Ethylene Copolymers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Hot Melt Adhesives, Asphalt Modification, Thermo Adhesive Films), By Type (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate, Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate), By End-use, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global ethylene copolymers market size was valued at USD 37.80 billion in 2016. Inherent advantages of ethylene copolymers coupled with the global growth in the packaging industry are expected to benefit the market growth over the next eight years.

Ethylene undergoes polymerization with different molecules such as vinyl, butyl, ethyl, and propylene to form complex copolymers, which are primarily used in industries such as automotive and packaging. The increasing adoption of waste packaging recycling as an environment-friendly activity is expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period.

The U.S. market was valued at USD 8.24 billion in 2016. The demand for aseptic packaging in beverage applications is anticipated to ascend at a significant rate owing to the rising demand for plant-derived beverages and lactose-free drinks. Packaging recyclability and cost benefits, in terms of ambient storage and shipping, are projected to have a positive impact on the U.S. packaging industry in the coming years. The growth of the packaging industry is, in turn, anticipated to boost the demand for ethylene copolymers over the forecast period.

The product is extensively utilized in the manufacturing of sealants and hot melt adhesives owing to its superior properties of adhesion and mechanical cohesion. Various benefits of the product include heat stability, heat resistance, formulation flexibility, chemical reactivity, and adhesion on difficult surfaces. The product finds application in numerous industries including packaging, automotive, building & construction, and textile.

The global market is characterized by major players focusing on R&D activities. Companies involved in the manufacturing of ethylene copolymers have their own distribution channels across the globe, which is expected to increase their profit margins. This also helps companies meet consumer demands in a timely manner.

Type Insights

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, also known as EVA, is a copolymer of vinyl acetate and ethylene. The product is widely used in food packaging as a shrinkage film due to its higher percentage of anti-blocking additives as compared to polyethylene. It also offers low-temperature hot sealing, resulting in fast packaging speed and energy savings. Companies such as DuPont have developed EVA, which is expected to replace PVC in non-invasive medical tubing owing to its heat-resistant property. This is, in turn, anticipated to maximize the company’s profit margin in the coming years. The technological advancements in the packaging industry for hot melt adhesives are expected to be among the key growth drivers over the next eight years.

Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate (EEA) provides exceptional bonding and toughness in addition to enhancing material formability. It also enhances the performance of PET, PE, PVC, and PP. The product is primarily used in skincare, food & beverage packaging, and cosmetic packaging applications. The increasing demand for food & beverages coupled with sturdy packaging is anticipated to drive the market over the next eight years.

Ethylene Butyl Acrylate (EBA) is primarily utilized in various applications in packaging including carton & folding boxes, bottle labeling, yogurt labeling, and deep freeze packages. The growing packaging industry across the globe and rising demand for food are expected to, in turn, drive the EBA copolymer market over the next eight years.

Ethylene Propylene (EP) copolymer is a type of synthetic rubber manufactured by copolymerizing propylene and ethylene. The product also has elastic properties and possesses exceptional resistance to UV radiations and electricity. It is primarily used in weather stripping, radiator, electrical insulation, and roofing membrane. The growth of the automotive industry in certain regions, such as India and China, is expected to propel the demand for ethylene copolymers over the next eight years.

Application Insights

Hot melt adhesive emerged as the largest application segment in 2016 and is projected to continue its dominance from 2017 to 2025. The global share of the segment was over 48% in 2016.

Superior bonding performance coupled with environment-friendliness and high productivity makes EVA preferable over other adhesive products in the market. The vinyl acetate present in the copolymer promotes adhesion to non-polar substrates such as polyethylene and also provides mechanical strength, paraffin solubility, and block resistance. This enables ethylene copolymer to provide durability and versatility in hot-melt adhesives. Such trends are anticipated to benefit market growth over the next eight years.

EVAs are mostly used as plastomers in asphalt modification as they have the capability to reduce the degree of crystallization and increase the polarity of the polymer, thereby improving the storage stability. Copolymers of ethylene act as tough and rigid network, which resists deformation and also improves rutting resistance. Such trends have benefited the segment in the recent past and are projected to continue over the next eight years.

The product plays a key role in thermo adhesive films as it is used to bond different solid substrates, such as metal foils, textiles, fiberglass, artificial leather, wood, and natural fiber products, providing excellent thermal resistance to them. EVA also imparts softness and flexibility, which enables better mechanical adhesion on fibrous substrates. The aforementioned factors are expected to fuel the market growth from 2017 to 2025.

End-Use Insights

Ethylene copolymers are used in food packaging owing to their superior properties such as toughness and flexibility. The increasing demand for convenience food & packaged food is expected to be a key driver for ethylene copolymers market over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific is projected to be the largest market for packaging in the coming years due to the stabilizing economy and the expansion of the working-class population.

These are utilized as EVA-based glue sticks to create a strong adhesive bond. The construction industry across the globe is witnessing growth, primarily in Brazil, owing to economic recovery and favorable government regulations. This is, in turn, anticipated to boost the construction adhesive segment over the next few years.

These are used as trim in the automotive application. They are essential components used in thermo adhesive films. Electric cars are witnessing increased demand across the globe owing to their high fuel efficiency and environment-friendly characteristics. The automotive industry in certain regions, such as India and China, is expected to grow owing to low-cost labor, and foreign investments. As a result, the market is projected to grow over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Canada produced approximately 913,500 cars in 2015 and the volume increased to over 1,993,150 in 2016. The growth of the automotive industry in the region is expected to propel product demand over the forecast period. In addition, the compound has a low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission. Thus strong demand from the U.S. and Canada is driving the overall North America market

The increasing trend of outsourcing in the European region, mainly in strong economies such as Germany, has fueled market demand in the region. The manufacturing companies operating in the region have restructured their operations to increase their capacity utilization rates for achieving optimum performance. The regional companies are subjected to various challenges such as pricing pressures, overcapacity, and slow drug approvals by the regulatory agencies.

Beauty and personal care packaging manufacturers in the Asia Pacific are expected to drive the market owing to the demand for innovative pack formats and functionality. International brands, convenient packaging, multifunctionality, and affordable pricing are encouraging the manufacturers based in India and China to invest in this sector. As a result, the product is anticipated to witness increased demand over the next eight years.

Ethylene Copolymers Market Share Insight

Companies are investing in research and development activities such as technical expertise development, the latest equipment development, and establishing research partners, which, in turn, help companies develop innovative solutions. Such activities of companies are aimed at achieving maximum market share through innovative product development.

Wide distribution channels along with growing competition among players are anticipated to open new avenues over the next eight years. Industry participants include DuPont, Celanese Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, Sipchem, USI Corporation, and Wacker Chemie AG.

Report Scope 

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global ethylene copolymers market on the basis of type, application, end use, and region:

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Hot melt adhesives

  • Asphalt modification

  • Thermo adhesive films

  • Others

• Type Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)

  • Ethylene ethyl acrylate (EEA)

  • Ethylene Butyl acrylate (EBA)

  • Ethylene Propylene

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Packaging

  • Building & Construction

  • Automotive

  • Textiles

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • The U.K.

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

  • Central & South America

  • The Middle East & Africa