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Superabsorbent Polymer Market size was estimated at around USD 6 billion in 2017 and is predicted to grow at 5.7% CAGR from 2018 to 2025. Growing awareness about the personal health and hygiene will provide significant traction to the market.
The superabsorbent polymer is suitable for fluid absorbing applications such as in baby diapers, adult incontinence pads, and medical dressing among others. Rising literacy rate coupled with higher spending power and greater focus on healthcare will boost the market. For instance, United States’ health expenditures per capita was USD 8,745 in 2014 which increased to around USD 11,500 in 2017. These factors will boost the superabsorbent polymer market in the coming years.
International organizations such as UNESCO, World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, and various other local bodies have started awareness programs including menstrual hygiene management, provision of feminine products, etc. In 2010, Government of India initiated Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, providing subsidized sanitary pads to rural women living below poverty line. In addition, numerous small scale companies such as Aakar Innovation Pvt. Ltd., Azadi, Jayaashree Industries, and Saathi Healthcare provide affordable feminine hygiene products in the country.
Report Attribute | Details |
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Base Year: | 2017 |
Superabsorbent Polymer Market Size in 2017: | 6 Billion (USD) |
Forecast Period: | 2018 to 2025 |
Forecast Period 2018 to 2025 CAGR: | 5.7% |
2025 Value Projection: | 9.5 Billion (USD) |
Historical Data for: | 2013 to 2017 |
No. of Pages: | 190 |
Tables, Charts & Figures: | 298 |
Segments covered: | Product, Application and Region |
Growth Drivers: |
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Pitfalls & Challenges: |
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Similarly, the Kenyan government allocated $4 million to provide free sanitary napkins to school girls. Feminine hygiene in developing economies is a profitable quotient for market. Initiatives and awareness agendas by the government are the driving factors for the superabsorbent polymer market.
Biodegradable polymers provide immense breakthrough to superabsorbent polymer market share. Increasing customer focus on sustainability and growing environmental awareness has resulted in rising demand for alternatives to petroleum-based polymers. Various raw materials used in the production of bio-based products include cellulose, chitosan, starch, and natural gums among others.
These materials are in major demand in the market, leading numerous companies to explore possible routes to produce bio acrylic acid. Some multinational companies, including Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd, Evonik Industries AG, and BASF SE, are into the production of bio-based products.
As per a superabsorbent polymer industry analysis, a key challenge for this business is the volatile raw material price. The major raw materials used to produce superabsorbent polymer include acrylic acid & glacial acrylic acid, which are derivative products of propylene. The prices of propylene follow oil prices with a lag, and price change can bring volatility into producer margins.
The superabsorbent polymer market is segmented into sodium acrylate, polyacrylamide copolymer, and others including polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharides, etc. Sodium acrylate generated significant revenue of around USD 3.5 billion in 2017 and covers over three-fifth of the total market. Driven by its ability to absorb as much as 500 times its mass of water, sodium acrylate is widely used in baby diapers and adult incontinence products.
Additionally, the growing demand for polyacrylamide owing to its increasing use in water treatment, paper-making processes, and extensive usage in the manufacturing of baby and adult diapers will boost the superabsorbent polymer market. Polyacrylamide copolymer market will grow at the rate of around 6% during the forecast time frame.
Adult incontinence application segment will grow at a rate of over 6.5% globally. The occurrence of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder rises with age and elderly people. These products have enormous scope in developed regions owing to hygiene awareness among people.
Baby diapers accounted for nearly 70% of the total market owing to incessant rise in birth rate along with increase in baby hygiene awareness. These factors are likely to drive the superabsorbent polymer market growth.
North America was valued over USD 1.5 billion in 2017 and is expected to lose its share to developing economies due to higher growth rates in the latter. Growing birth rate and increase in average life expectancy in China and India over the past two decades has increased the demand for baby diapers, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products. Moreover, growth in per capita disposable income of people in developing economies is encouraging them to spend upon their health and avail better healthcare facilities, which will in turn boost the superabsorbent polymer market value in near future.
United Kingdom and Germany held nearly 30% of the European share in 2017 and will grow with annual rate of around 4%. The year-on-year declining per capita arable land area coupled with increasing population is expected to have a positive impact on the usage of product in the agriculture sector. The water retention property of the product will help farmers to continue farming even in adverse conditions. This will increase the demand of the superabsorbent polymer market in near future.
Some renowned superabsorbent polymer market players include
In 2014, BASF SE planned to invest nearly USD 625 million over next 2 years in superabsorbent technology to establish droplet polymerization to manufacture personal hygiene products.
Industry Background
Superabsorbent polymer (SAPs) is a material capable of absorbing and retaining substantial volumes of water and aqueous solutions. This makes SAPs ideal for use in water absorbing applications such as baby diapers and adult incontinence pads, absorbent medical dressing, and controlled release drugs and chemicals. The product is commonly available in solid, powder or granule crosslinked product that speedily absorb and retain large amount of aqueous solutions. This polymer can absorb around 500 times its own weight of water.
Increasing disposable income coupled with rising medical spending in Asia Pacific region will provide a lucrative growth to the market. Rising environmental concerns to develop sustainable and bio-based product will further boost the superabsorbent polymer market in near future.
Superabsorbent polymer market report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD million from 2014 to 2025, for the following segments:
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The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following: