Acrylic Acid Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

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).

Acrylic Acid Market Size and Share

Acrylic Acid Market (2025 - 2030)
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Acrylic Acid Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

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.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By derivative, butyl acrylate led with 47.41% of acrylic acid market share in 2024, while Super-absorbent polymers are projected to expand at a 5.73% CAGR through 2030. 
  • By application, paints and coatings accounted for 35.92% of the acrylic acid market size in 2024, and adhesives and sealants are expected to record the fastest growth at 7.36% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By purity grade, technical grade held 89.17% volume in 2024, whereas glacial grade advances at a 7.52% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By end-user industry, personal care and hygiene contributed 40.26 of % demand in 2024 and is expected to grow at a 5.65% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By geography, Asia-Pacific contributed 52.53% of global volume in 2024, expanding at 5.49% CAGR to 2030. 

Segment Analysis

By Derivative: Versatile Butyl Acrylate Defends Volume Supremacy as SAP Accelerates

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.

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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Application: Performance Adhesives Pull Ahead of Legacy Coatings

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.

By Purity Grade: Technical Grade Retains Volume Edge while Glacial Grades Surge

Technical grade (~94% purity) served 89.17% of 2024 demand, largely feeding high-tonnage paints, adhesives, and SAP plants where cost considerations dominate. Nonetheless, glacial grade (more than or equal to 99% purity) advances at a 7.52% CAGR through 2030 as electronics, semiconductor encapsulation, and pharmaceutical actives mandate extremely low ion and metal content. Semiconductor fabs specify ultra-high-purity monomer for photo-resist and underfill formulations, elevating margins significantly over bulk grades. Downstream clients validate supply chains by auditing distillation and ion-exchange polishing trains, tightening entry barriers for new producers.

By End-User Industry: Personal Care Maintains a Rare Balance of Scale and Momentum

Personal care and hygiene dominated 40.26% global offtake in 2024 and will still pace the field with 5.65% CAGR to 2030. Brand owners push thinner, more discreet diaper cores and eco-framed feminine hygiene articles, both of which rely on super-absorbent polymer innovation. Building and construction employ acrylic dispersions in façade coatings that marry crack-bridging flexibility with low VOC compliance. 

Automotive and transportation increasingly specify acrylic structural adhesives and thermal-management compounds for electric-vehicle battery packs. Electrical and electronics sectors demand high-purity grades for optically clear adhesive lamination and potting compounds that protect delicate circuitry. Packaging benefits from waterborne acrylic barriers, enabling fibre-based substrates to replace single-use plastics, while agriculture deploys SAP granules to cut irrigation frequency and boost seed germination.

Acrylic Acid Market: Market Share by End-user Industry
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

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.

Acrylic Acid Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

Global acrylic acid production remains highly consolidated. LG Chem disrupts through 100% bio-based monomer commercialisation, aligning with consumer-goods companies’ renewable-content pledges. Chinese entrants such as Wanhua employ advantaged propylene supply and state-backed financing to construct world-scale reactors, intensifying rivalry. Strategy centres on feedstock optionality, certified bio-content, and application-specific innovation. Process licensors offer bundled catalyst and evaporative crystallisation packages that shrink energy intensity by double digits. Digital twins optimise reactor uptime, while predictive maintenance reduces unscheduled shutdowns that previously destabilised the acrylic acid market supply.

Acrylic Acid Industry Leaders

  1. Arkema

  2. LG Chem

  3. BASF

  4. Dow

  5. NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Acrylic Acid Market - Market Concenration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • April 2025: Kuwait Petroleum subsidiary acquired a 25% stake in Wanhua Chemical Group, signalling deeper Middle-Eastern integration into China’s downstream value chain.
  • February 2025: LG Chem commenced commercial output of 100% plant-based acrylic acid at 100 tons per year scale after achieving USDA bio-preferred certification.

Table of Contents for Acrylic Acid Industry Report

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Landscape

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Super-Absorbent Polymer Demand Up-Trend
    • 4.2.2 Expansion of Water-Borne Architectural Coatings
    • 4.2.3 Rising Hygiene Mandates in Emerging Asia
    • 4.2.4 Commercialisation of Bio-Acrylic Acid Routes
    • 4.2.5 Surge in Electronics-Grade Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Health and Toxicity Concerns of AA Vapours
    • 4.3.2 Propylene Price Volatility
    • 4.3.3 Supply Risk from Ageing Propylene Oxide Assets
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Porter's Five Forces
    • 4.5.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.5.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.5.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.5.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.5.5 Degree of Competition

