Polylactic Acid Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End-use (Packaging, Agriculture, Automotive & Transport, Electronics, Textile), By Region (North America, Asia Pacific), And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global polylactic acid market size was estimated at USD 624.97 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4% from 2023 to 2030.The rising application scope of bioplastics in packaging, automotive & transport, agriculture, electronics, and other applications is expected to augment the demand for Polylactic Acid (PLA) over the forecast period. The product demand is highin the end-use industries, such as agriculture, textile, transport, and packaging. Polylactic acid, a low-carbon emission polymer, has seen rapid growth in its global demand in comparison to conventional polymers.

Rising demand for flexible packaging is boosting the growth of the packaging industry globally. The increasing need for ready-to-eat meals, snacks, packaged foods, and others is expected to propel the growth of the packaging industry. Thus, the growing packaging industry is further predicted to create demand for PLA over the forecast period. The U.S. dominated the regional market in 2022 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. The U.S. PLA market is expected to rise significantly over the forecast period on account of the growing demand for bio-based packaging in the food & beverage sector.

The country registers high growth on account of raw materials availability and the presence of major manufacturers of PLA. The growing food processing market is anticipated to fuel the demand for packaging products, thereby supporting the demand for PLA in the country. Increasing demand for packaged food and ready-to-eat meals is significantly boosting the growth of the U.S. food processing market. The favorable government laws and regulations implemented in the U.S. related to the production of PLA, along with the easy availability of raw materials for the synthesis of this acid in the country, are projected to fuel the growth of the market in the U.S. from 2023 to 2030.

The increased production of PLA in the country leads to its increased usage in the packaging and healthcare industries in the U.S. Other significant factors contributing to the growth of this market include increased awareness among consumers about the use of bioplastics and the presence of key enterprises in the country.Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is witnessing reduced demand, especially in the fashion apparel segment, due to a decline in demand from end-use customers. However, the rising demand for personal protective apparel owing to the increasing COVID-19 positive cases is fueling the growth of the textile industry. This, in turn, is further anticipated to propel the demand for PLA in the textile industry.

End-use Insights

The packaging sector dominated the end-use segment and accounted for the largest revenue shareof over 36.0% in 2022 due to the broad usage of PLA for manufacturing jars, containers, and bottles, along with fresh food packaging. The global customer preference for fill and ecological packaging is forcing manufacturers to usePLA in packaging. Packaging is one of the major applications of PLA in the food packaging industry. PLA-based plastic bottles are disposable, durable, and possess properties, such as gloss and transparency. Furthermore, stringent regulations on single-use plastics in countries, including Taiwan, the UK, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and several states in the United States (including New York, Hawaii, and California), are considerably pushing the demand for PLA in the packaging end-use sector.

It is easily biodegradable compared to petroleum-based materials and does not produce dangerous gases during combustion; hence, its demand in this application area is expected to remain strong during the forecast period. Bioplastic packaging, particularly rigid and loose-fill packaging, has garnered significant legislative support due to the need to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.Textile is another major industry with a large market penetration and growth rate, as polylactic acid provides smooth and comfortable materials. In addition, PLA provides breathability, drapability, excellent moisture, and durability. These factors are expected to boost the inclusion of PLA in the textile industry during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest revenue share of over 41.0% in 2022. This is due to increased demand for bioplastics, with Europe being one of the main markets for polylactic acid, followed by Asia Pacific. The market is expected to be driven by the growing demand for bioplastics in the region, propelled by initiatives promoting environmentally-friendly products.The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow rapidly owing to factors including a lack of resources for fossil fuels, increasing demand for PLA from developing countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and fluctuating petroleum prices. China led the Asia Pacific PLA market, in terms of volume and revenue, in 2020.

The region is also driven by the ascending product demand from key industries including automobile & transport, electronics, textile, packaging, appliance, and medical.Due to the developing food and beverage sector, notably in India and China, the region is likely to dominate the packaging market throughout the forecast period. Increasing packaged food demand, combined with high disposable income, is expected to drive demand for flexible packaging during the projected period. The robust growth of the healthcare sector in Europe is likely to trigger the demand for pharmaceuticals, thereby positively influencing the demand for flexible packaging. This, in turn, is expected to propel PLA market growth in the coming years.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market is highly competitive due to the presence of major companies. Companies are undertakingstrategies, such as acquisitions, mergers, and collaborations, to gain higher market shares.For instance, in May 2023, DuPont announced the acquisition of Spectrum Plastics Group. The proposed acquisition will add to DuPont's existing product range in biopharma and pharma processing, packaging, and medical devices. Some of the prominent players operating in the global polylactic acid market are:

• TotalEnergies Corbion bv

• NatureWorks LLC

• Jiangsu Supla Bioplastics Co., Ltd.

• Futerro

• COFCO

• Jiangxi Keyuan Biopharm Co.,Ltd.

• Shanghai Tong-jie-liang Biomaterials Co., Ltd.

• Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Co., Ltd.

Recent Developments

• In May 2023, TotalEnergies Corbion collaborated with Bluepha Co. Ltd for making advanced sustainable biomaterials solutions in China. This is possible by combining polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) of Bluepha^® with Luminy^® polylactic acid technology

• In May 2023, TotalEnergies Corbion announced an agreement with Xiamen Changsu Industrial Pte Ltd. For making advancements in the polylactic acid market. Both companies will operate together for market promotion, research and development, and product development of the latest applications and technologies of biaxially oriented polylactic acid (BOPLA)

• In April 2023, NatureWorks LLC declared its collaboration with Jabil Inc. to provide the latest polylactic acid-based powder for particular laser sintering 3D printing platforms

• In December 2022, Futerro initiated plans to set up an integrated biorefinery in Normandy for the production and recycling of polylactic acid. The purpose is to make a generous contribution towards the achievement of a green economy, thus creating a transition from fossil carbon to carbon from biomass

• In November 2022, NatureWorks LLC collaborated with CJ Biomaterials to develop a novel biopolymer solution with the use of polylactic acid technology. This intended to replace fossil fuel plastics from compostable food service ware and packaging to personal care, and other end products

Polylactic Acid Market Report Scope

Global Polylactic Acid Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth and provides an analysis of the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this report, Grand View Research has segmented the polylactic acid market based on end-use and region:

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Packaging

  • Agriculture

  • Automotive & Transport

  • Electronics

  • Textiles

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • The Netherlands

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Indonesia

    • Malaysia

    • Philippines

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East and Africa