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Global Nucleating Agents Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)
Global Nucleating Agents Market Overview
The global Nucleating Agents market size is forecasted to reach US$2.8 billion by 2027 after growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Nucleating agents are special additives that are added to improve the properties of semi-crystalline polymers such as polypropylene, polyamides, polyesters. Nucleating agents are used during polymer synthesis to influence the growth of the polymeric structure and enhance the crystallization of the polymer matrix. These agents are essential as the initial polymer structure helps determine the structural properties of the finished polymer matrix. In products processed by injection moulding, nucleating agents improve processing speed, dimensional stability, and physical properties. In foamed products, they improve dimensional stability and density. Commonly used nucleating agents are organic and inorganic small molecules, for instance, salts of aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, boron nitride, organophosphates, calcium carbonate, talc, etc. The growing demand for polymers from various end use industries drives the global nucleating agents market.
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way of life. Its effects have been felt across every industry. The packaging for the food and beverage industry has also not been spared. Before the pandemic consumers preferred brands with reusable food packaging as it helped them decrease their carbon footprint. This trend was overturned due to the pandemic as the fear of contamination drove demand for single-use packaging that was easy to dispose of, this was because consumers had become afraid that the packaging could harbor the virus with research showing the virus was viable on a variety of surfaces. Due to lockdowns, many consumers began stockpiling frozen food, snacks, and beverages. Mondelez’s annual State of Snacking study reported that 88% of adults are snacking more during the pandemic. This high demand for snacks, frozen food, beverages, during the pandemic led to an increased demand for packaging as well. The food and beverage industries were indirectly impacted by the pandemic on account of packaging shortages. There were aluminum shortages from the closing of recycling operations. These factors have also impacted the nucleating agents market.
Report Coverage
The report: “Global Nucleating Agents Market Report – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the nucleating agents industry.
By Type: Organic Nucleating Agents (Sorbitol Derivatives, Organophosphates, Carboxylic Acid Salts, and Others), Inorganic Nucleating Agents (Talc, Boron Nitride, Silica, Clay, and Others), and Polymeric Nucleating Agents
By Polymer: Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Polyamides, Polyesters, Polystyrene, and Others
By Form: Powder, Liquid, Granules, and Others
By Application: Packaging (Food, Cosmetics, Medical, and Others), Consumer Products (Toys, Feeding Bottles, Appliances, and Others), Automotive (Bumpers, Dashboards, Panels, and Others), Electrical & Electronics, Building & Construction (Decks & Flooring, Pipes, and Others), 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
- Asia-Pacific dominates the global nucleating agents market on account of the growing end use industries in the region. According to Invest India, the packaging industry is expected to reach $204.81 billion by 2025.
- Nucleating agents are additives added to the polymer matrix to accelerate the rate of crystallization which results in shorter cycle times and an increase in productivity.
- The most commonly used nucleating agents are talc, boron nitride, sorbitol derivates, calcium carbonate, and salts of carboxylic acids. They are used to modify the structure and morphology of polymers to increase the rate of production.
Figure: Asia-Pacific Nucleating Agents Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)
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Global Nucleating Agents Market Segment Analysis – By Polymer
The polypropylene segment held the largest share in the global nucleating agents market up to 26% in 2021. Polypropylene is one of the most common commercially available polymers due to its high strength and low cost. According to Plastics Europe, the demand for polypropylene was the highest and accounted for 19.7% compared to the other plastic types in 2020. Polypropylene is an easy material to nucleate as the rate of crystallization is low. This, in turn, allows the nucleating agent to have a direct impact on the nucleation density. Nucleating agents are often added to the polymer matrix of polypropylene to enhance its mechanical and optical properties. Nucleating agents can be used to solve injection moulding challenges. With nucleation, higher crystallization rates can result in faster cycle times while reducing shrinkage to meet dimensional specifications. Shrinkage and warpage can be eliminated with the use of nucleating agents. Solving these problems can reduce rejects, improve output, and decrease complexity in manufacturing. Thus, the polypropylene segment is anticipated to dominate the global nucleating agents market during the forecast period.
Global Nucleating Agents Market Segment Analysis – By Application
The packaging segment held the largest share in the global nucleating agents market up to 30% in 2021. Nucleating agents promote the formation of smaller and more numerous spherulites. Some nucleating agents produce spherulites so small that they do not scatter visible light, thus resulting in transparent polymers that are highly preferred for packaging. According to the Center for International Environment Law, packaging accounts for 40% of the global demand for plastics. Packaging is an integral part of the company and brand. According to an online survey, 72% of American consumers state that a product’s packaging design has an impact on their purchasing decision. In primary packaging that comes in direct contact with food, plastic is commonly used as it is lightweight, flexible, and cheaper. There are many types of plastic that have different functional properties such as flexible, transparent, temperature stable, etc. that are safe for food use. Plastic packaging allows food to travel further distances, stay longer on the shelves, and ensures that large amounts of food do not go to waste. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), approximately 40% of food produced is wasted. Much of this waste is due to spoilage and occurs within the retail and household sectors. Plastic packaging helps reduce food spoilage by offering a protective barrier. Nucleating agents help enhance the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and impart transparency to plastics used for packaging. Thus, the packaging segment is set to dominate the global nucleating agents market.
Global Nucleating Agents Market Segment Analysis – By Geography
The Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the global nucleating agents market in 2021 up to 42% owing to the packaging and plastics industries in the region. The growing economies of Southeast Asian countries, easy availability of raw materials for manufacturing plastics, and the ease of doing business in the region propels the growth of the nucleating agents in the region. According to Plastics Europe, China is the largest producer of plastics worldwide and accounted for 32% of the global plastic production in 2020. Also, according to Plastic Atlas, more than 50% of the world’s plastic is produced in Asia. According to data collected by FAO, agricultural value chains each year use 12.5 million tons of plastic products while another 37.3 million are used in food packaging. Asia is estimated to be the largest user of plastics in agricultural production, accounting for almost half of global usage, as per the UN. As nucleating agents are employed as additives in polymer resin in the manufacture of plastic articles manufactured by injection moulding, the growth of the plastic industry in the region also leads to high demand for nucleating agents.
Global Nucleating Agents Market– Drivers
Growing demand for Polymers from Various End Use Industries
The properties of polymers such as excellent impact strength, stretchability, hardness, ductility, electric resistance, etc. make it suitable for various end use industry applications. In the automotive industry, the main focus is light-weighting, even with electric vehicles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office, using lightweight materials in electric vehicles can offset the weight of power systems such as batteries and electric motors, and improve the efficiency of the vehicles. Polymers are preferred on account of their lightweight, easy processability, sealing, and stiffness properties. In the food and beverage industry, the consumption of polymers is growing rapidly pace due to the rising demand for packaging materials. The use of polymer in consumer goods is growing due to its durability, easy molding of products, and ability to resist stress. In the agriculture industry, the application of polymers is growing on account of to increasing demand for drippers, tubes, pipes, etc. in irrigation. Hence, the demand for polymers is growing in various industries such as automotive, food and beverage, and consumer goods. Nucleating agents reduce cycle times during moulding of polymers and increase throughput and productivity. Therefore, the growing demand for polymers drives the demand for nucleating agents.
Increasing Demand for Bioplastics
The growing concerns about the environmental impact of plastics and the interest to shift towards renewable materials have increased the interest in bioplastics even more. According to the European Bioplastics, the total bioplastics production is forecasted to reach approximately 2.43 million tons in 2024. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive acknowledges that bio-based and recycled materials are equally viable solutions to make packaging more sustainable and member states are encouraged to promote the use of bio-based recyclable packaging and bio-based compostable packaging. Among all bio-based plastics, one of the most attractive is polylactic acid (PLA) which accounts for 25% of all bio-based and biodegradable plastics produced. PLA has superior mechanical properties, good processability, and excellent biocompatibility. It is suitable for processing by injection moulding, film extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, fiber spinning, and 3D printing. Despite all these advantages, PLA is brittle and has a relatively low heat deflection temperature. Therefore, to make PLA feasible for mass production, it is necessary to improve its crystallization rate. This can be achieved by using nucleating agents. As the demand for bioplastics increases, the demand for nucleating agents is also expected to increase. Thus, the increasing demand for bioplastics acts as a driver for the global nucleating agents market.
Global Nucleating Agents Market– Challenges
Ban on Plastics
The main problem with plastic is its inability to decompose. Plastic remains as such leading to serious environmental concerns and problems with waste. Plastic pollution has become one of the most challenging environmental issues, as the rapidly increasing production of plastic products overwhelms the capability to deal with them. There is an urgent need to reduce the use of plastics. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. To reduce the use of plastics, several countries are banning the use of plastics. A prime example of this is the Directive on Single-Use Plastics. On July 2, 2021, the Directive on Single-Use Plastics took effect in the European Union. The directive bans certain single-use plastics for which alternatives are available. Such challenges may prove to be a deterrent for the global nucleating agents market.
Global Nucleating Agents Industry Outlook
Product launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the global nucleating agents market. Global Nucleating agents market top 10 companies are:
1. BASF SE
2. ADEKA
3. Milliken & Company
4. Imerys
5. PolyOne Corporation
6. Clariant AG
7. Plastiblends India Limited
8. Asahi Chemical Co., Ltd.
9. Elementis
10. BYK
Recent Developments
- In October 2019, Clariant launched two new additives based on renewable feedstock, Licocene PE 4201 Terra and Licocare RBW 360 TP Vita. Licocene PE 4201 Terra is a highly valuable lubricant for polyolefins and a nucleating agent for EPS. Licocare RBW 360 TP Vita is a multifunctional additive that provides a combination of lubrication and nucleation agents properties
- In August 2019, Milliken & Company announced plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art chemical manufacturing plant and knowledge center in Asia. The new plant will have the capability to manufacture several integral Milliken plastic additives. Primarily, the location will produce the company’s Hyperform family of nucleating agents for polypropylene and polyethylene.
Relevant Reports
Report Code: CMR 0065
Report Code: CMR 0490
Report Code: CMR 0396
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1. Global Nucleating Agents Market- Market Overview
1.1 Definitions and Scope
2. Global Nucleating Agents Market- Executive Summary
2.1 Key Trends by Type
2.2 Key Trends by Polymer
2.3 Key Trends by Form
2.4 Key Trends by Application
2.5 Key Trends by Geography
3. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Comparative analysis
3.1 Market Share Analysis- Major Companies
3.2 Product Benchmarking- Major Companies
3.3 Top 5 Financials Analysis
3.4 Patent Analysis- Major Companies
3.5 Pricing Analysis (ASPs will be provided)
4. Global Nucleating Agents Market- Startup companies Scenario Premium Premium
4.1 Major startup company analysis:
4.1.1 Investment
4.1.2 Revenue
4.1.3 Product portfolio
4.1.4 Venture Capital and Funding Scenario
5. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Industry Market Entry Scenario Premium Premium
5.1 Regulatory Framework Overview
5.2 New Business and Ease of Doing Business Index
5.3 Successful Venture Profiles
5.4 Customer Analysis – Major companies
6. Global Nucleating Agents Market- Market Forces
6.1 Market Drivers
6.2 Market Constraints
6.3 Porters Five Force Model
6.3.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
6.3.2 Bargaining Powers of Buyers
6.3.3 Threat of New Entrants
6.3.4 Competitive Rivalry
6.3.5 Threat of Substitutes
7. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Strategic Analysis
7.1 Value/Supply Chain Analysis
7.2 Opportunity Analysis
7.3 Product/Market Life Cycle
7.4 Distributor Analysis – Major Companies
8. Global Nucleating Agents Market– By Type (Market Size -$Million/Billion)
8.1 Organic Nucleating Agents
8.1.1 Sorbitol Derivatives
8.1.2 Organophosphates
8.1.3 Carboxylic Acid Salts
8.1.4 Others
8.2 Inorganic Nucleating Agents
8.2.1 Talc
8.2.2 Boron Nitride
8.2.3 Silica
8.2.4 Clay
8.2.5 Others
8.3 Polymeric Nucleating Agents
9. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Polymer (Market Size -$Million/Billion)
9.1 Polypropylene
9.2 Polyethylene
9.3 Polyamides
9.4 Polyesters
9.5 Polystyrene
9.6 Others
10. Global Nucleating Agents Market– By Form (Market Size -$Million/Billion)
10.1 Powder
10.2 Liquid
10.3 Granules
10.4 Others
11. Global Nucleating Agents Market– By Application (Market Size -$Million/Billion)
11.1 Packaging
11.1.1 Food
11.1.2 Cosmetics
11.1.3 Medical
11.1.4 Others
11.2 Consumer Products
11.2.1 Toys
11.2.2 Feeding Bottles
11.2.3 Appliances
11.2.4 Others
11.3 Automotive
11.3.1 Bumpers
11.3.2 Dashboards
11.3.3 Panels
11.3.4 Others
11.4 Electrical & Electronics
11.5 Building & Construction
11.5.1 Decks & Flooring
11.5.2 Pipes
11.5.3 Others
11.6 Others
12. Global Nucleating Agents Market- By Geography (Market Size -$Million/Billion)
12.1 North America
12.1.1 USA
12.1.2 Canada
12.1.3 Mexico
12.2 Europe
12.2.1 UK
12.2.2 Germany
12.2.3 France
12.2.4 Italy
12.2.5 Netherlands
12.2.6 Spain
12.2.7 Russia
12.2.8 Belgium
12.2.9 Rest of Europe
12.3 Asia-Pacific
12.3.1 China
12.3.2 Japan
12.3.3 India
12.3.4 South Korea
12.3.5 Australia and New Zeeland
12.3.6 Indonesia
12.3.7 Taiwan
12.3.8 Malaysia
12.3.9 Rest of APAC
12.4 South America
12.4.1 Brazil
12.4.2 Argentina
12.4.3 Colombia
12.4.4 Chile
12.4.5 Rest of South America
12.5 Rest of the World
12.5.1 Middle East
12.5.1.1 Saudi Arabia
12.5.1.2 UAE
12.5.1.3 Israel
12.5.1.4 Rest of the Middle East
12.5.2 Africa
12.5.2.1 South Africa
12.5.2.2 Nigeria
12.5.2.3 Rest of Africa
13. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Entropy
13.1 New Product Launches
13.2 M&As, Collaborations, JVs and Partnerships
14. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Industry/Segment Competition Analysis Premium
14.1 Company Benchmarking Matrix – Major Companies
14.2 Market Share at Global Level - Major companies
14.3 Market Share by Key Region - Major companies
14.4 Market Share by Key Country - Major companies
14.5 Market Share by Key Application - Major companies
14.6 Market Share by Key Product Type/Product category - Major companies
15. Global Nucleating Agents Market– Key Company List by Country Premium Premium
16. Global Nucleating Agents Market Company Analysis - Business Overview, Product Portfolio, Financials, and Developments
16.1 Company 1
16.2 Company 2
16.3 Company 3
16.4 Company 4
16.5 Company 5
16.6 Company 6
16.7 Company 7
16.8 Company 8
16.9 Company 9
16.10 Company 10 and more
"*Financials would be provided on a best effort basis for private companies*"
LIST OF TABLES
1.Global Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)2.Global Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
3.Global Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 (Volume/Units)
4.Global Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 (Volume/Units)
5.North America Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
6.North America Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
7.South America Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
8.South America Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
9.Europe Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
10.Europe Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
11.APAC Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
12.APAC Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
13.MENA Nucleating Agents Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
14.MENA Nucleating Agents Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
LIST OF FIGURES
1.US Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)2.Canada Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
3.Mexico Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
4.Brazil Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
5.Argentina Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
6.Peru Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
7.Colombia Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
8.Chile Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
9.Rest of South America Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
10.UK Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
11.Germany Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
12.France Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
13.Italy Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
14.Spain Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
15.Rest of Europe Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
16.China Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
17.India Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
18.Japan Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
19.South Korea Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
20.South Africa Global Nucleating Agents Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
21.North America Global Nucleating Agents Industry By Application
22.South America Global Nucleating Agents Industry By Application
23.Europe Global Nucleating Agents Industry By Application
24.APAC Global Nucleating Agents Industry By Application
25.MENA Global Nucleating Agents Industry By Application