Water-Soluble Polymer Market Information: by Raw Material (Synthetic, Semi-Synthetic and Natural), Type (Polyacrylamide and Copolymers, Guar Gum & Derivatives, Casein, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Gelatin, Polyacrylic Acid and others), Application (Wastewater Treatment, Cosmetics and Personal Care Products, Oil & Gas, Food, Pulp and Paper, Pharmaceuticals and others) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East & Africa) - Forecast till 2030

Water-Soluble Polymer Market Overview

The water-soluble polymers can be used as stabilizers, thickeners, emulsifiers, lubricity aids, and rheology modifiers in various applications. During the review period, the augmented need for water-soluble polymers in the petroleum industry is predicted to drive demand. The market for water-soluble polymers is expected to reach USD 57.32 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.18 percent over the forecast period. Furthermore, market players would benefit from sustainable developments such as bio-based acrylamide and growing demand for polyvinyl alcohol polymers in green packaging for household items, personal care, food, and pharmaceuticals during the forecast period.

Due to rising uses in textiles, paint, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, household detergents, construction, paper, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Environmental regulations governing manufacturing company effluent discharge and environmental protection may cause product demand to increase in the coming years. These polymers' exceptional customizability has allowed for exact control and the desired fluid characteristic improvement. Clay anti-swelling agent, fluid-loss control agent for mud, solid suspending agent, rheology modifier, and high temperature/pressure applications are just a few of the uses for these plastics in well drilling. However, these polymers are subjected to a particularly severe chemical, mechanical, and thermal environment during the process. This issue causes high molecular weight materials to decay and break down, changing their physical and chemical properties and stifling market growth.

Market Synopsis

The growing application of water-soluble polymers in mineral processing, surface coating, enhanced oil recovery, food processing, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals is fueling their demand. Some of the commonly used water-soluble polymers include polyvinyl alcohol, casein, polyacrylamide, gelatin, and guar gum.

The water-soluble polymers can be incorporated in various applications as stabilizers, thickeners, emulsifiers, lubricity aids, and rheology modifiers. The rising demand of water-soluble polymers in the petroleum industry is expected to drive the demand during the review period.

Water-soluble polymers are used as flocculants and coagulants for facilitating the separation of materials in suspension in aqueous media. These polymers are designed for use in enhancing water quality with hard water conditions and moderate temperature. Polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acids, and acrylic copolymers are some of the polymers used in water treatment and cleaning applications.  

The increasing investments in wastewater treatment and industrial water treatment especially in developed countries are expected to stimulate demand in the coming years. The market for recycling of wastewater is expected to reach USD 23.4 billion by 2025.

Furthermore, sustainability development like bio-based acrylamide and increased demand for polyvinyl alcohol polymers in green packaging for use in household products, personal care, food, and pharmaceuticals is likely to offer lucrative opportunities for the market players during the forecast period.

List of Key Players in the Water-Soluble Polymer Market

• SNF Group (France)


• Kemira (Finland)


• BASF SE (Germany)


• Ashland (US)


• KURARAY CO., LTD. (Japan)


• DuPont (US)


• Arkema S.A. (France)


• The Dow Chemical Company (US)


• Nitta Gelatin, NA Inc. (US)


• Gantrade Corporation (US)


• Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands)


• Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Japan)


• CP Kelco U.S. (US)


• Shandong polymers Bio-chemicals Co. Ltd. (China)


• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan)

 Regulatory Analysis

The drug delivery systems stabilized with polyethylene glycol and polyacrylic acid have been regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency (EMA) to minimize the adverse effects and create a safe environment in end-use industries.

Market Drivers

• Growing demand for water-soluble polymers in wastewater treatment


• Expanding personal care, food, and pharmaceutical industries

Market Restraints

• Stringent environmental regulations and harmful impact on health

Opportunity

• High demand for bio-based polyacrylamide

Segmentation

By Raw Material

• Synthetic: The synthetic segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018 and is expected to continue the same during the forecast period. These polymers are chemically modified by polymerization of petroleum or natural gas. The increasing production of oil and gas is expected to propel the growth of the segment.

• Natural: Natural water-based polymers are derived from natural or animal sources such as lignin, tannins, sugar, and others. Environmental regulations and increasing investments for sustainability are likely to boost the demand for natural-based synthetic polymers.

• Semi-Synthetic: These water-based polymers are a combination of natural and synthetic polymers.

By Type

• Polyacrylamide and Copolymers: Polyacrylamide is synthetic water-based polymer derived from acrylamide monomer that is used as a flocculant in wastewater treatment, as a soil conditioner and as a friction reducer in hydraulic fracturing and enhanced oil recovery. The increasing demand for flocculants and coagulants in the mining and oil & gas industries are likely to drive the market growth. Polyacrylamide also finds a wide range of applications in cosmetics such as ointments, moisturizers, creams, and toners. The growing demand for personal care and cosmetic products among the aged population is likely to drive the product demand. The cosmetic ingredient review experts panel allows around 5 ppm of acrylamide residues in cosmetic products.

