Plastic Compounding Market

Market Overview

The plastic compounding market size was valued at USD 65.2 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 114.9 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

After going through a specific process known as compounding, plastic has evolved into a necessity in the daily lives of billions. It is widely used in a variety of applications. Plastic properties can be changed through compounding to meet specific requirements. For instance, plastic can change its conductivity or flame retardance characteristics after compounding. Extrusion is used to combine base plastics with additives to improve their properties. The additive combined with the base resin during extrusion gives compounded plastics their improved aesthetics. Natural fibers like cotton, hemp, jute, sisal, abaca, and flax are incorporated into a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer matrix to add strength and stiffness. To increase the overall utility and value of the plastic, additives such as plasticizers for flexibility, anti-oxidants for high-temperature stability, flame retardants or smoke suppressants, or conductive fibers for electrical properties are added. Comparing plastic fittings to metal or wooden fittings, plastic fittings are thought to be much simpler to install. In the complex process of compounding plastics, the ratio of additives is determined, the melt is mixed at high-speed using twin screw extruders, cooled, and then the final pellet is cut and packaged.

Market Dynamics

What Are The Key Factors Driving Industry Growth?

Sustainable Compounding Reduces Vehicle Weight, Increasing Fuel Efficiency

Plastic compounding has been linked to vehicle fuel efficiency. The constantly changing automotive industry generates reliable revenue streams for market participants in plastic compounding worldwide. To increase their compounding capabilities in China, Houston-based Ascend Performance Materials announced an acquisition agreement with The Engineering Plastic and NCM Co. Ltd. Companies are making an effort to invest in R&D facilities with a strong emphasis on current applications in the consumer goods, electronics, and automotive industries. Stakeholders are becoming more skilled at sustainable compounding to improve their position in the automotive sector. The demand for fuel-efficient lightweight vehicles among Gen-Z consumers is pushing plastic manufacturers in the plastic compounding market to develop innovative sustainable compounding techniques. Reduced vehicle weight is the key to reducing the risk of carbon emissions from an automobile. These trends are promoting plastic compounding in the automotive sector.

Twin-screw Compounding and Additives Increase Thermoplastics' Impact Strength

The use of thermoplastic compounding is expanding in applications for consumer goods, healthcare, and three-dimensional (3-D) modeling. Businesses in the plastic compounding industry are expanding their capacity for long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic production. To meet the demanding needs of clients in automotive, consumer goods, and 3D modeling applications, Oak Tree Engineering, a specialist in thermoplastics compounding, incorporates a wide range of additives, polymers, fillers, and colorants in thermoplastics. The majority of consumer goods are made of plastic. Manufacturers use twin-screw compounding and additives in the plastic compounding industry to improve thermoplastic flexibility, impact resistance, and flame retardance. These thermoplastics go well with consumer goods that are safe for use around food and animals. Thermoplastics are produced using chemical and mechanical expertise to ensure that no potentially hazardous raw materials are present.

What Are The Challenges For Plastic Compounding Market?

Price fluctuations for raw materials

It is anticipated that changes will hamper the market growth in the cost of the raw materials used to make compounded plastics. The raw material needed to make this type of plastic is resin, which is produced using crude oil and its derivatives as feedstock. The market is anticipated to be impacted by the fluctuating price of crude oil. Before the go-ahead or production is given, several rounds of designing and modeling are frequently required. Then, it will be necessary to design & produce the injection molding tool required to create the moldings. The most expensive part of purchasing injection moldings is the intricate mold tool, which requires a lot of labor, materials, and machining time.

What Are The Future Opportunities For Plastic Compounding?

Growing Demand from the Construction Industry for Plastic Compounding

Plastics are primarily used in the construction industry to insulate structures and infrastructure. Additionally, they produce various building materials, such as flooring, performance safety windows, doors, cables, and pipes. The construction industry has increased its demand for compounded plastics due to their capacity to provide qualities comparable to steel, such as strength, texture, and resistance to rust and environmental factors. Additionally, there will be more opportunities for the plastic compounding market to expand favorably due to increased commercial and residential projects and the growing consumer awareness of attractive interiors. Plastics are used in construction for various products, including insulation, pipe fittings, masonry tools, and materials. Plastic materials can be reshaped to meet their needs. For instance, polyvinyl chloride compounds are combined with flame-retardant additives to create an essential component of building materials.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific Dominates the Global Market.

The global plastic compounding market is bifurcated into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. 

Asia Pacific is the most significant shareholder in the global plastic compounding market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.11% during the forecast period. China, Australia, India, Japan, and the rest of Asia-Pacific are all included in the Asia-Pacific plastic compounding market analysis. The economic climate and the rise of plastic manufacturers favor growth. The region's automotive, industrial machinery, construction, packaging, and electrical and electronics industries will experience increased demand due to the expanding manufacturing sector. It is the largest producer and consumer of consumer goods, automobiles, and packaging materials, which paved the way for the expansion of the local market. Most producers work in one of the value chain segments of the plastics industry. The demand in the region is further fueled by the fact that APAC is one of the biggest consumers and producers of electrical and electronic goods, such as wires and equipment.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period. The U.S. and Canada are included in the analysis of the plastic compounding market in North America. Rapid infrastructure development is anticipated to boost product demand during the forecast period in the United States and Mexico. The construction market is anticipated to benefit from government regulations supporting the housing sector’s recovery. Over the forecast period, infrastructure development in Canada and Mexico and reconstruction efforts in the United States are anticipated to drive market expansion in North America. However, the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases in the area has decreased demand and regional cross-border trade, which has hurt the market's expansion. The US plastic compounding market is anticipated to benefit from domestic and international reconstruction efforts throughout the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis

The market is segmented by product, source, and end user.

Based on product, the global plastic compounding market is bifurcated into thermoplastic polymers, elastomers, polyamides, polyurethanes, SBC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, thermosetting polymers, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin.

The polypropylene segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.18% during the forecast period. Its compounds have a high impact resistance and serviceability level, making them widely used in automotive applications. Both domestic production and vehicle sales have increased due to economic expansion in Latin American and Asian markets. Plastic consumption in automotive applications is expected to increase significantly over the forecast period due to rising automotive production, regulatory trends requiring manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency, and pressure to reduce vehicle weight from consumers. It has better chemical and temperature resistance as well as good fatigue resistance. These elements have helped PP become a well-liked material for numerous applications in developed and developing economies.

Based on the source, the global plastic compounding market is bifurcated into fossil-based, bio-based, and recycled.

The bio-based segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.71% during the forecast period. There are high-performance bio-plastic grades available on the market. Major market participants like NEC Corporation, Clariant International, AMI LLC, and RTP Company have invested in the bio-plastics industry to improve compatibility and address environmental concerns with polymers. Licocare RBW Vita range, Licolub FA 1, and Licowax C are just a few bio-based processing and dispersing additives for biopolymers that Clariant International has introduced. As a result, manufacturers are prompted by consumer demand for eco-friendly plastics to look for sources with a relatively smaller carbon footprint.

Based on end users, the global plastic compounding market is bifurcated into packaging, construction, automotive, electronics, agriculture, and consumer goods.

The automotive segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.43% during the forecast period. Plastic compounding has made it possible for automakers to use lightweight plastics with the same strength as metals like steel and aluminum, significantly reducing vehicle weight and lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The automobile industry will see a healthy increase in plastic compounding as introducing electric vehicles forces automakers to consider various options for compounded plastics. Plastics used extensively in the automotive industry include PVC, ABS, polypropylene, polyamide, and polystyrene.

Recent Developments

• November 2022, By enabling customers in a few markets to recycle these materials directly in their curbside recycling, WM and Dow have announced the beginning of a daring new collaboration to improve residential recycling for difficult-to-recycle plastic films.
• November 2022, Prices will go up for many products at the global specialty materials and chemical company Celanese Corporation. These price hikes will take effect on December 1, 2022, or as soon as other agreements permit. Additionally, higher increases than those listed below may apply to specific grades.