Adhesives and Sealants Market by Product (Adhesives, Sealants), Application (Paper & Packaging, Building & Construction, Footwear & Leather) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031

Adhesives and Sealants Market Size & Forecast

The Adhesives and Sealants Market is expected to reach $87.2 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2024 to 2031. The growth of this market can be attributed to several factors: the growing adoption of adhesives & sealants in the building & construction industry and the increasing demand for adhesives in the healthcare industry. Moreover, the increasing demand for adhesives & sealants in the packaging industry and increasing investment in the building & construction industry in developing economies are expected to offer growth opportunities for the players operating in this market.

Adhesives and Sealants Market Growth Drivers

Growing Adoption of Adhesives & Sealants in the Building & Construction Industry

Construction is a major contributor to the global economy. In the 1st quarter of 2023, there were more than 919,000 construction establishments in the U.S. The industry employs 8 million employees and creates nearly USD 2.1 trillion worth of structures each year. In recent years, the building & construction industry has seen a growing adoption of adhesives and sealants. Adhesives are used to bond structural components such as panels, facades, and laminates. They provide high-strength bonds that distribute loads evenly, enhancing the structural integrity of buildings. This eliminates the need for traditional mechanical fasteners like nails or screws, resulting in cleaner aesthetics and reduced material costs. Also, adhesives are essential for installing flooring materials such as tiles, wood, laminate, and vinyl. They create strong bonds between the flooring material and the substrate, ensuring stability and durability.

Sealants are also used to fill joints and seams in tiled surfaces, preventing water penetration and grout deterioration. Overall, the growing adoption of adhesives and sealants in the building and construction industry reflects their importance in modern construction practices, where they contribute to improved performance, efficiency, and sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.

Increasing Demand for Adhesives in the Healthcare Industry

Adhesives & sealants are essential for assembling various medical devices, including catheters, syringes, IV sets, and diagnostic equipment. They provide strong and reliable bonds between different components, ensuring the integrity and functionality of medical devices. Also, adhesives & sealants are increasingly used in surgical procedures for wound closure, tissue bonding, and hemostasis. In addition, adhesives play a critical role in restorative and prosthetic dentistry for bonding dental materials such as composites, crowns, bridges, and veneers to tooth structures. Dental sealants are used to protect teeth from decay by sealing pits and fissures, reducing the risk of cavities and promoting oral health.

Thus, the increasing demand for adhesives & sealants in the healthcare industry underscores their critical role in medical device manufacturing, wound care, drug delivery, surgical procedures, and patient care. As healthcare technologies continue to advance, adhesives & sealants will remain indispensable materials for supporting innovation, improving treatment outcomes, and enhancing patient quality of life.

Adhesives and Sealants Market Opportunity

Increasing Demand for Adhesives & Sealants in the Packaging Industry

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for eco-friendly packaging materials and processes to reduce environmental impact. Adhesives & sealants play a crucial role in creating sustainable packaging solutions by enabling the use of recyclable materials, reducing packaging waste, and improving energy efficiency in production processes.

Adhesives & sealants used in food packaging applications must comply with stringent safety and regulatory standards to ensure product integrity and consumer protection. They provide secure seals, tamper-evident features, and barrier properties that protect packaged food products from contamination, spoilage, and tampering, thereby extending shelf life and ensuring food safety. Also, the growth of e-commerce has led to increased demand for robust and protective packaging solutions to withstand the rigors of shipping and handling. Adhesives and sealants provide secure seals, reinforcement for corrugated boxes, and tamper-resistant features that protect products during transit and delivery, ensuring a positive customer experience. Thus, the increasing demand for adhesives & sealants in the packaging industry reflects their critical role in enabling sustainable, innovative, and efficient packaging solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers, brands, and regulatory requirements.

Adhesives and Sealants Market Analysis: Key Findings

By Product: In 2024, the Adhesives Segment to Dominate the Adhesives and Sealants Market

In 2024, the adhesive segment is expected to account for the larger share of 80.0% of the adhesives and sealants market. The segment’s large share is attributed to the growing adoption of adhesives in the paper & packaging industry, the rising demand for adhesives in the healthcare sector, and the rising demand for adhesives manufacturing tapes & labels for general-purpose repair and heavy-duty carton sealing.

