ID: PMRREP33587| 199 Pages | 7 Oct 2025 | Format: PDF, Excel, PPT* | Chemicals and Materials
The global industrial adhesives market size is likely to value US$ 55.2 Bn in 2025 and is projected to reach US$ 80.9 Bn by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% between 2025 and 2032. The increasing demand across key end-use industries, technological innovations in high-performance adhesives, and growing adoption of eco-friendly formulations. Primary growth factors include rising automotive production and EV adoption, increased demand for sustainable packaging solutions, and infrastructure growth in developing markets.
| Key Insights | Details |
|---|---|
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Industrial Adhesives Market Size (2025E) |
US$ 55.2 Bn |
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Market Value Forecast (2032F) |
US$ 80.9 Bn |
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Projected Growth (CAGR 2025 to 2032) |
5.1% |
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Historical Market Growth (CAGR 2019 to 2024) |
5.6% |
The shift toward sustainable and environmentally compliant adhesives is reshaping the industrial adhesives industry. Regulations from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and India’s Central Pollution Control Board mandate stricter curbs on volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Adhesive producers are responding with solvent-free, water-based, and bio-based alternatives. Recent developments, such as Henkel and Celanese’s CO?-based adhesive production (2025) and Bostik’s renewable-content packaging adhesives (80% bio-based, 2024), demonstrate this decisive movement. These innovations not only align with regulatory requirements but also meet customer sustainability mandates across packaging, construction, and automotive sectors.
The adoption of low-VOC, bio-circular adhesives enhances market competitiveness by delivering higher performance while lowering carbon footprints, creating a resilient pathway for long-term industrial adoption.
The role of advanced adhesive technology has become central across industries such as packaging, automotive, medical devices, and electronics. The packaging industry, for example, is valued at US$ 86 billion in India (2024) and US$ 180.3 billion in the U.S. (2022), and is undergoing rapid transformation through solvent-free and LED-curable adhesives that deliver safer, faster, and more energy-efficient solutions.
In medical applications, Henkel’s Loctite LED-curable adhesives (2025) enable advanced healthcare devices, while DELO’s adhesives support biosensors and microelectronics.
Automotive trends, including electrification and lightweight vehicle construction, rely heavily on structural adhesives such as PU and MMA, reducing weight and improving crash resistance. The adoption of such innovations increases adhesive demand volume while significantly cutting assembly costs.
Global investments in construction are creating sustained adhesive demand. In the U.S., annual construction spending reached US$ 2.2 trillion in 2024, representing 4.5% of GDP.
The Middle East’s Vision 2030 projects in Saudi Arabia and Dubai’s real estate surge are fueling demand for adhesives in flooring, panel bonding, and structural applications. In South America, new healthcare facilities and data centres are accelerating the adoption of construction adhesives, supported by relatively low labour costs.
Europe’s construction sector reflects mixed regional performance, yet the Eastern European markets (Poland, Czechia) posted monthly gains above 4% in 2024. Construction adhesives, particularly polyurethane systems, are gaining traction due to durability and adaptability. As housing, data centres, and industrial infrastructure expand globally, adhesive consumption will strengthen in both structural and finishing applications.
The adhesives industry relies heavily on petrochemical feedstocks such as ethylene, propylene, and toluene. Price volatility, driven by geopolitical tensions and oil supply fluctuations, disrupts cost structures. For instance, in 2022–2023, global petrochemical prices surged due to supply chain disruptions, elevating production costs for epoxy and polyurethane systems. This pressure on margins challenges producers to balance profitability with competitive pricing.
Adhesives classified under hazardous chemicals face ongoing restrictions in Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific. Manufacturers must comply with frameworks like REACH, EPA’s TSCA, and India’s Hazardous and Other Waste Regulations. Compliance increases R&D and certification costs while delaying new product introductions. Non-compliance risks fines and market exclusion, restraining smaller players with limited resources.
Rapid industrial growth in the Asia Pacific presents a major expansion opportunity. East Asia already represents 31% of global adhesives demand, with China leading production and consumption. South Asia & Oceania collectively account for 10%, largely driven by India’s rapid growth in packaging valued US$ 86 billion in 2024, expanding at 22–25% annually, automotive (31 million vehicles produced in FY25), and healthcare. Collectively, the region offers scalable opportunities worth US$ 10–15 billion by 2032, particularly in polyurethane and epoxy systems.
Healthcare is one of the fastest-evolving end-markets for adhesives. In Brazil, healthcare expenditure accounts for 9.7% of GDP, while India’s health sector employs over 7.5 million people. Adhesives in wearable devices, surgical equipment, and diagnostics (e.g., biosensor applications supported by DELO and Henkel LED-curable adhesives) are gaining prominence. With the EU facing an estimated shortage of 1.2 million healthcare professionals by 2030, medical adhesives enabling digital health and telemedicine devices will play a vital role.
The shift toward electric vehicles and renewable energy provides new applications for adhesives. India alone anticipates a US$ 206 billion EV market by 2030, while global EV sales surpassed 14 million in 2024.
Structural adhesives significantly replace welding and riveting techniques, enabling lightweighting and thermal management. Epoxies and silicone adhesives are also in demand for battery encapsulation and thermal interface materials. This sector represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for adhesive makers by 2030.
Epoxy adhesives account for a 26% share and remain the dominant composition due to their superior mechanical strength, resistance to extreme temperatures, and chemical durability. They are indispensable in aerospace, electronics, and defence sectors, handling stress-intensive environments where performance reliability is prioritised over cost.
Polyurethane adhesives, which hold around 16% share in 2025, represent the fastest-growing segment. Their versatility across construction, automotive, and footwear applications drives adoption. As EV manufacturers enhance lightweighting and modular battery designs, PU adhesives are increasingly preferred. Growth is further supported by construction projects in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, where resilient, flexible, and durable bonds are required.
Water-based adhesives, representing a 34% share in 2025, remain the leading category. Stricter global regulations against VOC emissions and safety concerns over solvent-based counterparts amplify their prominence. They are central to packaging, woodworking, and paper industries, particularly where environmental certifications are mandated.
Others category, including UV/radiation-cure, powder, and anaerobic adhesives, is the fastest-growing, with a 6% share in 2025. These products are critical in electronics, medical, and speciality applications where advanced performance, precision, and low curing times are valued. The development of UV-curable adhesives by Henkel in 2025 underscores the scalability of high-value speciality solutions.
Packaging, with 36% share in 2025, remains the largest end-user segment. Driven by sustainable packaging adoption, rising e-commerce penetration, and increased demand for flexible food packaging, adhesives play a critical role in sealing, labeling, and laminating. Government-led sustainability missions such as India’s CSIR-backed National Mission on Sustainable Packaging further anchor demand.
Building & construction, holding a 15% share in 2025, is the fastest-growing segment due to urbanisation, infrastructure investment, and advanced material adoption. Adhesives are increasingly preferred over mechanical fasteners for efficiency and compliance with green building norms. Growth in mega projects (Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, India’s smart cities, U.S. residential expansion) highlights surging use of PU adhesives, cementing this as the highest-potential market.
East Asia leads globally, holding 35.6% market share in 2025, with China anchoring production. China’s car production alone, at 35.4% of global output in 2024, creates massive adhesives demand for automotive assembly. India’s construction push and healthcare expansion are additional growth multipliers. ASEAN economies are integrating adhesives into electronics and packaging sectors, leveraging regional low-cost manufacturing. Asia Pacific is the fastest-expanding regional market, benefiting from manufacturing relocation, local-for-local strategies (e.g., Sika in Suzhou, China), and climbing consumer demand.
North America holds 16% of the global adhesive market in 2025, with the U.S. as the largest consumer and innovator. Market growth is supported by packaging modernisation, healthcare adhesives expansion, and a well-established construction sector valued at US$ 2.2 trillion in 2024. Regulatory frameworks such as EPA’s Clean Air Act drive the transition from solvent-based to water-based adhesives.
Competitive intensity remains high, with players like 3M, Henkel, and H.B. Fuller actively launching innovative solutions. Investments in EV adhesives and medical-grade adhesives expand opportunities.
Europe accounted for 18% market share in 2025. Germany dominates with strong automotive and construction applications, while France, Spain, and the U.K. contribute significantly through packaging and aerospace demand. EU-wide harmonised regulations under REACH and escalating climate targets incentivise low-VOC and bio-based technologies.
Continuous R&D spending, especially in aerospace adhesives in France and Germany, and a 2023 ADS turnover of €290 billion, show industry resilience. Europe’s adhesive market is characterised by high-quality standards and rapid regulation-driven innovation.
The global industrial adhesives market is oligopolistic, dominated by a handful of major manufacturers such as Henkel, 3M, H.B. Fuller, Sika, Bostik (Arkema), Dow, and Huntsman, who together hold a significant share. These players are focusing on sustainable adhesive technologies, capacity expansions, and strategic acquisitions to strengthen their portfolios. At the same time, they are aligning with end-user industries such as packaging, automotive, and electronics through partnerships and tailored product innovations, reinforcing their competitive edge in a technology-driven market.
The global industrial adhesives market is likey to value at US$ 55.2 Bn in 2025.
The water-based segment, including dispersion and emulsion types, is expected to hold around 34% market share in 2025, driven by its low VOC content and environmental compliance benefits.
The industrial adhesives market is poised to witness a CAGR of 5.6% from 2025 to 2032.
The industrial adhesives market is driven by the adoption of sustainable, low-VOC, and bio-based formulations, advanced technologies enhancing performance across packaging, automotive, and medical sectors, and strong global construction and infrastructure investments fueling demand for durable and efficient adhesive solutions.
Key market opportunities lie in the rapid industrialisation in Asia Pacific, offering scalable demand for adhesives in packaging, automotive, and healthcare, and in the expanding use of adhesives in healthcare and medical devices, including wearables, diagnostics, and digital health solutions.
The top key market players in the global industrial adhesives market include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 3M Company, H.B. Fuller Company, Sika AG, Bostik (Arkema Group), Dow Inc., Arkema S.A., Avery Dennison Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, and DELO Industrial Adhesives GmbH & Co. KGaA.
| Report Attribute | Details |
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Forecast Period |
2025 to 2032 |
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Historical Data Available for |
2019 to 2024 |
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Market Analysis |
USD Million for Value |
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Region Covered |
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Key Companies Covered |
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Report Coverage |
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By Composition
By Power Type
By End-user
By Region
Delivery Timelines
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