Masterful Additives: Current Ceresana Study on the Global Market for Masterbatches

KONSTANZ, Germany - Jan. 10, 2025 - PRLog -- Highly concentrated, expensive mixtures of additives for tire rubber production were once only allowed to be mixed by the master personally – this is how "masterbatches" are said to have got their name. Today, in the production of plastics, premixed granulates facilitate and improve the addition of additives that make polymers colorful, durable, and usable. Ceresana has analyzed the global market for masterbatches already for the fourth time: The market researchers forecast that demand for these plastic ingredients will increase to almost 5.9 million tonnes by 2033.

Concentrates for the Plastics Industry

With granulates the aggregates can be distributed more evenly and process reliability can be increased. Prefabricated, ready-to-use masterbatches also allow raw polymers to be purchased in large quantities at low cost and then modified quickly and specifically for certain applications. Color masterbatches contain pigments or dyes. Additive masterbatches modify other plastic properties, for example with the help of stabilizers, antioxidants, flame retardants, or fillers. Combination masterbatches combine different additives. The color and additive concentrates tailored to specific applications are melted together with a polymer carrier material and then granulated. Master batches are usually added to plastics in proportions of 2 to 6%. They must be compatible with the plastic to be modified and meet all regulations for the end products, for example for applications with food contact, medical technology, or bioplastics.

White Masterbatches Are Most Popular

Toys, electrical appliances, furniture, or plastic films: white masterbatches, especially with titanium dioxide (TiO2), are used in large quantities to color plastics white and protect them against UV rays. As the market study shows, around 1.6 million tonnes of granules with white pigments are currently sold on the plastics market worldwide every year, making them the most consumed type of masterbatch. This is followed by color masterbatches that contain inorganic and organic pigments or dyes. Carbon black is mainly used to color pipes, agricultural films, automotive parts, or other plastic products.

Granulated Additives for the Whole World

According to this global masterbatch market analysis, the most important application area for masterbatches is packaging, which currently accounts for around one third of total demand. Masterbatches are needed for flexible plastic packaging, such as films, bags, and sacks, as well as for rigid packaging. The next largest sales markets are construction products, vehicles, electrical and electronics, as well as other industrial goods. Geographically, the revenues generated with masterbatches correspond to the global market for plastics: More than a third is generated in the Asia-Pacific region, North America accounts for just under 23%, and Western Europe for 19%.

Further information: https://ceresana.com/en/produkt/masterbatches-market-report