Super Absorbent Polymers Market by Type (Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyacrylate/Polyacrylamide Copolymer, Bio-Based Sap), Application (Personal Hygiene, Agriculture, Medical, Industrial), And Region - Global Forecast to 2030
Super Absorbent Polymers Market Overview
The super absorbent polymers market is projected to reach USD 13.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.3% from USD 8.7 billion in 2023. Increasing demand for adult incontinence products, increasing use in water treatment application, and increasing demand of disposable baby diapers are driving the market for super absorbent polymers.
Attractive Opportunities in the Super Absorbent Polymers Market
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, Request for Free Sample Report
Super absorbent polymers Market Dynamics
Driver: Growing demand for adult incontinence products
The rise in adult incontinence product demand is driven by factors such as aging populations, heightened awareness, and diminished stigma. With longer life expectancy, there's an increased necessity for products that ensure comfort and preserve dignity in later life stages. An increasing number of nations are experiencing an aging population, which is contributing to a rise in the prevalence of diseases like urine incontinence. The advancements in super absorbent polymer technology have also played a significant role. These polymers are designed to efficiently absorb and retain large volumes of liquid, providing better leakage protection and allowing for thinner and more discreet products. A rising awareness of personal hygiene and sanitation among adults is fuelling the demand for products designed for adult incontinence. Adult diapers are designed to absorb and retain large amounts of liquid. These are disposable or reusable products that are worn like traditional diapers.
Restraint: Fluctuating raw material prices
The fluctuation in the costs of raw materials such as acrylic acid used in the production of super absorbent polymers is a major restraint for the market growth. These price fluctuations have a direct impact on the overall prices of super absorbent polymers. Additionally, the specific raw materials required for production make the market susceptible to uncertainties in their availability. Stringent regulations, particularly in developed countries regarding the use of synthetic materials in healthcare applications, further pose challenges for market growth. The fluctuating raw material prices not only affect production costs but also influence the pricing dynamics of super absorbent polymers.
Opportunity: Rising demand for biodegradable super absorbent polymers
The rising demand for biodegradable super absorbent polymers (SAP) creates a substantial growth opportunity in the market. With a growing awareness of environmental issues, there is an increasing inclination towards sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. Biodegradable SAPs emerge as a more environmentally conscious choice, addressing worries about the lasting effects of conventional polymers. These SAPs naturally breakdown and significantly reduce long-term pollution and ecological damage. Bio-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are a type of SAPs derived from renewable or bio-based sources. They are gaining favor compared to synthetic super absorbent polymers. Synthetic SAPs typically lack biocompatibility, biodegradability, or renewability. The adoption of bio-based SAPs offers a potential solution to mitigate the environmental impact associated with SAPs, commonly utilized in products for hygiene, agriculture, construction, and medical waste adsorbents.
Challenge: Environmental concerns
Environmental concerns pose a significant challenge for the super absorbent polymers (SAP) market. The non-biodegradable nature of SAPs raises environmental apprehensions, potentially hindering market growth. There is mounting pressure on the SAP market to innovate and create biodegradable alternatives, addressing environmental issues and aligning with the rising demand for eco-friendly products. The industry is under increasing scrutiny to develop sustainable solutions that minimize environmental pollution and cater to the growing preference for environmentally conscious products.
Super Absorbent Polymers Market: Ecosystem
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis
"Bio-based SAP is fastest growing by type in super absorbent polymers market, in terms of value."
The growing demand for biobased SAPs in agriculture is also contributing to the growth of the market. Biobased SAPs can improve soil fertility, water retention, and drought tolerance, making them an attractive option for sustainable agriculture practices. Biobased SAPs are made from renewable resources such as starch, cellulose, and chitin, making them more environmentally friendly than traditional SAPs.
" Based on application, medical is the second largest market in super absorbent polymers market in 2022, in terms of value."
SAPs are a crucial component in the manufacturing of personal care products like diapers and sanitary napkins. They are used for their high absorbency, which is essential for maintaining hygiene and comfort. The adoption of SAPs is increasing swiftly across the healthcare sector due to the mounting consumer awareness about the benefits of using high-quality personal care products. The production of medical textiles is also driving the need for SAPs.
“North America accounted the second largest market for super absorbent polymers in 2022, in terms of value."
