Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Market Analysis, By End-use (Paper, Food Packaging, Construction, Electronics), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) market size was estimated at 1,124.0 kilo tons in 2016. Increasing need for bio-based PVA products is expected to be a key factor driving the global market growth over the forecast period.

PVA, a synthetic water-soluble polymer has been the key ingredient used in formulation process in various end-use industries. The key end-use industries include food packaging, construction, electronics, coatings, printing, textile, cosmetics, and paper. PVA is mainly driven by the demand from the food packaging industry, as it is a material with better water solubility, and biodegradable properties.

U.S. polyvinyl alcohol market volume by end-use, 2014 - 2025 (Kilo Tons)

The U.S. polyvinyl alcohol market was estimated at 172.8 kilo tons in 2016 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2017 to 2025. The sustainable packaging of the products is in high demand, owing to stringent regulations for its disposal and declining landfill availability. The demand for packaging in various applications is fueled by several factors such as the expansion of consumer base, increase in cost per package, and sustainability in the major markets such as the U.S., China, and India.

The development of various biodegradable packaging materials has garnered attention in the recent past. Renewable natural polymers have been tested to enhance the biodegradation potential of the PVA-based end-use products. Among the different biodegradable synthetic polymers, PVA material is extensively used owing to its biodegradability in various microbial environments.

Polyvinyl alcohol has different applications such as ceramic, textile, coatings, paper, and wood. The various grades are useful for different end use industries. In addition, similar grades of the product can also be used for various end-uses. This ability has helped in augmenting demand of PVA over the last few years. There are lesser known substitutes available for PVA on account of its properties including ethanol and water solubility, coupled with resistance to grease and oil.

However, stringent regulations hindered the usage of polyvinyl alcohol in various application segments. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) described several preventive measures after exposure to the PVA and environmental safety. The generation of solid waste can affect human health, especially children, who are more susceptible to these hazardous pollutants.

End-use Insights

Food packaging has emerged as the leading end-use segment and accounted for 31.4% of the global volume share in 2016. Increasing need for biocompatible and nontoxic packaging solutions in food & beverage industry is expected to drive the market growth. Thin and water resistant food-grade polyvinyl alcohol film is developed that prevents moisture formation. Advantageous properties such as good crosslinking density and moisture resistance are expected to further fuel the growth of the market in this region.

In addition, PVA is also extensively used in the construction industry on account of its various properties such as better water solubility and particle size, adsorption capacity, cement pore solution viscosity, and static filtration of cement slurries. Construction is a diverse market that is expected to experience robust growth due to growing infrastructural development in the region, especially in China, India and Japan.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the polyvinyl alcohol market in terms of volume in 2016, and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. It was estimated at 580.3 kilotons in 2016 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2017 to 2025. Increasing demand for PVA from various end-use sectors mainly, paper is expected to propel the market growth over the forecast period.

Global polyvinyl alcohol market volume by region, 2016 (%)

Asia Pacific was followed by North America in terms of volume and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.1% over the forecast period. Rising solid waste volumes in this region is projected to fuel the demand for polyvinyl alcohol in packaging applications over the forecast period. In addition, rising innovation in packaging, and consumers demand for properties such as safety, convenience, technology, and sustainability, is in turn expected to fuel the demand for polyvinyl alcohol over the forecast period.

Competitive Insights

The key players in the global market include E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Eastman Chemical Company, and Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd., Kuraray Co. Ltd., Sinopec Sichuan Vinylon, and Anhui Wanwei Group Co., Ltd. The companies are emphasizing on new product development, partnerships, and acquisitions with key players to increase the share and strengthen competitive aspect.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, 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 global polyvinyl alcohol market on the basis of end-use and region:

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

  • Paper

  • Food Packaging

  • Construction

  • Electronics

  • Others

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

  • North America

    • U.S.

  •  Europe

    •  Germany

    • UK

  • Asia Pacific

    •  China

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa