Acrylamide Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Acrylamide Market Overview

Acrylamide market size is estimated to reach US$ 4.86 billion by 2030, after growing at a CAGR of 4.2%. Acrylamide is a white odorless organic compound which is produced by hydrolysis of acrylonitrile, and the hydrolysis is mainly catalyzed by sulfuric acid and enzymes like nitrile hydratase. The organic compound finds its application in production of polyacrylamide which is used as flocculent in water treatment, as oil recovery agent in refineries, as stabilizer in paper production, and as water repellent in textile sector. The factors like increased in paper consumption, growing demand for textile items, growing demand for oil & gas, and increase in government spending in water treatment are driving the growth of acrylamide industry. However, acrylamide is highly toxic and can cause problems for humans like adverse effect on male reproduction, nerve damage, muscle weakness and coordination, hence the stringent regulation imposed by government to restrict acrylamide usage, can hamper the growth of acrylamide industry. In the acrylamide market, a significant trend is the increasing demand for polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment applications. The escalating focus on environmental sustainability has led to a surge in wastewater management initiatives globally, driving the need for effective water treatment chemicals. Additionally, there is a growing interest in the development of innovative, bio-based acrylamide derivatives as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based products.

Market Snapshot:

COVID-19 Impact

COVID-19 negatively impacted many industrial aspects like supply of raw materials, production, transportation of goods, and labor workforce. Hence, necessary measures like lockdown, public movement restrictions, quarantining and trade restrictions imposed by countries all over the world, disrupted the functionality of major end users of acrylamide like textile, paper and oil refineries. For instance, as per the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the value of US textile output decreased by 21.4% while apparel decreased by 14.9% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to last year. Also, as per the 2021 report of the Confederation of European Paper Industries, the production of graphical grades in newsprint and commercial printing declined 19% in 2020. Further, as per, International Energy Agency, in 2020, the decline in oil production in first half of 2020 led to decrease in global oil demand by 90,000 barrels per day compared to 2019. Acrylamide is used as strengthening agent in papers, as water repellents in textile and enhances oil recovery in refineries, hence the decrease in productivity of these sectors will decrease the usage of acrylamide. This, will have negative impact on growth of acrylamide industry.

Report Coverage

The report: “Acrylamide Market Report – Forecast (2024-2030)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segment of the Acrylamide Industry.

By Product – Polyacrylamide, Acrylamide Copolymers, Acrylamide Crystals

By Application – Waste Water Treatment (Municipal, Industrial), Dispersing Agent, Oil Recovery Agent, Stabilizer & Thickener, Water Repellent, and Other

By End User – Food & Beverage (Dairy Products, Health Drinks, Fruits & Vegetables, Others), Refineries (Conversion Oil, Hydro-Skimming Oil, Topping Oil, Deep Conversion Refineries, Others), Textile (Woven, Non-Woven), Paper (Decorated Paper, Laminated Paper, Printing Paper, Others), Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Other

By Geography - North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherland, Spain, Russia, Belgium, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Rest of South America), and Rest of the World (Middle East, Africa)

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominates the acrylamide industry, as the region consists of major end users of the acrylamide like textile, paper and food & beverage sector in major economies like India & China, with China being largest textile and paper maker
• Acrylamide is also largely used in cosmetics & personal care products where it is used as a stabilizer, binder, and thickener due to its foaming, anti-static, and lubricating properties.
• As a chemical intermediate, acrylamide is used in the production of organic chemicals, which are further used as a feedstock for medical, pharmaceutical, biochemical, and agriculture applications. 

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Acrylamide Market Segment Analysis – By Product

Polyacrylamide held a significant share in acrylamide market in 2023, with a share of over 45%. Polyacrylamide is a polyolefin which is majorly used as flocculent in water treatment process, and in paper sector it is used to improve the pulp dewatering performance which increases the strength of the paper. The growing scale of investments in water treatment plants and rapid production of paper in major economies on account of growing advancements, will positively impact the demand for polyacrylamide in them. For instance, in 2023, EU invests €70 million in largest wastewater treatment plant in North Macedonia. Also in 2022, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) company, has got the approval from India’s Maharashtra state Government to set up a paper-making unit in Raigad worth Rs 20,000 crore of Sinar Mas Pulp paper manufacturing project. The increase in investment in water treatment plants and high production scale of paper, will create more demand of polyacrylamide in them. Hence, this will have positive impact on the growth rate of acrylamide industry.

Acrylamide Market Segment Analysis – By End User

Textile sector held a significant share in acrylamide market in 2023, with a share of over 29%. Acrylamide being an organic compound is used as sizing agent and finishing agent for fabric post-treatment and also it is used as flocculent purification of textile printing and dyeing waste water. Rapid urbanization, increase in disposable income and improvement in living standards has led increase in consumption scale of clothing and apparels items, which will positively impact the usage of acrylamide in textile sector. For instance, as per the National Development and Reform Commission domestic retail sales of apparel and knitwear in China stood at 177.93 billion in 2023 and online garment sales expanded with 10.1% yearly growth. Also, as per United Kingdom Fashion and Textile Association, the apparel export of the UK reached US$1.3 billion in Q2 2023. Such increase in exports and online sale of clothing and apparel items will increase the production scale of these textile items, resulting in more usage of acrylamide as sizing agent and in water purification of textile waste water. Hence, this will have positive impact on the growth rate of acrylamide industry.

Acrylamide Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Asia-Pacific held the largest share in acrylamide market in 2023, with a share of over 36%. The rapid industrialization in sectors like paper and textiles in countries like India, Japan, China and the increase in water treatment capacity in major economies like China has driven the demand for acrylamide in these regions. For instance, as per the Ministry of Textiles, total textile exports grew 11.06% in September 2023. In 2023, Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that an advanced facility that went on line at the Yindingzhuang Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the largest in China using such modules, with a daily treatment capacity of 315,000 cubic meters. Acrylamide being used as flocculent in water treatment, as sizing & finishing agent in textile and strengthening agent in paper sector, hence the growing development in these sectors will lead to more usage of acrylamide in them.

Acrylamide Market Drivers

High Demand from Oil & Gas Industry

Organic compound like acrylamide is used in oil and gas extraction, exploration and enhancement of oil recovery by increasing the viscosity of the injected water and pushes the oil locked in reservoirs towards the pump. The growing demand for oil and gas by major economies, has led to increase in their scale of production. For instance, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2022, Unites states natural gas production was about 4.9 billion cubic feet which grew by 4% compared to 2021. Also, as per the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, crude oil production in United Arab Emirates was 2,878 barrel per day in November showing increase of 10% from March. The growing production of gas and crude oil on account of increase in global demand will lead to more usage acrylamide in extraction of crude oil and natural gas. This will expand acrylamide usage in refineries sector, thereby having positive impact on growth of acrylamide industry.

High Demand for Clothing and Apparel Items

In textile industry, polyacrylamides are used to size and shrink-proof materials and as water repellents, and also it improves the tackiness, permeability, and de-sizing performance of the fabrics. The increase in the volume of textile manufacturing on account of high demand for textile items like clothing and apparels etc. will have a positive impact on the demand for organic compound like polyacrylamide in the textile sector. For instance, as per World Trade Organization, world’s clothing exports totalled $576 billion in 2022, up 5 percent year over year. Also, as per Federal Statistics Office of Germany, in 2022, Germany’s export volume of textile and clothing products worth an estimated 38.7 billion euros. Such increase in production and export of clothing and apparel items on account of high demand, will lead to more usage of polyacrylamide in textile sector, thereby providing growth opportunities to acrylamide industry in textile sector.

Acrylamide Market Challenges

Stringent Regulation on Acrylamide Usage

Acrylamide is used in food items that are processed in high temperature like frying, baking, roasting. The excessive use of acrylamide can lead to health problems like muscle weakness, nerve damage and can also cause neurotoxicity in humans. In order to prevent such health problems, certain regulation have been imposed by government organization that would restrict the usage of acrylamide in food items. For instance, in 2022, Safe food advocay Europe passed new regulation setting lower benchmark values for acrylamide in food products such as French fries, potato crisps, bread, breakfast cereals, cookies, biscuits, coffee, and baby food, etc. Such restriction can hamper the growth of acrylamide industry in food and beverage sector.

Acrylamide Industry Outlook

The companies to develop a strong regional presence and strengthen their market position, continuously engage in mergers and acquisitions. In the acrylamide market report, the acrylamide top 10 companies are:

1. DOW Chemical Company
2. Ashland
3. Mitsui Chemical Inc
4. Cytec Industries Incorporated
5. Yongsan Chemicals Inc.
6. Dia-Nitrix Co. Ltd
7. Zhejiang Xinyong Biochemical Co. Ltd
8. Beijing Hengju Chemical Group Corporation
9. SNF Floerger
10. Kemira Oyj

Recent Developments

• In 2023, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Polaris Chemicals, Inc., has commenced the production of biocatalysts used in the manufacturing of acrylamide.
• In 2022, Kemira has fully started production of its newly developed bio-based polyacrylamide polymer. The first commercial volumes were shipped to a sewage treatment plant in Helsinki Regional Environmental Services for trials.
• In 2022, Solenis acquired a German product supply manufacturer SCL GmBH for an industry it’s targeting for growth. This acquisition of business provides Solenis with a backward integration that supports polyacrylamide growth plan.           

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