Based on region, North America is a key market for super absorbent polymers. The aging population in North America has been a major driving factor for the increasing market penetration of SAPs in the region, particularly in the personal hygiene industry. The growing awareness and social acceptance of a wide range of health issues have also contributed to changing the demand landscape in the hygiene industry. The demand for SAPs in North America is driven by their use in personal care products, including diapers and adult incontinence items, due to their superior water-absorbing capabilities.
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure
Key Market Players
The key players in this market are Nippon Shokubai (Japan), BASF (Germany), Evonik Industries (Germany), Sumitomo Seika (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), Chase Corporation (US), Formosa Plastic Corporation (Taiwan), Kao Corporation (Japan), Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China), SDP Global (Japan), Yixing Danson Technology (China). Continuous developments in the market—including new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, agreements, and expansions—are expected to help the market grow.
Read More: Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) Companies
Get online access to the report on the World's First Market Intelligence Cloud
- Easy to Download Historical Data & Forecast Numbers
- Company Analysis Dashboard for high growth potential opportunities
- Research Analyst Access for customization & queries
- Competitor Analysis with Interactive dashboard
- Latest News, Updates & Trend analysis
Request Sample Scope of the Report
Get online access to the report on the World's First Market Intelligence Cloud
- Easy to Download Historical Data & Forecast Numbers
- Company Analysis Dashboard for high growth potential opportunities
- Research Analyst Access for customization & queries
- Competitor Analysis with Interactive dashboard
- Latest News, Updates & Trend analysis
Report Metric |
Details |
Years considered for the study |
2019-2030 |
Base Year |
2022 |
Forecast period |
2023–2030 |
Units considered |
Kiloton; Value (USD Million/Billion) |
Segments |
Type, Application, and Region |
Regions |
Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America |
Companies |
Nippon Shokubai (Japan), BASF (Germany), Evonik Industries (Germany), Sumitomo Seika (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), Chase Corporation (US), Formosa Plastic Corporation (Taiwan), Kao Corporation (Japan), Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China), SDP Global (Japan), Yixing Danson Technology (China). |
This report categorizes the global super absorbent polymers market based on type, application, and region.
Based on the type:
- Sodium Polyacrylate
- Polyacrylate / Polyacrylamide Copolymer
- Bio-Based SAP
- Others
Based on the application:
- Personal Hygiene
- Agriculture
- Medical
- Industrial
- Others
Based on the region:
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- North America
- South America
- Middle East & Africa
Recent Developments
- In November 2022, Nippon Shokubai developed technology for SAP to recycle disposable diapers. This technology development helped the company to reduce energy consumption during recycling and protect the water quality of rivers and other bodies of water.
- In March 2021, BASF has commenced production of super absorbent polymers at its cutting-edge Superabsorbent Excellence Center, located within its integrated site in Antwerp, Belgium. The company invested USD 26 million to enhance the development of superabsorbent polymers and improve their performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What are the factors influencing the growth of the super absorbent polymers market?
The growth of this market can be attributed to increasing demand for biodegradable super absorbent polymer products.
Which are the key sectors driving the super absorbent polymers market?
The sectors driving the demand for super absorbent polymers are personal hygiene, agriculture, medical and industrial.
Who are the major manufacturers?
Major manufacturers include Nippon Shokubai (Japan), BASF (Germany), Evonik Industries (Germany), Sumitomo Seika (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), Chase Corporation (US), Formosa Plastic Corporation (Taiwan), Kao Corporation (Japan), Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China), SDP Global (Japan), Yixing Danson Technology (China), among others.
What is the biggest restraint for super absorbent polymers?
The biggest restraint can be fluctuating raw material prices.
How is recession impact affecting the overall super absorbent polymers market?
The recession impact is majorly affecting the developed regions like North America and Europe whereas developing regions like Asia Pacific are largely unimpacted.
What will be the growth prospects of the super absorbent polymers market?
Increasing demand for super absorbent polymers from various applications, stringent regulatory and sustainability mandates, and growing concerns for personal hygiene. .
To speak to our analyst for a discussion on the above findings, click Speak to Analyst
The study involved four major activities in estimating the market size of the super absorbent polymers market. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, the peer market, and the grandparent market. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. Thereafter, the market breakdown and data triangulation procedures were used to estimate the market size of the segments and subsegments.