In addition, the benefits offered by the adhesives segment, such as bonding versatility, strength, durability, improved aesthetics, corrosion protection, enhanced performance, and substrate compatibility, contribute to this segment's growth. Also, several leading key players are taking initiatives to improve productivity. For instance, in January 2023, H.B. Fuller Company (U.S.) launched its new bio-compatible adhesive for medical applications. This product delivers effective high tack, secure and quick bonding under high temperatures. Also, this segment is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period of 2024–2031.

By Application: In 2024, the Paper & Packaging Segment to Dominate the Adhesives and Sealants Market

In 2024, the paper & packaging segment is expected to account for the largest share of 30.0% of the adhesives and sealants market. The segment’s large share is attributed to the rising demand for adhesives & sealants to protect against moisture, dust, and other contaminants during storage and transportation; the rising need for adhesives & sealants to improve the shelf life of packaged products; and the rising adoption of adhesives in the packaging of drugs.

In addition, the benefits of adhesives & sealants in the paper & packaging include sealing bonding, enhanced protection, improved shelf life, lightweight packaging, and improved aesthetics. Furthermore, several leading key players are taking initiatives to redefine their business strategies. For instance, in July 2022, H.B. Fuller Company (U.S.) partnered with Enimac (Italy) to leverage its pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes and provide quality solutions & technical support to a wide range of packaging makers.

However, the building & construction segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2024–2031. The rapid technological & architectural innovation, increasing demand for adhesives & sealants to fill cracks & sealing joints, and rising demand for adhesives and sealants to provide high-strength bonds and enhance the structural integrity of buildings are expected to support the growth of this segment.

Geographical Analysis

In 2024, Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Adhesives and Sealants Market

In 2024, Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest share of 37.0% of the adhesives and sealants market. The growing adoption of adhesives and sealants in the paper & packaging industry, increasing investment in developing economies, and rising adoption of adhesives in the automotive industry are expected to support the growth of the region.

The presence of prominent players offering adhesives and sealants is also supporting the growth of this regional market. For instance, in September 2023, DuPont (U.S.) opened its new adhesives production facility in Zhangjiagang (ZJG), East China. The new facility will produce adhesives to serve customers in the transportation industry, primarily in lightweight and fast-growing vehicle electrification applications. Furthermore, in May 2021, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany) announced the construction of a new Adhesive Technologies Innovation Center in Shanghai. The state-of-the-art facility will transform Henkel’s current Zhangjiang site into an Innovation Center for China and Asia-Pacific. The new site will also strengthen the position of Henkel Adhesive Technologies to serve a variety of industries and develop leading adhesives, sealants and functional coatings solutions for customers in the region. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to register the highest CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period.

Adhesives and Sealants Market: Key Companies

The report offers a competitive analysis based on an extensive assessment of the leading players’ product portfolios, geographic presence, and key growth strategies adopted in the last 3–4 years. Some of the key players operating in the Adhesives and Sealants market are Cabot Corporation (U.S.), Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (U.S.), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), H.B. Fuller Company (U.S.), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Arkema S.A.(France), Huntsman Corporation (U.S.), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), Uniseal Inc. (U.S.), Sika AG (Switzerland), Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands), Dymax Corporation (U.S.), MAPEI S.p.A. (Italy), Meridian Adhesives Group (U.S.), and 3M Company (U.S.).

Adhesives and Sealants Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players

• In March 2024, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany) signed an agreement with Kraton (U.S.) to supply its high-performance, biobased tackifiers and its REvolution rosin ester technology to enable carbon emission reductions in a range of Henkel’s adhesive formulations.

• In September 2022, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany) announced the expansion of its production plant in South Dakota. This plant manufactures thermal interface material adhesives for use in the electronics and automotive industries. The adhesives are sold under the brands Loctite and Bergquist.

• July 2021, H.B. Fuller Company (U.S.) partnered with Covestro AG (Germany) to deliver an adhesive with a reduced climate impact for the woodworking, composites, textiles, and automotive industries.

Adhesives and Sealants Market Research Summary

Key questions answered in the adhesives and sealants market report: