutively increases the demand for bio polyols. Thus, driving the market growth. 
• Increasing applications for environmentally friendly polyols in various end use industries notably in automobiles, technological advancements in the construction industry are expected to drive the demand for bio polyols through the years to come 
• The major opportunity for this market is high research spending and growing environmental awareness about bio polyols. This has a positive impact on the market. 

Figure: Asia-Pacific Bio Polyols Market Revenue, 2020-2026 (US$ Billion)

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Bio Polyols Market Segment Analysis – By Raw Material

The soy-based segment held the largest share in the bio polyols market in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period. The bio polyols market continues to expand as manufacturers look for alternatives to high-priced petrochemicals. Soy polyols perform like their highly priced petrochemical counterparts and enable manufacturers to increase the sustainability of end products without compromising on performance. The products made with these natural oil polyols have lighter weight, more strength and better durability. Castor oil polyol is one of the cleanest natural oil polyols available commercially in the market. When compared to other bio polyols castor oil-based polyols require minimal modifications. Owing to their high purity and hydrolysis resistance properties, castor oil polyols are expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. The cost-effective extraction of plant oils and their widespread use as polyols has increased the demand for other natural oils polyols including canola oil, corn oil and sunflower oil-based polyols.

Bio Polyols Market Segment Analysis – By Type

The polyether polyols segment held the largest share of more than 55% in the bio polyols market in 2020. Polyether polyols are the key components used in the production of polyurethanes. Polyether-based polyurethanes provide enhanced hydrolytic stability and excellent resistance to weak acids and bases compared to polyester-based polyurethanes. So, polyether polyols are used in coating, adhesive, sealant, and elastomer applications. To make polyurethanes more versatile, higher molecular weight polyol with molecular weights from 2000 to 10,000 are used, whereas lower molecular weight polyol is used to make more rigid products. The lower cost of polyether polyols in comparison to polyesters polyols further drives the growth of the market globally. Owing to the increasing use of polyether polyols in flexible foams for the production of cushioning applications such as furniture, bedding, and car seats, and in carpet underlay, the market is estimated to grow in the forecast period.

Bio Polyols Market Segment Analysis – By Application

The foam segment held the largest share in the bio polyols market in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% during 2021-2026. Polyether polyols are used as a raw material in the manufacturing polyurethane foams. Polyurethane (PU) foam is a highly flexible material that finds a wide range of applications in end-use industries such as automotive, furniture, construction, and packaging. Foam is widely used in high resilience flexible foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and gaskets, durable elastomeric wheels and tires, auto suspension bushings, electrical potting compounds, seals, gaskets, carpet underlay, and hard plastic components. PU foams provide good thermal and sound insulation which in turn increase their use in construction industries for soundproofing applications. In the automotive industry, PU foams provide cushioning as well as insulation against heat and noise of the engine. They also reduce the weight of the vehicle thus improving fuel efficiency and lowering emission levels. According to figures from the KBA federal motor transport authority, sales of fully-electric vehicles in Germany increased three-fold to 194,163 units in 2020. A total of 230,635 new passenger cars were registered in Germany, up 37 percent from May 2020. Thus, increase in electric vehicles also increases the use of PU foams for headrest, seats, armrest, etc. substantially boosting the growth of PU foam market and thereby, driving the bio polys market

Bio Polyols Market Segment Analysis – By End-Use Industry

The construction industry held the largest share of more than 22% in the bio polyols market in 2020. The increasing demand for foam used in the design and construction sector as a thermally insulating material is expected to stimulate the growth of the bio polyols market. Construction initiatives based on sustainable solutions are fueling the demand for advanced building materials encompassing superior energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint. A relevant step within this trend is the use of bio polyols to replace polyols. The construction industry is one of the major consumers of plastics with pipe fittings and insulation among its major applications. Bio polyol-based polyurethane thus has major opportunity in this segment as a preferred alternative offering additional advantages such as reduced cost structures, long life span, corrosion resistance and light weight. Among the various properties offered, the thermal insulation value of the bio polyol-based polyurethane is the most preferred. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. To maintain uniform temperature and lower noise levels in homes and commercial properties, rigid polyurethane foams are used. These foams are effective insulation materials that can be used in roof and wall insulation, insulated windows, doors and air barrier sealants. Owing to these myriad applications and benefits the bio polyols market is expected to show significant growth during the forecast period.

Bio Polyol Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

North America held the largest share in the bio polyol market in 2020 up to 35%. The US is North America's largest market for bio polyols, which accounted for a major share of the industry in 2020. Growing end-use industries in US, Canada, and Mexico has a direct positive impact on the overall bio polyols market. This region is the largest market in the world for soy-based bio polyols, owing to the high availability of soy. The increasing awareness about the use of eco-friendly and sustainable materials for the production of polyurethane foams which are used in various end use industries such as construction, automotive, packaging, and others is expected to drive growth of bio polyols market.  Government regulations like the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) that promote the use of thermal insulation will also foster the demand in the region. Thereby, impacting the market positively. Rigid polyurethane foam provides energy-efficient and versatile insulations and can effectively limit energy costs. According to the report, Financing Clean Energy Transitions in Emerging and Developing Economies, clean energy investment needs to increase by more than seven times – from less than $150 billion in 2020 to over $1 trillion in 2030 to put the world on track to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The adoption of bio based polyurethane foam is one step closer to this goal. So, this is one of the major factors accelerating the market growth for bio polyols during the forecast period.

Bio polyols Market Drivers

Increasing environmental awareness and government regulations 

Bio polyol or natural oil polyol is synthesized from various vegetable oils making them renewable. Bio polyols offer increased bio-based carbon content, reduced CO2 emissions, new marketing opportunities, and several technical advantages. Polyols obtained from renewable and sustainable resources, for example canola oil, usually are CO2 negative. This means, that plants and trees have absorbed more CO2 than it was produced during the synthesis of the polyols. Therefore, bio polyols are a great way to reduce CO2 emissions that can be beneficial for many different industries where tax breaks can be applied. Reduction of carbon footprint also opens doors for new marketing opportunities, especially for end-user products foams for DIY construction projects, footwear, automotive industry and others. Traditional polyols are synthesized from crude oil. The volatile prices of crude oil also boosted the market for bio polyols. For instance, the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), fell as low as minus $37.63 a barrel as of 21 April 2020.  The following factors such as - Government and regulatory bodies such as EPA and REACH compliances regarding the promotion of eco-friendly products relating to eco system and health; Government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases emissions; are expected to drive the market for the forecast period. 

Growth of construction industry

Bio polyols are used in the manufacture of polyurethane. The construction industry is one of the main end-users of polyurethane foam. The construction sector is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and buildings are responsible for much of the world’s energy waste. A green or sustainable building is the concept of creating structures that are environmentally responsible.  The advantages of a green building that reduced overall energy use, whether from energy-efficient appliances, passive heating and cooling, or sustainable architecture, can dramatically reduce the overall carbon footprint of a building or even make it a net environmentally positive. According to a report by World Green Building Council, savings in a sustainable building can be very significant 25-35% energy savings compared to a conventional building. The increasing demand for foam used in the construction sector as a thermally insulating material is expected to stimulate the growth bio polyols. Furthermore, construction projects such as ‘100 smart cities’ and ‘Housing for All by 2022’ in India are influencing bio polyols demand.  

Bio Polyol Market Challenges

Fluctuating prices

The cost of bio polyols is much higher than the traditional petroleum-based polyols. The reason behind this is its production cost. The increasing demand for biodiesel has driven up natural oil prices and subsequently the cost of bio polyols. These factors may hinder the market. High hydrocarbon production in North America has helped in reducing petroleum related raw material prices for the conventional polyols.  

Bio Polyols Market Landscape

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the bio polyols market. Bio polyols market top companies are Arkema S.A., Global Bio Chem Technology Group Co. Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, BASF S.E, Stepan Company, Bayer Material Science, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Bio Based Technologies Llc, Johnson Controls Inc., Cargill Inc., Jayant Agro Organics Ltd., E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Invista S.A.R.L., Polylabs and Emery Oleo Chemicals (M) Sdn Bhd.

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

• In 2020 Mitsui Chemicals planned to hike its bio polyol capacity by almost four times by opening another systems house in India.

Key Market Players:

The Top 5 companies in the Bio Polyols Market are:

1. Cargill
2. BASF
3. Dow Chemical Company
4. Emery Oleochemicals
5. Polylabs
    

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