Market analysis and insights

The market for super absorbent polymers was estimated at USD 10.03 billion globally in 2023, and it is anticipated to increase to USD 16.6 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 5.2% between 2023 and 2033.

In order to safeguard items against moisture damage during storage and transit, SAPs are employed in packing materials. The need for SAPs in packaging has expanded along with the growth of the e-commerce and food packaging industries. The need for SAPs has increased as a result of improved farming methods and increased demand for hygiene goods as a result of urbanization.

Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Market Market Scope :

Market Definition

Compared to their own weight, synthetic polymers known as ""superabsorbent polymers"" (SAPs) have an amazing capacity to absorb and hold vast volumes of liquid.
In many industrial and consumer applications where liquid absorption and retention are essential, these polymers are often employed.

The cross-linked structure of SAPs, which produces a network analytics of connected areas capable of containing and retaining water molecules, gives birth to their special property. Acrylic acid and acrylamide are the most popular monomers utilized in the creation of SAPs, and they are chemically altered to provide superabsorbent qualities.

Many hundred times their own weight in water or aqueous solutions can be absorbed and retained by SAPs. They are therefore very useful in applications needing moisture control, including feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, and newborn diapers.
SAPs change from a solid, granular form to a gel-like structure when they take in liquid. By undergoing this transition, the absorbed liquid is kept contained inside the polymer matrix and is prevented from leaking or flowing out readily.

As SAPs absorb fluids, their polymer chains may enlarge and grow. When subjected to specific circumstances, including pressure or temperature changes, the SAPs can release the absorbed liquid due to this reversible swelling behavior.

Key Market Segmentation

Insights on Type

The Natural Segment Valued for the Highest Share

The natural segment is anticipated to see the fastest growth rate among all types over the projection period. Natural super absorbent polymer feedstock is readily accessible, biocompatible, non-toxic, and sustainable, making it a popular trend and replacement for petroleum-based super absorbent polymers.

Insights on Application

The Healthcare Segment to Remain at the Top

The healthcare application is predicted to experience the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. The expansion of the healthcare industry in developing nations like India, China, Australia, Brazil, and others is blamed for this. Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are becoming more and more in demand for use in medical items such as disposable surgical drapes, adult incontinence products, and wound dressings. Additionally, the continual improvements in healthcare infrastructure and the rising concern for cleanliness and hygiene in these areas are encouraging the use of SAP in a variety of medical applications.

Insights on Production Method

The Solution Polymerization Segment to be the Most Lucrative Production Method

The market for solution polymerization, by production method, is anticipated to experience the fastest CAGR growth over the forecast period. This can be due to solution polymerization's many benefits, including its high efficiency, low capital cost, and capacity to manufacture SAP with a variety of characteristics. In comparison to other production techniques like suspension polymerization and gel polymerization, solution polymerization also uses less energy. Less wastewater and energy are produced and used during solution polymerization. The rise of the solution polymerization category is also being driven by the rising need for high-performance SAP in the personal care industry. SAP is created via solution polymerization, and it has a high absorption capacity and a low gel strength, making it perfect for usage in diapers, sanitary goods, and other personal care items. Throughout the projected period, the solution polymerization segment is anticipated to maintain its position as the market leader in SAP. Solution polymerization's high efficiency, low capital cost, and environmental friendliness are the main drivers promoting this market's expansion.

Insights on the Region

The APAC region accounted for the highest share.

Asia-Pacific is the area with the fastest economic growth on a global scale because of the expansion of the healthcare industry and the rise in nappy demand brought on by the rising population. As the population in the aforementioned regions is predicted to expand significantly over the next ten years, it is possible that demand for diapers from Oceania, Central and Southern Asia, and other countries may rise. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in the use of ultra-absorbent polymers in the production of baby diapers. Throughout the forecast period, this element is anticipated to fuel the market for super-absorbent polymers.