Secondary Research
In the secondary research process, various secondary sources have been referred to for identifying and collecting information for this study. These secondary sources include annual reports, press releases, investor presentations of companies, white papers, certified publications, trade directories, articles from recognized authors, gold standard and silver standard websites, and databases. Secondary research has been used to obtain key information about the value chain of the industry, monetary chain of the market, the total pool of key players, market classification and segmentation according to industry trends to the bottom-most level, and regional markets. It was also used to obtain information about the key developments from a market-oriented perspective.
Primary Research
The super absorbent polymers market comprises several stakeholders in the value chain, which include manufacturers, and end users. Various primary sources from the supply and demand sides of the super absorbent polymers market have been interviewed to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. The primary interviewees from the demand side include key opinion leaders in hygiene sectors. The primary sources from the supply side include manufacturers, associations, and institutions involved in the super absorbent polymers industry. Primary interviews were conducted to gather insights such as market statistics, data of revenue collected from the products and services, market breakdowns, market size estimations, market forecasting, and data triangulation. Primary research also helped in understanding the various trends related to type, application, and region. Stakeholders from the demand side, such as CIOs, CTOs, and CSOs were interviewed to understand the buyer’s perspective on the suppliers, products, component providers, and their current usage of super absorbent polymers and outlook of their business, which will affect the overall market.
The breakdown of profiles of the primary interviewees is illustrated in the figure below:
Note: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 companies are classified based on their market revenue in 2022 available in the public domain, product portfolios, and geographical presence.
Other designations include consultants and sales, marketing, and procurement managers.
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure
Market Size Estimation
The top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the size of the super absorbent polymers market.
- The key players in the industry have been identified through extensive secondary research.
- The supply chain of the industry has been determined through primary and secondary research.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
- All possible parameters that affect the markets covered in this research study have been accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to obtain the final quantitative and qualitative data.
- The research includes the study of reports, reviews, and newsletters of the key market players, along with extensive interviews for opinions with leaders such as directors and marketing executives.
Top - Down Approach-
To know about the assumptions considered for the study, Request for Free Sample Report
Bottom - Up Approach-
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the total market size from the estimation process, the overall market has been split into several segments and sub-segments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all the segments and sub-segments, the data triangulation and market breakdown procedures have been employed, wherever applicable. The data has been triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply sides. Along with this, the market size has been validated by using both the top-down and bottom-up approaches and primary interviews. Hence, for every data segment, there have been three sources—top-down approach, bottom-up approach, and expert interviews. The data was assumed correct when the values arrived from the three sources matched.
Market Definition
Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are materials that can absorb and retain large amounts of liquid relative to their own mass. They are also known as superabsorbent material (SAM) or hydrogels. SAPs are commonly used in a wide range of applications, including personal care products such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products. They are also used in agriculture to improve soil fertility, water retention, and drought tolerance. SAPs are made from cross-linked polymers, such as sodium polyacrylate, which can absorb water through a process called osmosis.
Key Stakeholders
- Senior Management
- End User
- Finance/Procurement Department
- R&D Department
- Manufacturers
- Raw Material Suppliers
Report Objectives
- To define, describe, and forecast the size of the super absorbent polymers market, in terms of value and volume.
- To provide detailed information regarding the major factors (drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges) influencing the growth of the market
- To estimate and forecast the market size based on type, application, and region.
- To forecast the size of the market with respect to major regions, namely, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America, along with their key countries
- To strategically analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the overall market
- To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide a competitive landscape of market leaders.
- To track and analyze recent developments such as expansions, new product launches, partnerships & agreements, and acquisitions in the market.
- To strategically profile key market players and comprehensively analyze their core competencies.
Available Customizations
Along with the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to the company’s specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:
Regional Analysis
- Further breakdown of a region with respect to a particular country or additional application
Company Information
- Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players
Tariff & Regulations
- Regulations and Impact on super absorbent polymers market
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Super Absorbent Polymers Market
Report title not mentioned
Market overview and dynamics.
we need good supplier of Super absorbent polymer for Pakistan market.
The client wants to know whether we can revamp the report
Market Size information for Absorbent Polymer Market
Market information on global Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) Market
List of SAP powder supplier for hygiene and cellulose products