Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Medical Grade & Prosthetics, Fibers, Sheets, Rods), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market size was valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% from 2022 to 2030. Increasing demand from various applications such as batteries, medical-grade & prosthetics, additives, fibers, filtration, and membranes are significantly driving the growth of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) market. In addition, increasing product demand from defense applications and its superior physical properties as compared to other polymers are factors anticipated to significantly drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is gaining increasing acceptance in defense applications owing to its properties such as resistance to chemicals, moisture, corrosion, & dirt. Furthermore, UHMWPE is preferred over other conventional metals and polymers in the defense sector because of its properties such as lightweight, low friction coefficient, self-lubricating, high impact strength, tremendous energy absorption capacity, wide service temperature range, and wear resistance.

UHMWPE's use results in lower weight, diminished noise & vibrations, reduced production costs, and negligible maintenance. It is also used for personal protective equipment and vehicle armor owing to its too high impact strength. Several governments worldwide have taken initiatives to provide better protective gear for their military and law enforcement personnel, thereby boosting the product demand.

Joint replacement surgeries for knees and hips have witnessed a rapid uptrend over the last five years. A shift in trend wherein people aged 45 to 60 years are increasingly opting for joint replacement surgeries have been observed in the recent past. Technological advancements have resulted in better prosthetics, longer lifespan, and more comfort for patients. The increasing geriatric population in several countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and others are expected to drive medical grade UHMWPE demand over the forecast period. However, UHMWPE's high cost over other polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, engineering thermoplastics, and others is expected to hamper the market growth in the coming years.

Product Insights

The medical grade & prosthetics product segment led the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market and accounted for more than 33.0% of the global revenue in 2021. UHMWPE has been one of the most preferred materials to use within the production of medical implant applications. It has been relied upon because of its high resistance to wear and abrasion coupled with its excellent durable properties. UHMWPE is a material with long chains with extremely pliable and good impact strength. Besides, these materials have less weight as compared to metal materials. These properties have increased the product demand in medical applications in the past few years. This trend is projected to continue over the forecast period.

Moreover, UHMWPE's use in joint replacement surgeries on account of its versatility and effectiveness is further projected to fuel the product demand over the forecast period. The rising aging population, lack of fitness, and changing lifestyle are majorly contributing to the increasing number of joint replacement surgeries across the globe, which, in turn, is projected to create demand for UHMWPE over the forecast period.

UHMWPE sheets are extensively used to solve wear, friction, and material flow challenges in various application industries. This material sheet is distinguished owing to its outstanding sliding properties, high impact strength, extreme wear resistance, and high chemical resistance. UHMWPE sheets are widely used in various application industries such as packaging, food & beverage, general conveyor technology, and chemicals.

Application Insights

The medical grade & prosthetics application segment led the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market and accounted for more than 33.0% of the global revenue in 2021. The growing geriatric population, especially in North America and Europe, is presumed to play a critical role in shaping the medical grade & prosthetics market over the forecast period. Technological advancements related to UHMWPE usage as prosthetics are crucial factors that are expected to impact the global market positively.

UHMWPE is a durable polymer that is ideally used as a stable porous medium for general and fluid-based environments. Higher product prices make it affordable, mostly in developed regions such as North America and Europe. Reliability and favorable regulations are expected to benefit the market demand in the filtration industry.

UHMWPE has gained popularity in lead-acid battery separators in the past few years. Its higher molecular weight compared to conventional HDPE, PVC, glass fiber, and cellulose separators is expected to drive the global demand for UHMWPE over the forecast period. UHMWPE is used as an additive in the engineering plastics and rubber industry. They are used to enhance lubricity and are also used in certain coatings. Also, properties such as good impact strength, wear & abrasion resistance, and low friction compared to conventional polymers are further projected to propel the product demand in additives application.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for over 40.0% share of global revenue in 2021. The U.S. dominated the North American market in 2021 and is projected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. UHMWPE in protective armor application is witnessing significant growth in the region. Increasing military & defense budget in the U.S. and growth in reported cases of joint surgeries, such as that of hips and knees, are expected to drive UHMWPE's demand in North America.

The global terrorism and increasing priority of modernization to compete with China and Russia boost the military & defense budget in the U.S., thereby creating demand for protective armor. The government military programs, such as the Soldier Protection System, which comprises a series of lighter weight ballistic plates, more lightweight combat helmets, bulletproof vests, and other protective armor to aid soldier mobility, are expected to create a massive opportunity for UHMWPE during the forecast period.

Furthermore, the increasing production and preference of Americans for seafood is positively influencing the growth of the country's fishing industry, which, in turn, is creating demand for aquaculture nets, thereby propelling the demand for UHMWPE in fibers application. However, growing positive COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are anticipated to impact the market growth owing to the declining demand and limited cross-border trade.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is fragmented in nature with the presence of various key players such as Celanese Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., DSM, Honeywell International, Inc., and Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre Company Limited. Major players, in particular, compete on the basis of production capacity expansions, product portfolio developments, and methods to implement new technologies in the manufacturing of UHMWPE.

The raw materials used in the manufacture of UHMWPE along with their affiliated costs play a significant role in determining the price of the product. As a result, the prices of raw materials such as ethylene and polyethylene terephthalate are expected to play a vital role in the market over the forecast period. Many established and emerging players are engaged in the capacity expansion of their manufacturing facilities, so as to consolidate their fixed costs by catering to increased demand from end-use applications.

For instance, on 23rd October 2020, Celanese Corporation, one of the leading companies in the market, announced the addition of a new production line of its GUR UHMWPE at its Bishop, Texas manufacturing facility. This new production line is expected to add approximately 15 kilotons per annum to GUR product capacity and the production is slated to begin by 2022. Some of the prominent players in the global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market include:

• Celanese Corporation

• LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.

• Koninklijke DSM N.V.

• China Petrochemical Corporation

• Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Group

• LianLe Chemical Corporation

• Crown Plastics, Inc.

• Braskem

• Asahi Kasei Corporation

• Dotmar Engineering Plastics

• Honeywell International, Inc.

• Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

• TSE Industries, Inc.

• Garland Manufacturing Company

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market report based on product, application, and region:

• Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Medical Grade & Prosthetics

  • Fibers

  • Sheets

  • Rods

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • Medical Grade & Prosthetics

  • Filtration

  • Batteries

  • Fibers

  • Additives

  • Membranes

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia