Report

Acrylic Acid Market Analysis

The Acrylic Acid Market size is estimated at 8.18 million tons in 2025, and is expected to reach 10.52 million tons by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.15% during the forecast period (2025-2030). Sustained demand from super-absorbent polymers, water-borne architectural coatings, and specialty adhesives anchors this growth trajectory. Ongoing substitution of solvent-borne chemistries, demographic shifts toward premium hygiene products, and infrastructure programmes that specify low-VOC coatings all reinforce volume expansion across mature and emerging economies. Feedstock diversification into bio-routes and propane-based technologies mitigates propylene volatility, while vertical integration strategies protect margins. Competitive positioning increasingly hinges on carbon-footprint transparency, certified bio-content, and the ability to supply high-purity grades for electronics and medical applications.

Global Acrylic Acid Market Trends and Insights



Super-Absorbent Polymer Demand Up-Trend

Global demographic ageing and rising disposable incomes lift hygiene-product penetration, intensifying consumption of polyacrylate-based super-absorbents. Agricultural adoption broadens the acrylic acid market as growers use the polymers to enhance soil water retention in arid regions. Research into biodegradable cross-linkers lessens end-of-life concerns while preserving absorption capacity. Volume growth remains most pronounced in Asia-Pacific, where infant and adult incontinence products scale rapidly. Leading resin suppliers introduce microwave-based recycling for methyl methacrylate, closing the loop for cast-acrylic waste. Manufacturers also refine catalytic processes to cut energy intensity, underpinning long-term cost competitiveness.

Expansion Of Water-Borne Architectural Coatings

Governmental VOC regulations stimulate a lasting shift from solvent-borne to water-borne systems, cementing acrylic dispersions as the binder of choice. BASF's new Dutch production line elevates regional capacity without CO? increases, signalling a commitment to sustainable scale-up. In the Gulf Co-operation Council states, acrylic resin already commands more than 40% coating formulations, buoyed by large-scale infrastructure builds that require fast-drying, corrosion-resistant finishes. The acrylic acid market benefits as water-borne chemistries need higher binder solids to match legacy performance, materially lifting monomer pull-through. Packaging conversions from plastic to paper substrates further amplify dispersion demand.

Health and Toxicity Concerns of AA Vapours

Regulatory agencies tighten exposure thresholds, compelling producers to invest in closed-loop loading, advanced scrubbers, and personal protective equipment. The European Commission cites respiratory irritation risks, while NIOSH recommends a 2 ppm TWA. Australia's National Pollutant Inventory records site emissions to guide licensing limits. WHO and EPA guidance shape multinational policy, adding layers of compliance that elevate fixed costs. Downstream converters, particularly adhesive plants, must redesign ventilation to meet lowered indoor-air targets. Short-term capacity utilisation can dip as retrofits proceed, tempering acrylic acid market growth in highly regulated regions.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

Rising Hygiene Mandates in Emerging Asia / Commercialisation of Bio-Acrylic Acid Routes / Propylene Price Volatility /

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Butyl acrylate contributed 47.41% of 2024 shipments on the strength of broad coating, adhesive, and sealant usage. Its balance of flexibility, weatherability, and cost efficiency secures formulation loyalty across the construction and packaging industries. However, demographic trends that lift hygiene standards stoke super-absorbent polymer (SAP) demand, giving SAP derivatives the highest 5.73% CAGR through 2030. SAP producers exploit acrylic acid's capacity to form highly cross-linked networks that absorb liquids exceeding several hundred times their own weight. Specialty streams such as methyl acrylate enjoy steady niche orders for rapid-cure transmission-coating systems, whereas ethyl acrylate supports textile and leather finishing requiring deep fibre penetration. Two-ethylhexyl acrylate remains the tackifier of choice for pressure-sensitive adhesive labels. Glacial acrylic acid underpins electronics and pharmaceutical intermediates, where 99%+ purity ensures minimal trace metals.

Paints and coatings retained 35.92% volume in 2024 thanks to ongoing infrastructure spending, yet adhesives and sealants display a 7.36% CAGR that edges out traditional coating increments. High-clarity, UV-resistant acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives dominate electronic display lamination and exterior automotive trim, accelerating monomer uptake. Sanitary products leverage advances in cross-link density to reduce core thickness while maintaining absorption metrics, thereby lowering logistics costs. Surfactant applications tap acrylic acid's amphiphilic property set to improve detergency across concentrated laundry formats. Textile treatments incorporate acrylic derivatives for durable water repellency and anti-soiling finishes that survive multiple wash cycles. Consequently, the acrylic acid market realigns toward high-value bonding solutions that satisfy miniaturisation in electronics and net-zero body-weight targets in automotive.

The Acrylic Acid Report is Segmented by Derivative (Methyl Acrylate, Butyl Acrylate, Ethyl Acrylate, and More), Application (Paints and Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants, and More), Purity Grade (Technical Grade, Glacial Grade, and Ultra-High Purity), End-User Industry (Personal Care and Hygiene, Building and Construction, Automotive and Transportation, and More), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and More).

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific accounted for 52.53% of global volume in 2024 and is projected to expand at a 5.49% CAGR to 2030. Regional producers capitalise on efficient cracker-to-ester integration, yet downstream consumption rises even faster as urbanisation, hygiene mandates, and infrastructure build intensify. China guides its chemical-industry roadmap toward higher-value chains, encouraging firms such as Wanhua to broaden into acrylic esters under governmental self-sufficiency drives.

North America maintains a resilient supply outlook anchored by integrated Gulf Coast complexes. US producers benefit from shale-advantaged propylene yet face environmental disclosure obligations that spur investment in bio-routes and carbon accounting. Electrical and electronics demand for ultra-high-purity glacial grades supports incremental debottlenecking.

Europe advances sustainability leadership through mandatory scope-3 reporting and circular-economy directives. The Middle East and Africa record the smallest base but witness a pronounced uptick in capacity planning as petrochemical producers capture value through derivative integration. Kuwait Petroleum's equity entry into Wanhua underscores Gulf entities' strategy to access Asian demand corridors. Collectively, geographic dynamics elevate the acrylic acid market as a cornerstone feedstock across differentiated economic stages.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

Arkema / BASF / China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) / Dow / Evonik Industries AG / Formosa Plastics Group / LG Chem / Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation / NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. / Sasol / Satellite Chemical Co., Ltd. / Shanghai Huayi Acrylic Acid Co., Ltd. / Wanhua /

Additional Benefits:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format /
3 months of analyst support /