France Adhesives Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts UP TO 2028

France Adhesives Market Trends

Rising trend of cheap and lightweight packaging in France drives the demand for flexible and rigid plastic packaging

• France had a GDP of USD 44,750 per capita, with a growth rate of 2.9% Y-o-Y in 2022. The packaging industry sector contributed around 0.68% of the country's GDP. France has the third-largest packaging industry in Europe. The factors affecting the French packaging industry are trade exchanges, employment, wine production, government policy support, etc.
• The country's economy observed a slowdown in 2020 because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production volume was reduced by 4.77% in the same year compared to 2019. This happened due to supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and a lockdown in the country for nearly three months. The economic recovery in the country started as international borders opened in 2021, resulting in a regular supply of raw materials for production, which increased by 4,100 tons in 2021.
• In Europe, packaging production reached USD 400 billion annually, of which 13% is produced in France. The packaging industry in the country is dominated by plastic packaging (38%) and paper & paperboard (29%) packaging, which is majorly used in food packaging, beverages, healthcare, and beauty products. France is a leading producer of wooden packaging, accounting for 20% of the total European wooden packaging.
• Germany is the largest customer of the French packaging industry, with a trade deficit of EUR 920 million in 2019. The rising trend of cheap and lightweight packaging in France is expected to drive the demand for flexible and rigid plastic packaging in the coming years. Hence, it may lead to the growth of the packaging industry in the country. However, declining wine production in the country may hinder packaging products in the future.

In addition to net-zero vehicle emissions by 2035, electric vehicle registrations growth is likely to propel the automotive production

• The automotive industry in France has fared much better compared to other major European economies. Automotive vehicle production experienced continuous growth till 2018 and further exhibited a decline of 8.3% in 2019, as the automotive market was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2020, the country produced 1,316,371 cars and light commercial vehicles compared to 2,175,350 vehicles produced during 2019, recording a decline of 39.5%, as production came to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the temporary shutdown of manufacturing units across different parts of the country. Limited raw material supply added to the challenges faced by the automobile sector.​
• In 2021, the country’s new plug-ins electric vehicle registration stood at over 315,000, registering a growth rate of 62% compared to 2020, enhancing the demand of the electric vehicle segment in France. Along with it, electric vehicles registered a 21.4% market share in March 2022, up from 16.1% Y-o-Y.
• The French car industry has unanimously condemned the European Parliament’s vote to ban the production of combustion engine cars from 2035. The country plans to achieve net-zero vehicle emissions by 2035, which is likely to drive the automotive vehicle market in the country over the forecast period.

OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT

Segment Analysis: End User Industry

Packaging Segment in France Adhesives Market

The packaging segment maintains its dominant position in the French adhesives market, commanding approximately 34% market share in 2024. This leadership position is primarily driven by the robust growth of the e-commerce sector in France, which has significantly increased the demand for packaging solutions. The segment's strength is further reinforced by the increasing adoption of sustainable packaging practices, where water-based and eco-friendly hot melt adhesives play a crucial role. The packaging industry's shift towards flexible and lightweight packaging solutions has also contributed to higher adhesive consumption, particularly in food and beverage packaging applications. Additionally, the segment benefits from France's position as a major packaging hub in Europe, with significant production of both paper-based and plastic packaging materials requiring various adhesive solutions.

Aerospace Segment in France Adhesives Market

The aerospace segment is emerging as one of the most dynamic sectors in the French adhesives market, with projections indicating robust growth through 2024-2029. This growth is primarily driven by France's position as a major aerospace manufacturing hub, hosting industry leaders like Airbus and Safran. The segment's expansion is further supported by increasing investments in electric and hybrid aircraft development, which require specialized aerospace adhesives for lightweight construction and battery integration. The adoption of advanced composite materials in aircraft manufacturing has also intensified the demand for high-performance structural adhesives that can withstand extreme conditions while maintaining structural integrity. Additionally, the growing focus on sustainable aviation has led to increased research and development in eco-friendly aerospace adhesives, further driving segment growth.

Remaining Segments in End User Industry

The French adhesives market encompasses several other significant segments, including building and construction, healthcare, automotive, and woodworking industries. The building and construction segment maintains steady growth driven by infrastructure development and renovation projects. The healthcare segment continues to expand with increasing demand for medical device assembly and wound care applications. The automotive sector's transformation towards electric vehicles has created new opportunities for specialized reactive adhesives solutions. The woodworking segment serves the furniture and joinery industries with a specific focus on sustainable and low-emission wood adhesives products. Each of these segments contributes uniquely to the market's diversity and overall growth, with varying requirements for adhesive properties and applications.

