Global Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) Resin Market - 2022-2029

Market Overview

The global styrene-acrylonitrile resins market size was worth US$ XX million in 2021 and is estimated to reach US$ XX million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period (2022-2029).

Styrene acrylonitrile resin is a copolymer that consists of styrene and acrylonitrile. The copolymer consists of 70% to 80% of styrene by weight and 20% to 30% of acrylonitrile by weight. Higher content of acrylonitrile improves mechanical properties and chemical stability. The SAN resin has a transparent appearance; however, more% of acrylonitrile gives it a yellowish tinge.

Styrene acrylonitrile is widely replacing polystyrene due to its greater thermal resistance. It is used in different industries for a wide range of applications. The transparency and resistance to fats and cleaning agents make it ideal for kitchenware, such as coffee jugs, jars, food storage containers, and bowls. SAN also has other applications such as outer covers of calculators, printers, lamps, battery housings, and home appliance covers.

Market Dynamics

The demand for SAN resins is driven by the rising demand from the end-user industries. It is the most important driver for the market. Rising health concerns and demand for alternative materials is the key challenge to the growth of this market.

Increasing demand from end-user industries

Styrene acrylonitrile resin is a high-quality plastic with good thermal and chemical resistance. It is an ideal candidate for various applications in different industries such as food processing, agriculture, packaging and healthcare. Strong economic growth and the adoption of modern lifestyles are driving the demand for packaged foods. The food containers and various kitchenware articles contain SAN resin.

The rise in e-commerce and delivery services has increased the demand for packaging materials. Many packaging materials contain SAN resins. The styrene-acrylonitrile resins are also used in medical devices such as autoclaves, medical light diffusers, and syringe tubes which are seeing robust demand due to the ongoing pandemic. Many electronic device enclosures are also made from SAN resin since it is durable and resistant to electric shocks. The increasing demand from many end-use industries is driving the styrene-acrylonitrile resin market.

Increasing health and environmental concerns

The Global Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a body of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies styrene-acrylonitrile resins as a Class 2B carcinogen, rated as possibly carcinogenic in humans. Styrene, which is one of the main constituents of this resin, is toxic to humans. SAN resins are stable and do not leach styrene. However, evidence suggests that long-term usage of SAN resin-based products can leach from body surface into food since SAN resin is used extensively for kitchenware. The long-term health effects of microplastics on human health are still being studied.

Styrene acrylonitrile resin is incredibly stable and hence, is non-biodegradable. SAN resin-based products are found in nearly every industry. All these products are not recyclable and are tossed directly into landfills. The amount of products thrown away is increasing every year and is causing major environmental degradation and disruption of natural ecosystems. Consumers and governments globally are becoming increasingly aware of the long-term hazards of plastic pollution and are enacting new laws and substituting SAN resin products with eco-friendly alternatives such as paper and cardboard. Many national governments have targeted the complete elimination of single-use plastics by this decade. SAN resin is a major constituent of single-use plastics. The increasing health and environmental concerns are a key challenge to the growth of this market.

COVID-19 impact analysis

The global COVID-19 pandemic had an uneven impact on the value chains and sales of the global styrene-acrylonitrile resin market. Food storage and packaging applications saw robust growth. Office supply applications such as covers for calculators, printers, and lamps, saw relatively steep declines as demand from their end-use industries collapsed due to lockdowns and work from home mandates by governments globally.

The supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had a knock-on effect on the styrene-acrylonitrile resin market. The supplies of raw materials have been hampered, which rendered the industry unable to meet the global demand. It has driven up prices of finished products, thereby contributing to global inflation. The pandemic will not significantly impact the long-term growth of the global styrene-acrylonitrile resin market as companies are expected to ramp up production as economic activity returns to normalcy gradually. The demand for styrene-acrylonitrile resin remains strong and is expected to grow gradually in the coming years.

Segment Analysis

The global styrene-acrylonitrile resin market is segmented into type, application, end-user and region. The styrene-acrylonitrile market is segmented into automotive & transportation, electrical & electronics, construction, medical and packaging, and others. Packaging dominates this segment since styrene-acrylonitrile is the most widely used material for packaging.

Many industries use SAN resin for packaging, including personal care products like toothbrushes and cosmetics like makeup brushes. Many food storage containers and fresh food packaging materials are made from SAN resin. Plastic kitchenware such as spoons, ladles, spatulas, forks, and chopping boards primarily uses SAN resin. Due to the above-mentioned diverse range of applications, packaging has the largest share in the styrene-acrylonitrile industry segment.

Geographical Analysis

Asia-Pacific is leading in the global styrene-acrylonitrile resin market. The region has the largest market share, primarily due to major emerging markets such as India, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia and developed markets like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Some of the largest styrene-acrylonitrile producers and consumers are located in this region.

China is also the largest consumer of styrene-acrylonitrile resin globally. The major demand for styrene-acrylonitrile comes from the packaging industry, especially since China's largest e-commerce market globally is US$ 1.2 trillion.

China is the leading manufacturing economy and exporter of goods globally. Much plastic kitchenware and other plastic products are made in China. India and China are some of the largest markets for the food and beverages industry, mainly due to their large populations. Styrene acrylonitrile resin is used extensively to manufacture plastic bottles for beverages and shrink wrapping for packaged foods. The Asia-Pacific region will continue to have the largest market share in the styrene-acrylonitrile resin market.

Competitive Landscape

The global styrene-acrylonitrile resin market is competitive due to the availability of a wide variety of resins from different companies. Some of the major players contributing to the growth in the segment are Formosa Plastics Corporation, China National Petroleum Corporation, Solvay, Dow, BASF SE, SABIC, and LG. Chem, Lotte Chemical Corporation, Toray Industries, Inc., Ineos Group AG. The major market players adopt several growth strategies such as new product launches, mergers, capacity expansion, regional and global expansion, and joint ventures and collaborations, contributing to global growth in the industry.

Formosa Plastics Corporation

Overview: Formosa Plastics Corporation is a plastics company specializing in producing a wide variety of plastics, chemicals and petrochemicals such as resins, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic fiber, acrylic acid ester, carbon fiber, caustic soda and calcium carbonate. The company has more than a dozen production plants in Taiwan and U.S. and its products are exported to more than 70 countries globally. Formosa Plastics Corporation was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Product Portfolio

TAIRISAN NF2100 is a styrene-acrylonitrile resin primarily intended for toothbrush handles, cosmetic cases, trash cans, lamp covers, cassettes and plastic cups.

Key Developments: In July 2021, the company released TAIRILAC AF3510AT, a new styrene-acrylonitrile resin with improved thermal durability for packaging applications.

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Target Audience 2022

Plastics and petrochemical manufacturers

Industry Investors/Investment Bankers

Education & Research Institutes

Research Professionals