폴리아크릴아미드 시장 규모는 2024년에 62억 6,000만 달러로 평가되었고, 2026-2032년 연평균 6.49% 성장하여 2032년에는 98억 8,000만 달러에 달할 것으로 예측됩니다.
폴리아크릴아미드(PAM)는 아크릴아미드 단량체로부터 만들어지는 합성 고분자입니다. 높은 수용성과 친수성 겔을 생성하는 능력으로 알려져 있습니다. 겔 전기영동에서 단백질이나 핵산을 크기나 전하로 분리하는 매체로 사용됩니다.
또한, PAM은 수처리 분야에서 응집제로 사용되어 폐수에서 부유물질을 제거하는 데 도움을 주고 있습니다. 또한, 물의 점도를 높여 석유 추출을 돕는 석유증진회수, 물의 보수성을 높여 토양 침식을 억제하는 농업에도 적용되고 있습니다. 또한 섬유 분야에서는 증점제로, 제지 공정에서는 보수 보조제로 사용됩니다.
폴리아크릴아미드 시장을 형성하는 주요 시장 역학은 다음과 같습니다.
주요 시장 성장 촉진요인
수처리 응용 분야 수요 증가: 깨끗한 물에 대한 수요 증가와 엄격한 수질 기준이 폴리아크릴아미드 시장을 주도하고 있습니다. 세계보건기구(WHO)에 따르면, 2020년 현재 4명 중 1명은 가정에서 안전한 식수를 이용하지 못하고 있습니다. 전 세계 물 문제가 수처리 기술에서 폴리아크릴아미드의 사용을 촉진하고 있습니다.
석유 및 가스 산업의 확장: 폴리아크릴아미드는 쉽게 이용할 수 있는 석유 저장층이 감소함에 따라 중요성이 증가하고 있는 석유 증진 회수법(EOR)에 일반적으로 사용됩니다. 미국 에너지 정보국(EIA)에 따르면 2019년 미국에서 생산된 석유의 약 60%가 EOR 기술을 사용한 유정에서 생산되었으며, 그 중 상당수가 폴리아크릴아미드 기반 용액을 사용했습니다.
농업 분야의 성장: 폴리아크릴아미드는 농업에서 수분 보유력을 높이고 침식을 최소화하는 토양개량제로 사용되고 있습니다. 유엔식량농업기구(FAO)는 2050년까지 늘어나는 세계 인구를 먹여 살리기 위해 60% 이상의 식량을 생산해야 한다고 예측했습니다. 농업 생산에 대한 욕구 증가는 농업 기술에서 폴리아크릴아미드의 사용을 증가시킬 것으로 예측됩니다.
주요 과제
높은 생산 비용: 폴리아크릴아미드의 높은 생산 비용은 시장 확대에 큰 장벽이 되고 있습니다. 폴리아크릴아미드의 합성에는 복잡한 화학이 필요하고 고가의 원료가 필요하기 때문에 최종 제품의 가격이 높습니다. 이 때문에 비용에 민감한 산업에서의 사용이 제한되고, 생산자는 더 저렴한 대안과 경쟁하기가 어려워집니다. 결과적으로 높은 제조 비용은 전체 시장의 성장을 방해하고 많은 응용 분야에서 폴리아크릴아미드의 사용을 제한합니다.
건강 및 안전 문제: 폴리아크릴아미드의 취급 및 폐기는 건강 및 안전 측면에서 장애물이 될 수 있습니다. 작업자는 유해하고 발암 가능성이 있는 것으로 알려진 아크릴아미드 단량체에 노출될 위험에 노출되어 있습니다. 이 때문에 엄격한 안전 기준이 필요하며, 생산자의 운영 비용이 증가합니다. 이러한 건강상의 우려는 잠재적 소비자들이 폴리아크릴아미드 제품을 채택하지 못하도록 하여 시장의 성장과 많은 산업에서의 채택을 제한하고 있습니다.
주요 동향 :
수처리 솔루션에 대한 수요 증가: 오염과 물 부족이 전 세계적으로 시급한 문제가 되고 있는 가운데, 응집제로서 폴리아크릴아미드의 효율성이 널리 인식되고 있습니다. 특히 아시아태평양 및 북미 정부는 엄격한 환경 기준을 충족하기 위해 폐수 처리 인프라에 대한 투자를 늘리고 있습니다. 이러한 추세는 향후 몇 년 동안 수질 정화 분야에서 폴리아크릴아미드 수요를 크게 증가시킬 것으로 예측됩니다.
지속 가능한 바이오 대안: 표준 폴리아크릴아미드 제품의 대안으로 지속 가능한 바이오 제품이 주목받고 있습니다. 환경 문제에 대한 관심이 높아짐에 따라 생산자들은 생분해성이 우수하고 환경에 미치는 영향이 적은 바이오 폴리아크릴아미드에 주목하고 있습니다. 합성 기술의 혁신은 생산 비용을 줄이면서 폴리머 성능을 향상시킵니다. 이러한 추세는 세계 지속가능성 목표에 부합하며, 농업에서 의약품에 이르기까지 환경 친화적 인 솔루션을 추구하는 분야에서 투자와 관심을 끌 것으로 예측됩니다.
Polyacrylamide Market size was valued at USD 6.26 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 9.88 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.49% from 2026 to 2032.
Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a synthetic polymer made from acrylamide monomers. It is known for its high water solubility and ability to generate hydrophilic gels. It is widely employed in a variety of industries due to its unusual features, including gel electrophoresis, which uses it as a medium to separate proteins and nucleic acids depending on size and charge.