Key Company Profiles

BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Kao Corporation, LG Chem, Sanyo Chemical Industries, LTD, Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., LTD, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., Xitao Polymer Co., Ltd., Yixing Danson Technology, and Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co., Ltd., and others are a few significant market players in the market.

COVID-19 Impact and Market Status

The availability of raw materials and the efficiency of supply networks are essential to the SAP sector. During the pandemic, lockdowns, traffic restrictions, and industrial closures may have affected the supply of raw materials and the creation of SAPs.

The need for SAPs is directly correlated with a number of end-use sectors, including packaging, agriculture, and hygiene goods. Changes in consumer behavior and demand patterns were brought on by the epidemic.

For instance, there may have been an increase in demand for hygiene items like diapers and sanitary napkins, while disturbances in the farming and food supply chains may have had an impact on the need for agricultural SAPs. Consumer buying habits may have been impacted by the pandemic's worldwide economic crisis, changing the market for numerous items that utilize SAPs.

Due to the increased need for healthcare during the pandemic, the demand for SAPs used in medical and hygiene applications, such as wound dressings and personal protective equipment (PPE), may have grown.

The demand for packaging materials, notably SAPs used for moisture management in packaging, may have grown due to a greater emphasis on e-commerce and home deliveries.

Latest Trends

1. Research and development efforts have been directed at developing biodegradable SAPs to alleviate the environmental effects of conventional SAPs. These novel polymers can absorb and hold onto liquids while also degrading naturally over time, minimizing their environmental impact.

2. In order to produce SAP, producers were looking at bio-based feedstocks rather than only using petroleum-based raw materials. Utilizing renewable resources aids in the achievement of sustainability objectives and lessens dependency on fossil fuels.

3. Advanced features were made possible by the incorporation of intelligent or responsive materials into SAPs. Smart SAPs, for instance, might adapt their release and absorption behavior in response to changes in temperature, pH levels, or other environmental conditions.

4. In order to enhance the features of SAP, such as boosting stability, regulating release kinetics, and improving absorption capacity, nanotechnology was used.

5. Beyond wound dressings, there was an increasing demand for the use of SAPs in medicine. Some researchers investigated its application in tissue engineering, medicinal adhesives, and drug delivery systems.

6. Improvements were being made to SAPs to make them more effective and environmentally friendly for particular agricultural uses, such as increased nutrient retention and controlled release of fertilizers.

Significant Growth Factors

Particularly in emerging nations, the demand for disposable diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products has been steadily rising.

Due to their superior liquid absorption capabilities, SAPs are a key ingredient in these goods and are what is causing the industry to expand. SAPs are used in agriculture to promote soil water retention, which increases crop output while using less water.

The usage of SAPs in agriculture has grown as a result of the expanding world population and the requirement to maximize water supplies. Medical items, including surgical pads, wound dressings, and other absorbent medical supplies, all employ SAPs. The development of SAPs in the medical industry has been aided by the increase in demand for cutting-edge wound care products and the emphasis on infection control.

Restraining Factors 

The environmental effect of these polymers is one of the major barriers to the SAP market. Traditional SAPs can cause pollution since they cannot biodegrade and accumulate in landfills. There is an increasing need for more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions as a result.

Raw ingredients like acrylic acid and acrylamide are used in the manufacturing of SAPs, and changes in their costs might have an influence on the final cost of production.

The use of specific chemicals and non-biodegradable materials is subject to more and more restrictions from governments and environmental organizations. For SAP producers, following such requirements might be difficult. Other absorbent products and technologies that can provide more ecologically friendly solutions compete with SAP on the market.

Economic turbulence or uncertainty may have an impact on consumer purchasing habits and, as a result, SAP-using product demand.

Recent Developments in the Global Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Market: A Snapshot

• The first mass-produced, bio-balanced superabsorbent polymer is produced and exported by LG Chem in August 2021. As part of its sustainability plan to increase the use of environmentally acceptable materials for the manufacturing of hygiene items like diapers and sanitary pads, the first export concentrated on resource rotation activities and carbon neutrality.