Stable Numbers: Ceresana Examines the World Market for Adhesives

KONSTANZ, Germany - May 2, 2022 - PRLog -- Learning from geckos: new fibrillar dry adhesives are inspired by nature; with their wafer-thin fibers, they bond surfaces. In adhesive technology, such innovations are sorely needed, because despite increasing use of biomaterials, adhesives are still mainly manufactured from petrochemical raw materials. Their dependence on oil prices is high. Ceresana has analyzed the world market for adhesives for the fifth time now: While the demand for adhesives amounted to 14.7 million tonnes in 2019, the demand volume decreased to 12.9 million tonnes in the pandemic year 2020.

Construction Industry as the Main Consumer

In 2020, the region Asia-Pacific accounted for approx. 38.5% of global revenues generated with adhesives, followed by North America and Western Europe. The construction industry is the most important market for adhesives, ahead of paper, cardboard and packaging: More than 28% of global demand is attributable to the use of adhesives for wall and floor coverings, for the repair and renovation of buildings, for components such as cladding and panels, and for insulation materials. The DIY sector has proved itself as a stable source of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The transportation industry is also an increasingly important application area for adhesives: an average car already contains more than 15 kilos of adhesives. Lightweight construction and electrification are further increasing the demand for automotive adhesives.

Vinyl Adhesives are in High Demand

The new Ceresana study analyzes market data pertaining to adhesives not only according to their application area, but also according to individual technologies: water-based adhesives account for about 46% of total demand. Demand for hotmelt adhesives is in distant second place. Vinyl adhesives constitute the most important product type, with a current demand of nearly 3.8 million tonnes. A wide range of adhesives based on vinyl is available. The most important products are based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAC). Furthermore, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is made from polyvinyl acetate, and is also an adhesive that is used to bond porous materials such as paper, cardboard, wood, cork, and leather. Vinyl products are followed by acrylic-based adhesives, polyurethane, elastomer, epoxy adhesives and others.

Current Market Report About the Adhesive Industry:
https://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/industry/adhes...