Europe Acrylic Sheet Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The Europe acrylic sheet market size was estimated at USD 1.41 billion in 2016. Increasing penetration of the product in applications such as signage and sanitary ware is expected to have significant impacts on the market growth.

The superior properties of acrylic sheets, mainly as a replacement for glass panels, renders the product very useful for several functions in the architecture & construction industry. Furthermore, increasing demand for infrastructure development as well as residential construction in the region is expected to propel growth over the forecast period.

UK acrylic sheet market by technology, 2014 - 2025 (USD Million)

The growing need for commercial construction, most notably in countries such as Germany, France, Russia, and Spain, is expected to have positive impacts on industry growth, mainly on account of the increasing use of the product with the objective of enhancing structural aesthetics.

The key raw materials applied in the manufacturing of acrylic plastics include the derivatives of acrylic acid, such as methacrylic acid and polyacrylic acid. The European industry is characterized by the presence of large and medium-sized raw materials suppliers offering a vast range of specialty chemicals for the manufacture of acrylic plastics.

The raw materials are derived from gasoline and other refinery byproducts and are subject to price fluctuations, which directly impact the production cost and product pricing. As a result, the prices of these materials witness significant variations, which may impact the growth of the industry over the forecast period.

The region has been witnessing an increasing use of noise barrier and vibration control materials in cars and an increase in automobile production. This trend is expected to benefit the overall industry growth over the coming years. Furthermore, replacement of glass with acrylic sheets in furniture, designing, POS & retail, and medical applications is expected to drive product demand.

Technology Insights

The cell cast process is one of the widely used methods to manufacture acrylic sheets. Cast products offer high heat & impact resistance, optical clarity, and a higher strength-to-weight ratio. The cell cast segment accounted for a share of over 30% in 2016. Cast sheets are easily thermoformed and machined with lesser risks of cracking and shrinking during the process for several applications.

However, cast sheets are subject to shrinkage in the direction of the thickness. Moreover, the availability of alternative, cost-effective technologies such as extrusion and continuous cast may hamper the cell cast segment growth over the projected period

The extrusion method is a continuous process of manufacturing the product. The extruded products offer better thickness tolerances as opposed to cast sheets. In addition, on account of the large volume and continuous production process, the extrusion process is a cost-efficient option over other processes.

The low costs and simple technology & equipment requirements, along with higher production capacities, are expected to result in the highest growth of the extrusion segment, over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The visual communication and retail segment accounted for a substantial share in 2016, accounting for over 22% in terms of revenue. This segment is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period, on account of growing use of the product for signage and display cases in retail outlets, which further play crucial roles in marketing and advertising.

The increasing use of the product can be attributed to its properties such as durability and wear resistance; and the ease of fabrication and thermoforming, which offer a scope for creative designing and printing. The increasing use of the products for signage in exhibitions and sports events is also expected to have positive impacts on the overall product demand.

Europe acrylic sheet market volume share, by application, 2016 (%)

Acrylic sheets are increasingly being used in furniture and décor applications, including picture framing, cabinet fronts, tabletops, and room partitions. Product features such as stain and weather resistance, improved durability and chemical stability are among the key factors impacting the demand growth in this segment.

The growing demand for modular kitchen and luxurious home décor options, owing to the presence of high disposable-income consumers in the region, is expected to drive the demand for the product in the furniture & design segment over the coming years. Key industry players such as Ikea have been increasingly using the product for several furniture and décor solutions in their portfolio.

Regional Insights

Germany accounted for the largest share in terms of revenue and volume, on account of increased demand in numerous application segments. The recovery of the automotive and construction industries in the country is expected to drive the product demand over the forecast period.

The acrylic sheet industry in Germany is projected to witness growth to the tune of 4.1% over the forecast years, mainly on account of the increasing use of the product in visual communication and retail applications such as display trays, casings, and POS. The presence of Evonik Industries, the biggest manufacturer in the industry, is also expected to have positive impacts on the industry growth in the country.

Spain is expected to be the highest growing market for the product during the forecast period, owing to the comparatively high growth rates associated with the application industries in the country. The growth of the construction industry in the country, on account of increasing number of hotel construction projects, is expected to drive product demand.

Russia is also expected to offer significant growth potential for the concerned industry over the coming years, despite the recent oil crisis that negatively impacted the overall economic condition of the country. This growth potential can be attributed to the recovery of the construction and automotive industries in the country.

Europe Acrylic Sheet Market Share Insights

The Europe acrylic sheet market is highly competitive on account of a large number of suppliers in the industry. Owing to the limited potential for product differentiation, the players primarily compete on account of product pricing. Key industry participants include Altuglas International, Evonik Industries, Lucite International, and Aristech Acrylics LLC.

Distribution agreements and acquisitions are the key strategies implemented by the key industry players to remain competitive in the industry. Distribution agreements are key to growth as effective distribution channels enable the manufacturers to improve their customer reach within the region, with optimal turnaround times for deliveries.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at regional & country levels, and provides an analysis on 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 Europe acrylic sheet market on the basis of technology, application, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Volume, ‘000 Sq. Mtrs; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Cell Cast

  • Extruded

  • Continuous Cast

• Application Outlook (Volume, ‘000 Sq. Mtrs; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Architecture & Construction

  • Furniture & Design

  • Automotive & Transportation

  • Visual Communication & Retail

  • Electronics & Energy

  • Medical

  • Sanitary

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, ‘000 Sq. Mtrs; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Germany

  • UK

  • France

  • Italy

  • Spain

  • Russia

  • Rest of Europe