Formulation Additive Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Formulation Additive Market Report is Segmented by Additive Type (Defoamers, Rheology Modifier, and More), End-Use Industry (Construction, Transportation, Automotive, Electronics, and More), Formulation Technology (Water-Borne Systems, Solvent-Borne Systems, and More), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Formulation Additive Market Size and Share

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Formulation Additive Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The Formulation Additive Market size is estimated at USD 21.67 Billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 29.07 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.05% during the forecast period (2025-2030). Steady growth rests on regulatory mandates favoring low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) chemistries, public-sector infrastructure spending across emerging economies, and rapid material innovation that improves the performance of lightweight composites and e-mobility fluids. Suppliers with robust research and development (R&D) programs and vertically integrated feedstock supply continue to outpace the broader field, while newcomers focused on bio-based portfolios capture share in niche, high-margin segments. Asia-Pacific remains pivotal, contributing more than 40% of global revenue and recording the fastest regional gains, yet North America and Europe provide premium opportunities linked to stringent sustainability standards. Volatile petrochemical prices and higher compliance costs under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) and TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) temper near-term margin expansion but simultaneously accelerate the transition to cost-stable, plant-derived raw materials.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By additive type, dispersing agents commanded 33.67% of the Formulation Additive market share in 2024; rheology modifiers are on track for a 6.56% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By end-use industry, construction captured 28.66% of the Formulation Additive market size in 2024, whereas electronics is projected to grow at 6.87% CAGR through 2030. 
  • By formulation technology, solvent-borne systems retained 46.44% share of the Formulation Additive market size in 2024, while UV/EB-curable systems are forecast to rise at a 7.24% CAGR during 2025-2030. 
  • By geography, Asia-Pacific held 42.16% of the formulation additive market share in 2024, and the region is anticipated to post a 6.97% CAGR to 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Additive Type: Dispersing Agents Consolidate Leadership

Dispersing agents generated the largest slice of the formulation additive market in 2024, holding 33.67% of revenue on the back of constant demand across pigments, fillers, and carbon-black masterbatches. Rheology modifiers follow as the fastest-advancing niche, supported by a 6.56% CAGR that reflects the rapid switch to water-borne chemistries where viscosity control governs film uniformity. Lubrizol’s Solsperse W60 hyper-dispersant illustrates how 90% active-matter formulations shrink dosage by 15% and eliminate alkylphenol ethoxylates, creating a lower-toxicity profile. BASF expanded its Rheovis range with non-ionic associative thickeners that provide pseudoplastic flow, allowing sprayable yet sag-free coatings. Defoamers remain stable given broad industrial use, but silicone-free grades grow faster within food packaging and inkjet graphic arts.

The segment’s technical agenda now centers on multifunctional polymers able to disperse, wet, and control foam in a single backbone, which trims SKU count for downstream mixers. Nanoparticle compatibilizers that couple pigments to water-borne polyurethane matrices attract additional R&D as printing applications lean toward ever-finer nib widths. Suppliers anticipate that hybrid organic-inorganic scaffolds will underpin the next wave of performance gains, unlocking lower pigment loadings without color-strength loss and cutting overall formulation costs.

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

By End-use Industry: Construction Maintains Dominance, Electronics Accelerates

Construction captured 28.66% of the formulation additive market size in 2024, propelled by transport corridors, affordable housing, and resilient public infrastructure programs. High-alumina anti-corrosion dispersions and hydrophobic rheology modifiers register sustained pull as engineers specify longer design life. ALTANA’s investment in NORDTREAT flame-retardant bio-chemistry underlines the shift toward greener fire safety solutions. Electronics meanwhile charts a 6.87% CAGR as chip-makers order ultra-pure defoamers and extreme-temperature wetting agents for advanced lithography processes. The printed-sensor sub-segment alone is forecast to exceed USD 15 Billion by 2030, creating additional tailwinds.

Transportation and automotive segments add steady mid-single-digit growth grounded in lightweighting and battery-thermal demands. Oil and gas retain specialized requirements for friction reducers in drilling fluids. Food and beverage formulations experience stricter regulatory oversight, prompting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free direct-food-contact barriers. Across industries, the migration to bio-content and low VOC pushes R&D investment toward plant-derived feedstocks that match incumbent performance in challenging service environments.