Furthermore, PAM is used as a flocculant in the water treatment sector, helping to remove suspended solids from wastewater. It also has applications in enhanced oil recovery, where it increases the viscosity of water to aid oil extraction, and in agriculture, where it controls soil erosion by increasing water retention. It can also be used as a thickening agent in the textile sector and as a retention aid in the papermaking process.
The key market dynamics that are shaping the Polyacrylamide Market include:
Key Market Drivers:
Increasing Demand in Water Treatment Applications: The growing need for clean water, combined with severe water quality standards, is driving the Polyacrylamide Market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2020, one in every four individuals lacks access to safe drinking water at home. The global water issue is driving up the use of polyacrylamide in water treatment technologies.
Expanding Oil and Gas Industry: Polyacrylamide is commonly employed in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) procedures, which are becoming more significant as readily available oil reservoirs diminish. According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), around 60% of oil output in the United States in 2019 came from wells that used EOR techniques, many of which involved polyacrylamide-based solutions.
Growth in the Agricultural Sector: Polyacrylamide is used in agriculture as a soil conditioner to increase water retention and minimize erosion. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations forecasts that by 2050, we will need to produce 60% more food to support a growing global population. The growing desire for agricultural production is projected to increase the use of polyacrylamide in farming techniques.
Key Challenges:
High Production Costs: The high production costs of polyacrylamide create a considerable barrier to market expansion. The complex chemistry needed in its synthesis, combined with the expensive raw ingredients required, results in higher end-product prices. This limits its use in cost-sensitive industries, making it difficult for producers to compete with less expensive alternatives. As a result, high production costs impede overall market growth and limit the usage of polyacrylamide in many applications.
Health and Safety Concerns: The handling and disposal of polyacrylamide is an obstacle in terms of health and safety. Workers are in danger from exposure to acrylamide monomers, which are known to be hazardous and potentially carcinogenic. This needs tight safety standards and raises operating costs for producers. Such health concerns dissuade potential consumers from adopting polyacrylamide products, therefore limiting market growth and adoption across numerous industries.
Key Trends:
Increased Demand for Water Treatment Solutions: The efficiency of polyacrylamide as a flocculating agent is becoming widely acknowledged as pollution and water shortage become urgent global concerns. Governments, particularly in Asia-Pacific and North America, are investing in wastewater treatment infrastructure to meet rigorous environmental standards. This trend is projected to greatly increase the demand for polyacrylamide in water purification applications in the future years.
Sustainable and Bio-based Alternatives: There is an increased emphasis on sustainable and bio-based alternatives to standard polyacrylamide products. As environmental concerns gain traction, producers are looking toward bio-based polyacrylamides that have better biodegradability and a lower environmental impact. Innovations in synthesis technologies improve polymer performance while cutting production costs. This trend is consistent with global sustainability goals and is anticipated to draw investment and interest from sectors seeking greener solutions in areas ranging from agriculture to pharmaceuticals.
Here is a more detailed regional analysis of the Polyacrylamide Market:
Asia Pacific:
The Asia Pacific region is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is witnessing rapid industrialization and urbanization, which is driving up demand for water treatment solutions containing polyacrylamide. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Asia and the Pacific's urban population is projected to increase from 2.3 billion in 2019 to 3.5 billion by 2050. This urbanization is driving the demand for effective water treatment technologies, which is boosting the regional Polyacrylamide Market.
Furthermore, several Asia Pacific countries are major players in the oil and gas industry, and polyacrylamide is utilized in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) procedures. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 35% of world oil demand in 2020, and that number is predicted to climb to 37% by 2026. This rising demand is projected to fuel increased exploration and production efforts, including the utilization of EOR techniques that use polyacrylamide-based solutions.
North America:
North America is estimated to exhibit substantial growth within the market during the forecast period. North America is putting more emphasis on water treatment and conservation, increasing demand for polyacrylamide in water purification procedures. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that water infrastructure improvements in the United States will cost USD 743 Billion over the next 20 years. This large investment in water treatment facilities is expected to increase demand for polyacrylamide in the region.
Furthermore, the shale gas boom in North America has raised the demand for polyacrylamide in hydraulic fracturing operations. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), shale gas production in the United States has surged from roughly 1.0 trillion cubic feet in 2006 to nearly 26.3 trillion cubic feet in 2020, accounting for 79% of total natural gas production. The rapid increase in shale gas production is increasing the use of polyacrylamide in fracking fluids.
The Global Polyacrylamide Market is segmented on the basis of Type and Application.
Based on Type, The market is segmented into Cationic, Anionic, and Non-ionic. The anionic polyacrylamide is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period due to its extensive use in a variety of industries, including wastewater treatment, pulp and paper manufacture, and enhanced oil recovery. Because of its efficacy in flocculation procedures, anionic polyacrylamide is a popular choice for treating municipal and industrial wastewater, resulting in widespread adoption across numerous industries and contributing to its market dominance.
Based on Application, The market is segmented into Enhanced Oil Recovery, Water Treatment, Mineral Processing, Pulp & Paper, and Others. The water treatment segment is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period. This dominance is driven by an increasing need for effective wastewater management solutions in the face of escalating environmental concerns and severe regulatory constraints. Polyacrylamide's use as a flocculating agent in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment procedures increases its attractiveness, making it critical for improving water quality and supporting sustainable practices in a variety of industries.
The "Global Polyacrylamide Market" study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are BASF SE, SNF Group, Ashland, Inc., Kemira Oyj, Solenis, Solvay, Anhui Jucheng Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd., Xitao Polymer Co. Ltd., China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), and Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals Co. Ltd.
Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated to such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight into the financial statements of all the major players, along with product benchmarking and SWOT analysis.