The Growth Of Super Absorbent Polymer Market Over Past Years

A Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) is a material that can absorb and retain liquid of a massive quantity compared to its own size. Depending on the liquid, SAP can absorb nearly 300 times its own weight and 30-60 times its own volume, becoming up to 99.9 percent liquid by the bonding of hydrogen with water molecules, resulting in a hydrogel when mixed.

The final absorbency level of SAPs depends on the cross-linkers that the gel was made from. While SAPs with low-density cross-linkers have a high absorbency capacity and can swell to a greater degree with a soft and sticky gel texture, high cross-link density polymers have a comparatively lower absorbency capacity but the gel is firmer and can maintain its shape under reasonable pressure. Adding other materials to the gel can further influence its properties as desired.

Super Absorbent Polymers are used in disposable hygiene products, including baby diapers, adult diapers, disposable bed liners as well as sanitary napkins. They are also used in protecting underground cables from water, controlling spills and waste fluids, as horticulture water retention agents and as artificial snow for videos/theatre.

Growth Of Super Absorbent Polymer Market In Recent Years

The super absorbent polymer market is estimated to reach a value of $8.6 billion by 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5 percent, while the global demand for SAP is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3 percent till 2022, driven by demands from the APAC and MENA regions. The market for SAPs has been growing at a steady pace in recent years, driven by increasing demands from key end-user segments and developing economies.

• Personal Care: The single largest end-user segment for super absorbent polymers is personal care, which includes baby diapers, adult diapers/incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products which together account for more than 85 percent of the market demands. The rising demand for disposable diapers occupies nearly 75 percent of the total demand for SAP, and the demand is expected to rise at a rate of 15-20 percent in emerging nations like China and India. Growing populations, increased disposable income, and hygiene awareness have led to an exponential rise in the demand for baby diapers, especially in emerging economies. Hygiene awareness and inclusion of women in the workforce has contributed to the increase in demand for feminine hygiene products. Meanwhile, longer life spans and a greater senior citizen population have driven the demand for adult incontinence products such as adult diapers.
• Wider Applications: The absorbent properties of SAPs have led to wider applications of the material, including in agriculture, and medicine and even around electric cabling. In agriculture, SAPs can be used to monitor and adjust the water given to the plants while in the field of medicine; SAPs can be used in bandaging and to soak up other fluids. The other downstream applications of SAPs have been growing at a fast pace in recent years, and the growth is expected to continue at a CAGR of 6-7 percent until 2022.
• Global Dynamics: The largest supply market for SAPs is the APAC, accounting for 61 percent of the total supply, followed by Western Europe and North America. APAC has been the net exporter for SAP in the past years and is expected to continue to be so with buyers relying on SAP supply from China, Japan, and South Korea. The U.S. on the other hand, is the largest producer and consumer of SAP, with the U.S. and China accounting for 45 percent of the global SAP sales. Most of the SAP trade at a global level takes place from the eastern parts of the world towards the western. Top global suppliers are Nippon Shokubai, Evonik Industries, BASF, Sunitomo Seika and San-dia Polymers.
• Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer: The capabilities of SAPs, especially their properties for absorbing liquid have resulted in a consistently large demand for SAP products, however, most of these polymers are not biodegradable. Over the past few years, as environmental awareness has increased and the volume of the used products piles up, there has been a demand for biodegradable absorbent polymers. Research continues to be underway to find a biodegradable super absorbent polymer that is not as harmful to the environment as SAPs and is also cost-effective to be used in a large-scale manner.

The Super Absorbent Polymer market has grown at a rapid pace over the past few years and is expected to maintain its speed of growth. The growth has been driven by increased awareness regarding hygiene, which has further driven the growth of demand for baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, and adult incontinence products, especially in developing economies. While SAPs have a plethora of benefits and use, the most common forms of SAP are not biodegradable, and are detrimental to the environment. Further market growth is expected to develop biodegradable and environment-friendly forms of absorbent polymers.