By Formulation Technology: UV/EB Systems Challenge Solvent-borne Incumbency

Solvent-borne platforms still account for 46.44% of total revenue, given their track record in harsh industrial settings. Nevertheless, UV/EB-curable chemistries lead growth at a 7.24% CAGR, favored for instant curing, lower energy draw, and negligible VOC. Research on thiol-ene click reactions extends UV cure to water-borne polyurethane dispersions, opening fresh territory in flooring and flexible packaging applications. Powder coatings remain a niche for metal furniture and appliance shells but gain acceptance in EV battery enclosures where outgassing constraints exclude liquid paints. Clariant launched Ceridust Vita waxes that align with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) restrictions and boost scratch resistance in powder formulations.

Water-borne systems climb steadily, helped by ongoing capital expenditure in high-shear dispersion equipment that eliminates microfoam. Suppliers integrate digital rheology models to optimize flow curves, reducing lab iterations. Solvent-free hot-melt adhesives extend reach into protective films for consumer electronics, signaling a broader market redirection toward low-emission chemistries.

Formulation Additive Market: Market Share by Formulation Technology
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific generated the largest revenue pool in 2024 at 42.16% and projects the sharpest uptick to 2030 with a 6.97% CAGR, reflecting the region’s manufacturing and civil engineering dominance. China sustains double-digit demand for construction sealants and electric-vehicle thermal fluids, supported by extensive domestic feedstock integration. India elevates public capital expenditure under its National Infrastructure Pipeline, translating into long contracts for concrete admixtures and exterior protective coatings. Southeast Asian nations scale semiconductor back-end capacity, opening channels for electronics-grade dispersants that meet stringent ionic-contamination ceilings.

North America benefits from robust aerospace and private housing investments, plus abundant shale-based feedstocks that cushion cost spikes. The Inflation Reduction Act accelerates solar and battery gigafactory construction, spurring local sourcing of UV-curable resins and dielectric coolants. European output mirrors regulatory leadership; REACH enforcement and circular-economy directives encourage early adoption of mass-balance and mechanically recycled raw-material inputs. Germany and France allocate public grants to upgrade rail and bridge assets, supporting anti-corrosion additive offtake.

Latin America offers pockets of upside in Chilean copper mines and Brazilian agrochemical packaging, though currency volatility restrains faster scale-up. Middle East and Africa see infrastructure investment linked to logistics corridors such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and Gulf smart-city projects, favoring cement-compatible rheology modifiers and temperature-stable dispersants. Multinational suppliers increasingly license technology to regional compounders, balancing intellectual-property protection with localized production to sidestep import tariffs and shipping delays.

Formulation Additive Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

The Formulation Additive market is moderately consolidated with the presence of major players, including BASF, Dow, Evonik Industries AG, Arkema, and Honeywell International Inc. These companies possess global plants, backward-integrated monomer access, and annual R&D budgets exceeding USD 400 Million each. BASF’s coatings unit generated USD 4.3 Billion in 2024, underscoring scale advantages that fund rapid substitution programs for low-carbon offerings. ALTANA reported EUR 3.17 Billion in revenue, a 16% increase supported by its BYK additives franchise. Digital platforms sharpen competitive edges: Dow’s Paint Vision software trims formulation cycles by 48% using machine-learning algorithms, while BASF’s D’lite suite guides customers toward lower cradle-to-gate emissions. Smaller specialists leverage bio-based portfolios to secure premium contracts, often in partnership with tier-one OEMs eager to meet Scope 3 emissions targets. Licensing frameworks and tolling agreements enable asset-light players to scale without heavy capital commitments.

Formulation Additive Industry Leaders

  1. Dow

  2. Honeywell International Inc.

  3. BASF

  4. Evonik Industries AG

  5. Arkema

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
BASF SE, Eastman Chemical Company, BYK (A member of ALTANA), Dow, Honeywell International Inc.
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Recent Industry Developments

  • April 2025: Evonik Coating Additives, a subsidiary of Evonik Industries AG developed TEGO Wet 288, a substrate wetting formulation additive for waterborne and radiation-cured formulations. Furthermore, the additive has broad food contact compliance, making it suitable for food packaging applications.
  • February 2025: Arxada launched Polyboost, a multifunctional additive developed to enhance a wide range of paint and coating properties. This formulation additive improves the stability of pH and viscosity of paint formulations and supports low preservative use rates, which may avoid an H317 hazard label.

