According to The Freedonia Group’s new study, “World Adhesives and Sealants,” global
demand for adhesives and sealants is fore-
cast to rise 4. 5 percent per year through
2019 to 20.2 million metric tons, valued
at $64 billion.
Strong growth in construction activ-
ity will underpin advances, driven by in-
creased urbanization and infrastructure
improvements in developing countries,
combined with rebounding construction
spending in Western Europe and the U.S.
Expanding manufacturing output – par-
ticularly in emerging Asia/Pacific econo-
mies – is expected to fuel growth across
a number of segments, boosting adhesive
and sealant use in packaging, tapes and
labels, motor vehicles, electronics, and
footwear applications, among others.
Increasing adoption of adhesive bond-
ing technologies designed to replace or
augment mechanical fasteners will pro-
vide additional growth opportunities for
adhesives suppliers worldwide, as will
the availability of improved, high perfor-
mance products.
China’s global dominance in several
adhesives-intensive industries – includ-
ing electronics, footwear, furniture, and
machinery – will bolster the country’s
position as the top adhesive and sealant
consumer through 2019. According to
analyst Carolyn Zulandt, “Construction
spending will remain robust in China,
fueling demand for silicone and epoxy
sealants, flooring and wall covering ad-
hesives, and other products.” Suppliers
of packaging adhesives will benefit from
growing urban populations and improv-
ing disposable incomes, which will con-
tinue to boost demand for packaged
consumer goods sold in supermarkets,
online, and via other retail outlets.
India is expected to post the most rap-
id advances of any major market, fueled
by robust increases in construction spend-
ing and motor vehicle output. In India’s
automotive sector, rising motor vehicle
sales are fueling output and capacity ex-
pansions by major OEMs, boosting sales
of epoxies, polyurethanes, and other ad-
hesive and sealant types. Similar trends
will also spur demand growth in the auto
industries of Thailand and other emerg-
ing economies.
The U.S. demand for adhesives and
sealants is forecast to increase 2.8 percent per year to 6. 4 billion pounds in
2019, valued at $12.8 billion, according
to the Freedonia Group. Turnaround in
construction activity, combined with the
expanding use of adhesives and sealants
in manufacturing and assembly markets,
will underpin demand gains. Adhesive
bonding technologies are expected to
make further inroads in applications historically dominated by mechanical fasteners and other alternative joining systems,
especially as manufacturers continue to
reduce the weight of products such as
motor vehicles, aircraft and electronics.
However, advances will be limited by
trends toward high solids formulations
and lower application weights, which will
reduce the volume of adhesives and sealants consumed.
The report states that emulsion and
dispersion adhesives and sealants will remain the leading product type. The ongoing switch from solvent-based products
is expected to support increases as end-users must meet emissions regulations
through the adoption of water-based
Adhesives and Sealants Market
WORLD ADHESIVE & SEALANT DEMAND
(thousand metric tons)
Item
Annual Growth
2009 2014 2019 2009- 2014 2014- 2019
13060
2839 3102
2738 3090 1.0 2.4
3570 1.8 2.9
2600
5739 8010
701
840
754 977
1025 3. 4
5. 6
4.1
5. 3
838 3.2 3. 6
10650 6. 9 5. 9
599
710
573
16145 20150 4. 3 4. 5 Adhesive & Sealant Demand
North America
Western Europe
Asia/Paci;c
Central & South America
Eastern Europe
Africa/Mideast
© 2016 by The Freedonia Group, INC