5. Market Size and Growth Forecasts (Volume)

  • 5.1 By Derivative
    • 5.1.1 Methyl Acrylate
    • 5.1.2 Butyl Acrylate
    • 5.1.3 Ethyl Acrylate
    • 5.1.4 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate
    • 5.1.5 Glacial Acrylic Acid
    • 5.1.6 Superabsorbent Polymer
  • 5.2 By Application
    • 5.2.1 Paints and Coatings
    • 5.2.2 Adhesives and Sealants
    • 5.2.3 Sanitary Products
    • 5.2.4 Surfactants
    • 5.2.5 Textiles
    • 5.2.6 Other Applications
  • 5.3 By Purity Grade
    • 5.3.1 Technical Grade (~94 %)
    • 5.3.2 Glacial Grade (more than or equal to 99%)
    • 5.3.3 Ultra-high Purity (Electronics)
  • 5.4 By End-user Industry
    • 5.4.1 Personal Care and Hygiene
    • 5.4.2 Building and Construction
    • 5.4.3 Automotive and Transportation
    • 5.4.4 Electrical and Electronics
    • 5.4.5 Packaging
    • 5.4.6 Agriculture and Horticulture
  • 5.5 By Geography
    • 5.5.1 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.1.1 China
    • 5.5.1.2 India
    • 5.5.1.3 Japan
    • 5.5.1.4 South Korea
    • 5.5.1.5 Australia
    • 5.5.1.6 Indonesia
    • 5.5.1.7 Malaysia
    • 5.5.1.8 Thailand
    • 5.5.1.9 Vietnam
    • 5.5.1.10 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.2 North America
    • 5.5.2.1 United States
    • 5.5.2.2 Canada
    • 5.5.2.3 Mexico
    • 5.5.3 Europe
    • 5.5.3.1 Germany
    • 5.5.3.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.5.3.3 France
    • 5.5.3.4 Italy
    • 5.5.3.5 Spain
    • 5.5.3.6 Nordic Countries
    • 5.5.3.7 Turkey
    • 5.5.3.8 Russia
    • 5.5.3.9 Rest of Europe
    • 5.5.4 South America
    • 5.5.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.5.4.2 Argentina
    • 5.5.4.3 Colombia
    • 5.5.4.4 Rest of South America
    • 5.5.5 Middle-East and Africa
    • 5.5.5.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.5.5.2 United Arab Emirates
    • 5.5.5.3 Qatar
    • 5.5.5.4 Egypt
    • 5.5.5.5 Nigeria
    • 5.5.5.6 South Africa
    • 5.5.5.7 Rest of Middle-East and Africa

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Arkema
    • 6.4.2 BASF
    • 6.4.3 China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec)
    • 6.4.4 Dow
    • 6.4.5 Evonik Industries AG
    • 6.4.6 Formosa Plastics Group
    • 6.4.7 LG Chem
    • 6.4.8 Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation
    • 6.4.9 NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    • 6.4.10 Sasol
    • 6.4.11 Satellite Chemical Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.12 Shanghai Huayi Acrylic Acid Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.13 Wanhua

7. Market Opportunities and Future Outlook

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Global Acrylic Acid Market Report Scope

Acrylic acid is a colorless, unsaturated carboxylic acid with the molecular formula C3H4O2, produced through the two-stage catalytic oxidation of propylene. It can be polymerized to form homopolymers and copolymerized with esters and other vinyl monomers. Thus, acrylic acid is mainly used to produce polymers for different plastic products. It can also be used to produce adhesives, sealants, and surfactants.

The acrylic acid market is segmented by derivative, application, and geography. By derivative, the market is segmented into methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, glacial acrylic acid, and superabsorbent polymer. By application, the market is segmented into paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, surfactants, sanitary products, textiles, and other applications (consumer goods, etc.) The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts in 15 countries across major regions. The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of volume (tons) for all the above segments.

By Derivative Methyl Acrylate
Butyl Acrylate
Ethyl Acrylate
2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate
Glacial Acrylic Acid
Superabsorbent Polymer
By Application Paints and Coatings
Adhesives and Sealants
Sanitary Products
Surfactants
Textiles
Other Applications
By Purity Grade Technical Grade (~94 %)
Glacial Grade (more than or equal to 99%)
Ultra-high Purity (Electronics)
By End-user Industry Personal Care and Hygiene
Building and Construction
Automotive and Transportation
Electrical and Electronics
Packaging
Agriculture and Horticulture
By Geography Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Vietnam
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Nordic Countries
Turkey
Russia
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Rest of South America
Middle-East and Africa Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Egypt
Nigeria
South Africa
Rest of Middle-East and Africa
By Derivative
Methyl Acrylate
Butyl Acrylate
Ethyl Acrylate
2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate
Glacial Acrylic Acid
Superabsorbent Polymer
By Application
Paints and Coatings
Adhesives and Sealants
Sanitary Products
Surfactants
Textiles
Other Applications
By Purity Grade
Technical Grade (~94 %)
Glacial Grade (more than or equal to 99%)
Ultra-high Purity (Electronics)
By End-user Industry
Personal Care and Hygiene
Building and Construction
Automotive and Transportation
Electrical and Electronics
Packaging
Agriculture and Horticulture
By Geography
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Vietnam
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Nordic Countries
Turkey
Russia
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Rest of South America
Middle-East and Africa Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Egypt
Nigeria
South Africa
Rest of Middle-East and Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the acrylic acid market?

The acrylic acid market size is 8.18 million t in 2025 and is projected to reach 10.52 million t by 2030.

Which derivative holds the largest share?

Butyl acrylate leads, representing 47.41% of global volume in 2024.

Which region dominates consumption?

Asia-Pacific accounts for 52.53% of worldwide demand owing to strong hygiene and infrastructure activity.

Why are bio-based grades gaining traction?

Certified bio-content lowers product carbon footprints and meets brand-owner sustainability targets, fostering rapid adoption in Europe and North America.

What is driving the fast growth of adhesives?

Electronics miniaturisation and automotive lightweighting favour acrylic adhesives that combine clarity, UV stability and mechanical strength, producing a 7.36% CAGR through 2030.

Page last updated on: July 21, 2025