Table of Contents for Formulation Additive Industry Report

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions & 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 Sustainability-driven Switch to Low-VOC Water-borne Coatings
    • 4.2.2 Expansion of Infrastructure Spending in Emerging Economies
    • 4.2.3 Rapid Growth of High-performance Lightweight Composites
    • 4.2.4 E-mobility Demand for Thermal-management Fluids and Additives
    • 4.2.5 Bio-based Multifunctional Additives Gaining OEM Approvals
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Volatile Petrochemical Feedstock Pricing
    • 4.3.2 Stringent REACH and TSCA Re-registration Costs
    • 4.3.3 Rising PFAS-free Specification Bans
  • 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 Substitute Products
    • 4.5.5 Degree of Competition

5. Market Size & Growth Forecasts (Value)

  • 5.1 By Additive Type
    • 5.1.1 Defoamers
    • 5.1.2 Rheology Modifiers
    • 5.1.3 Modifier
    • 5.1.4 Dispersing Agents
  • 5.2 By End-use Industry
    • 5.2.1 Construction
    • 5.2.2 Transportation
    • 5.2.3 Automotive
    • 5.2.4 Oil and Gas
    • 5.2.5 Food and Beverage
    • 5.2.6 Electronics
    • 5.2.7 Other End-user Industries
  • 5.3 By Formulation Technology
    • 5.3.1 Water-borne Systems
    • 5.3.2 Solvent-borne Systems
    • 5.3.3 Powder Coatings
    • 5.3.4 UV/EB-curable Systems
  • 5.4 By Geography
    • 5.4.1 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.4.1.1 China
    • 5.4.1.2 Japan
    • 5.4.1.3 India
    • 5.4.1.4 South Korea
    • 5.4.1.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.4.2 North America
    • 5.4.2.1 United States
    • 5.4.2.2 Canada
    • 5.4.2.3 Mexico
    • 5.4.3 Europe
    • 5.4.3.1 Germany
    • 5.4.3.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.4.3.3 France
    • 5.4.3.4 Italy
    • 5.4.3.5 Rest of Europe
    • 5.4.4 South America
    • 5.4.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.4.4.2 Argentina
    • 5.4.4.3 Rest of South America
    • 5.4.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.4.5.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.4.5.2 South Africa
    • 5.4.5.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share(%)/Ranking 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 & Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Altana (BYK)
    • 6.4.2 Arkema
    • 6.4.3 Arxada
    • 6.4.4 BASF SE
    • 6.4.5 Cabot Corporation
    • 6.4.6 Clariant
    • 6.4.7 Dow
    • 6.4.8 Eastman Chemical Company
    • 6.4.9 Evonik Industries AG
    • 6.4.10 Honeywell International Inc.
    • 6.4.11 Huntsman International LLC
    • 6.4.12 LANXESS
    • 6.4.13 Lubrizol
    • 6.4.14 Momentive
    • 6.4.15 Münzing Chemie GmbH
    • 6.4.16 Wacker Chemie AG

7. Market Opportunities & Future Outlook

  • 7.1 White-space & Unmet-need Assessment
  • 7.2 Advanced Computational Modeling and In-silico Simulations
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Global Formulation Additive Market Report Scope

The scope of the formulation additive market report includes:

By Additive Type Defoamers
Rheology Modifiers
Modifier
Dispersing Agents
By End-use Industry Construction
Transportation
Automotive
Oil and Gas
Food and Beverage
Electronics
Other End-user Industries
By Formulation Technology Water-borne Systems
Solvent-borne Systems
Powder Coatings
UV/EB-curable Systems
By Geography Asia-Pacific China
Japan
India
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
By Additive Type
Defoamers
Rheology Modifiers
Modifier
Dispersing Agents
By End-use Industry
Construction
Transportation
Automotive
Oil and Gas
Food and Beverage
Electronics
Other End-user Industries
By Formulation Technology
Water-borne Systems
Solvent-borne Systems
Powder Coatings
UV/EB-curable Systems
By Geography
Asia-Pacific China
Japan
India
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current value of the Formulation Additive market?

The Formulation Additive market size reached USD 21.67 Billion in 2025.

How fast is the sector expected to grow to 2030?

The market is forecast to expand at a 6.05% CAGR, rising to USD 29.07 Billion by 2030.

Which additive type holds the largest revenue share?

Dispersing agents led with 33.67% of global revenue in 2024.

Which downstream industry is expanding the quickest?

Electronics applications are projected to post a 6.87% CAGR through 2030 due to semiconductor complexity.

Why is Asia-Pacific so important?

Asia-Pacific accounted for 42.16% of revenue in 2024 and is set to grow at a 6.97% CAGR thanks to manufacturing scale and infrastructure build-out.

Page last updated on: July 24, 2025

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