Segment Analysis: Technology

Water-borne Segment in France Adhesives Market

Water-borne adhesives dominate the French adhesives market, holding approximately 43% market share in 2024. These adhesives are widely preferred across industries due to their environmental friendliness and negligible VOC content, making them safer for workers at manufacturing sites. Water-borne adhesives are typically formulated as dispersions or emulsions, with dispersed polymer particles ranging from 50-300 nm in diameter. Their strong bonding capabilities with wood, paper, textiles, leather, and other porous substrates make them particularly valuable in the woodworking and footwear industries. The segment's dominance is further strengthened by their cost-effectiveness compared to other adhesive technologies and their ability to serve as perfect substitutes for solvent-borne adhesives while maintaining similar chemistry of curing and adhesion properties.

Hot Melt Segment in France Adhesives Market

The hot melt adhesives segment is experiencing robust growth in the French market, projected to grow at approximately 7% annually through 2024-2029. This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from the packaging and e-commerce sectors, where these adhesives are essential for paper packaging applications. Hot melt adhesives, also known as hot glue, are thermoplastic adhesives that can be operated within a temperature range of 60-200 degrees centigrade, offering versatility across various applications. The segment's growth is further supported by their quick-setting properties, strong bonding capabilities, and increasing adoption in automotive applications, particularly in electric vehicle manufacturing for seats and interior components.

Remaining Segments in Technology Segmentation

The remaining segments in the French adhesives market include reactive adhesives, solvent-borne, and UV-cured adhesives, each serving specific industrial applications. Reactive adhesives are particularly valued in the automotive and construction industries due to their rapid setting time and moisture resistance after curing. Solvent-borne adhesives, despite environmental concerns, maintain their importance in applications requiring fast drying times. UV-cured adhesives have carved out a niche in electronics and medical device manufacturing due to their precision application capabilities and flexible curing properties. These segments continue to evolve with technological advancements and increasing focus on sustainable solutions.

Segment Analysis: Resin

Polyurethane Segment in France Adhesives Market

Polyurethane adhesives dominate the French adhesives market, holding approximately 24% of the total market share in 2024. The segment's strong position is attributed to its versatile properties, including durability, flexibility, and excellent adhesion to various substrates like glass, ceramic, plastic, composites, metals, alloys, and wood. These adhesives are particularly popular in the automotive sector due to their applicability in joining dissimilar substrates and their use in vehicle interiors. The growing electric vehicle segment in France has further boosted demand for polyurethane adhesives in automotive applications. Additionally, the construction industry's steady growth has maintained strong demand for polyurethane adhesives in applications such as sandwiching panels of polystyrene and mineral wool. The segment also benefits from increasing adoption in the furniture manufacturing sector, where polyurethane adhesives are preferred for their strong bonding capabilities with wooden substrates.

Epoxy Segment in France Adhesives Market

The epoxy adhesives segment is experiencing robust growth in the French market, projected to grow at approximately 7% annually from 2024 to 2029. This growth is primarily driven by increasing applications in the automotive industry, where epoxy adhesives are extensively used for painted surfaces, metal, plastic, and composite bonding applications. The segment is also benefiting from the rising trend of home office furniture, as epoxy-based adhesives provide excellent adhesion to wooden substrates upon application of activators. The construction sector's expansion, particularly in flooring, roofing, and wooden deck assembly applications, is further propelling the demand for epoxy adhesives. The segment's growth is also supported by its wide applicability in the electronics industry, where epoxy adhesives are preferred for their strong structural bonding properties and reliability in electronic component assembly.

Remaining Segments in Resin Segmentation

The French adhesives market features several other significant resin segments, including acrylic adhesives, VAE/EVA, cyanoacrylate, and silicone adhesives. Acrylic adhesives have established a strong presence in the construction and automotive sectors due to their compatibility with various substrates. VAE/EVA adhesives are particularly important in the packaging and woodworking industries, offering excellent performance in hot-melt applications. Cyanoacrylate adhesives serve crucial roles in electronics and automotive applications, particularly in automotive electronics installation. Silicone-based adhesives have carved out a niche in applications requiring high flexibility and durability, especially in construction and automotive sectors. Each of these segments contributes uniquely to the market, serving specific industrial needs and applications while maintaining their respective market positions through continuous innovation and application development.

Free With This Report

We provide a complimentary and exhaustive set of data points on global and regional metrics that present the fundamental structure of the industry. Presented in the form of 24+ free charts, the section covers rare data on various end-user production trends including automobile production, newly built construction floor area, packaging production, aircraft deliveries, footwear production, and regional data on adhesives and sealants demand, etc.