Description

The global polyamide market was valued at USD 26.7 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 40.6 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2021 to 2027. Polyamide is a versatile polymer with strong demand in various end-user industries, including textiles, electronics, equipment, packaging, coatings, and automotive. Polyamides can be found in nature in the form of wool and silk, among other things, and can also be manufactured artificially. The artificially manufactured polyamides include nylon, polyamide 6, and aramid. Wear resistance, strong mechanical qualities, low gas permeability, and chemical resistance are the characteristics of artificial polyamides. Bio-based polyamides are gaining popularity due to their environmentally benign character. Polyamide 6 is the most popular revenue and usage attributed to its low cost-to-performance ratio.

The polyamide market is expected to be driven by the growing automotive industry in developed and developing countries. Automobile makers prefer polyamides because of their high performance and low cost. Due to the current surge in raw material prices in the automotive sector, manufacturers are shifting to polyamides for various applications such as coatings and films. The market's growth is fueled by rising consumer disposable income and increased transportation activities worldwide. A surge in demand in the electronics and coatings sectors is expected to boost the market. Increased building activity and population growth are driving the electronics and coatings sector. Polyamide is an excellent choice for electrical and electronic applications because of its low cost of production and great performance parameters such as chemical resistance and insulation.

Strict government laws and regulations, on the other hand, prevent market expansion. However, a rise in investment and new research and development in bio-based and specialty polyamides are expected to create growth opportunities during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Polyamide Market

The polyamide industry was unaffected by COVID-19 disruption. However, coronavirus-related lockdowns posed several problems for industry participants, including disrupted supply chains, logistical difficulties in shipping end goods, and recruiting staff from quarantines. The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and subsequent government-imposed lockdowns have temporarily interrupted the activities of big end-use polyamide industries. As a result, the industry is in a downward spiral. Furthermore, negative effects on human health are anticipated to hamper the market expansion during the predicted period. Commercial, transportation, and industrial activity have all ceased. As the bulk of chemical commodities, the demand for polyamide has been volatile since the emergence of COVID-19. However, the demand from the consumer goods and packaging industry helped balance the situation during the pandemic.

Global Polyamide Market Dynamics

Drivers: Increase in demand for electric vehicles

The strength per unit weight of an electric vehicle is critical. These vehicles are built on lowering weight and optimizing the strength of various vehicle body sections. Metals in these cars are being replaced with new materials and thermoplastics to lower total vehicle weight. The weight loss is done for various reasons, including lower fuel use and thus lower CO2 emissions. Injection molding polyamide 6 is an excellent solution for reducing vehicle weight. Metal components are quickly replaceable in electric vehicles so that they may be easily shaped and mass-produced. Polyamide 6 has a lower unit cost than metals, making it a more cost-effective alternative. As a result, the rise in demand for light vehicles is seen as a benefit for the polyamide 6 industry.

Restraints: Changes in crude prices to hamper the market growth

However, fluctuating crude oil prices have altered petrochemical production, hexamethylene diamine, adipic acid, and caprolactam production. As a result, unpredictable raw material prices are projected to limit global polyamide industry growth during the forecast period. Stringent government controls and competition from elastomer-based alternatives are expected to hinder the market demand. Furthermore, an early indication of a global economic slowdown is being observed these days, which is expected to impact the polyamide industry significantly. This is projected to delay continued investment and development for several years.

Opportunities: Favorable government policies encouraging electric vehicles

In the future, R&D in bio-based and specialty polyamide for various applications will likely present enormous prospects for players. Makers, trade associations, and end-product manufacturers are all investing in R&D. Polyamide use in food contact and household items and specialty polyamides in automotive to replace metals. This is anticipated to present a potential for market participants. Due to its environmentally favorable qualities, technology changes such as bio-based polyamide are projected to drive market growth in the future. In addition, the bio-based polyamide market is likely to be fueled by government regulations and increased health consciousness in emerging countries. The polyamide market expansion is projected to be hampered by the complex manufacturing process and lack of precursors. Another concern expected to hamper the market expansion is the deterioration of characteristics due to moisture absorption.

Scope of the Report

The study categorizes the polyamide market based on type, application, and end-users at the regional and global levels.

By Type Outlook (Thousand Units, Revenue, 2017-2027, USD Million)

• Aliphatic Polyamides
• Aromatic Polyamides

By Application Outlook (Thousand Units, Revenue, 2017-2027, USD Million)

• Polyamide fibers & films
• Engineering plastics

By End-Users Outlook (Thousand Units, Revenue, 2017-2027, USD Million)

• Automotive
• Electrical & electronics
• Textile
• Construction
• Packaging
• Consumer Goods
• Others

By Region Outlook (Thousand Units, Revenue, 2017-2027, USD Million)

• North America (US, Canada, Mexico)
• South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Rest of Latin America)
• Europe (Germany, Italy, France, UK, Spain, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Rest of Europe)
• Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia & New Zealand, Rest of Asia Pacific)
• The Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, Northern Africa, Rest of MEA)

The aliphatic polyamides segment is projected to account for the largest market share by type

By type, the polyamide market is bifurcated into aliphatic polyamides and aromatic polyamides. The aliphatic polyamides segment dominates the polyamide market with a market share of 89.5% in 2020. Aliphatic polyamides such as Nylon 66 and Nylon 6 are widely used for engineering and industrial applications. The most important family of engineering thermoplastics is aliphatic polyamides, which are produced on a significantly bigger scale than completely aromatic polyamides.

Polyamide-6 resin is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic that is simple to process and color and may be utilized in extrusion and injection molding applications. Polyamide-6 resin is one of the most widely used engineering thermoplastics due to its high chemical resistance. Polyamide-6 resins are the least expensive of the polyamide resins. Polyamide-6 is commonly utilized in filament form for 3D printing since it is more ductile and impact-resistant. Therefore, due to the cost-effective and alluring properties of polyamide-6 resins, the market for polyamide-6 is estimated to experience growth during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific accounts for the highest CAGR during the forecast period

By region, the polyamide market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. Worldwide, Asia Pacific is estimated to hold the highest CAGR of 6.8% in the global polyamide market during the forecast period. India, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific are part of the Asia Pacific. Strong economic growth in domestic rising nations such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India is driving the region's expansion.

Moreover, the surge in automotive and food packaging applications has propelled Asia-Pacific to become a prominent regional polyamide market. The polyamide market is expected to increase significantly during the forecast period due to large-scale investments in the automotive sector. There has been an increase in the demand for luxury cars, resulting in increasing polyamide consumption in this region due to a rise in consumer purchasing power in Asia-Pacific.

Key Market Players

The polyamide market is highly consolidated. A few companies hold significant market share, including Arkema SA, BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Ascend Performance Materials LLC, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Koch Industries, Lanxess, Radici Group, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, and Royal DSM. These companies have used various techniques to increase their market share or maintain dominance. Ascend Performance Materials LLC, BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, and Radici Group are among the companies that have utilized product launch and company expansion strategies.

Recent Developments

• In November 2020, Ascend Performance Materials launched a new HiDura long-chain polyamides product for monofilaments, engineered plastics, and cable ties. HiDura polyamides 610 and 612 are developed to provide dimensional stability, extended life, and improved chemical, impact, and abrasion resistance.
• In April 2021, Arkema planned to expand its manufacturing capacities by opening a new Amino 11 and its flagship Rilsan® polyamide 11 high-performance polymers at the new plant on Jurong Island, Singapore.
• In January 2020, BASF SE acquired Solvay’s polyamide (PA 6.6) business. This acquisition strengthens BASF’s polyamide capabilities with innovative and well-known products such as Technyl.
• In November 2020, Evonik expanded its new polyamide 12 complex business in Germany. This expansion enhanced the polyamide business of the company in the European market.

Key Issues Addressed

• What is the market size by various segmented polyamide by region and its respective countries?
• What are the customer buying behavior, key takeaways, and Porter's five forces of the polyamide market?
• What are the key opportunities and trends for manufacturers involved in the polyamide supply chain?
• What are the market's fundamental dynamics (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges)?
• How are regulations, schemes, patents, and policies impacting the market's growth?
• What are the upcoming technological solutions influencing market trends? How will existing companies adapt to the new change in technology?
• The market player positioning, top winning strategies by years, company product developments, and launches will be?
• How has COVID-19 impacted the demand and sales of polyamide in the global market? Also, the expected BPS drop or rise count of the market and market predicted recovery period.
• Detailed analysis of the competitors and their latest launch, and what are the prominent startups introduced in the target market? Also, detailed company profiling of 25+ leading and prominent companies in the market.