• Guar Gum and Derivatives: Guar gum or its derivatives are extracted from guar seed usually available in water-soluble powder also known as guar flour. These guar seeds are grown principally in India and Pakistan and some parts of China and the US. Gaur gum is insoluble in solvents having high viscosity and works as an emulsifier to prevent oil droplets from coalescing. In addition, it acts as a formulation aid, firming agent, and emulsifier in food & beverages, which is likely to drive the product demand in the coming years.

• Gelatin: It is protein derived from collagen usually extracted from different animal sources. It is primarily used as a gelling agent in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries.

• Polyvinyl Alcohol: PVA is odorless, non-toxic and resistant to grease, oil, and solvent. PVA can be used as a coating agent for food supplements and to laminated safety glass for vehicles.

• Polyacrylic Acid: PAA is water-soluble polymer most abundantly used anionic polyelectrolytes. They are used as food additive due to low toxicity. In addition, they are used in diapers that are constructed from the sodium acrylate monomers and acrylic acid.

• Casein: Casein is usually found in skim milk and often used in a wide variety of food and non-food products, medicines, and dietary supplements.

• Others: Polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, divinyl ether-maleic anhydride, and chitosan derivatives are some of the water-soluble polymers used in end-use industries such as wastewater treatment, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical.

By Application

• Wastewater Treatment: The wastewater treatment segment is expected to hold the largest market share owing to rising environmental standards in developing regions regarding wastewater discharge and purity of drinking water. Moreover, increasing investments in water treatment in industrial and municipal processes are expected to fuel the market growth.

• Cosmetic & Personal Care: Natural polymers such as guar gum, xanthan, gelatin, and polysaccharides are used to increase the thickness in products, e.g., lotions, conditioners, and shampoos. Whereas, synthetic polymers such as polyacrylate and polyacrylamide are used in gel cosmetics and hair color products. The changing standard of living and increasing disposable income are expected to drive the demand for water-soluble polymer in the cosmetic & personal care industry.

• Oil & Gas: Water-based polymers are commonly used in the oil fields in the phase of drilling, completion, workover, and development of oil & gas wells. The major challenge in the oil wells is formation of hydrates. Such water-based polymers are used to reduce hydrate formation. The growing production of shale gas in the US, China, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil are likely to drive the market growth.

• Food: The increasing adoption of water-soluble polymers in bakery and dairy products, processed vegetables, and sweet syrups are expected to drive market growth.

• Pulp & Paper: Water-soluble polymers play a vital role in paper manufacturing. In paper manufacturing, colloidal particles such as pigments, fillers, and sizing agents are very small to be retained on the paper machine. Thus, water-soluble polymers used as effective retention and formation aid in newsprint and corrugated paper production.

• Pharmaceuticals: Advanced pharmaceuticals utilize polymers for drug protection, taste masking, and tablet binders. Thus, increasing investments in the pharmaceutical industry across developed regions are likely to drive the market growth.

• Others: Household products, surface coating, textiles, and adhesives among others are some of the water-soluble polymer applications.

By Region

• Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific was the dominating and fastest-growing market for water-soluble polymers in 2018. The market growth can be attributed to increased spending on household products and personal care coupled with rising expenditure in the wastewater treatment industry. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are leading countries contributing to the growth of the Asia-Pacific market. Growing China’s industrial output has put high pressure on the industry to enhance water quality and reduce waste discharges in water bodies.

• North America: The growth of the North American water-soluble polymer market is driven by the expanding pharmaceutical, food, and oil & gas industries. The increasing shale gas extraction activities is also likely to drive regional market growth.

• Europe: The European water-soluble polymers market is likely to register a moderate CAGR during the forecast period. The healthy growth of the cosmetic and personal care industries is expected to drive the demand for polymers such as guar gum, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol, therein driving the market growth in the region.

• Middle East & Africa: According to OPEC, the Middle East accounts for 64.5% of the OPEC oil reserves. Increasing petroleum and natural gas production are factors expected to fuel the demand for water-soluble polymers.

• Latin America: Brazil and Mexico are major countries contributing to the growth of water-soluble polymers in this region due to the rising consumption of cosmetics and high production of pulp & paper.

• Mar 2022 Kemira has begun full-scale manufacture of a new innovative polymer made from the biobased feedstock. The first commercial volumes were delivered to one of the Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) wastewater treatment plants for testing. Kemira provides a technically equal substitute for this particular polymer type with this biomass-balanced polyacrylamide, a water-soluble polymer. These polymers can be employed in a variety of industries, including high-demand papermaking applications and the water and energy industries.


• Nov 2021 Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have created a peptide sensor to detect water-soluble polymers in wastewater, a serious pollutant on par with microplastics. The novel method uses peptide-polymer bonding to develop a machine learning algorithm that can identify and quantify a large number of contaminants in a single solution.