Acrylamide Market Analysis By Demand, By Region, By Applications and Forecast Report Till 2034

Acrylamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H5NO. It appears as a white, odorless solid that dissolves readily in water and various organic solvents. Acrylamide serves as a key precursor for polyacrylamide and acrylamide copolymers, which are widely used across industries such as paper manufacturing, dyes, plastics, and water and wastewater treatment. Additionally, acrylamide derivatives are found in products like caulking, food packaging, and adhesives.

The monomeric form of acrylamide is primarily produced by hydrating acrylonitrile, which can be done through either synthetic or biosynthetic routes. Among these, the biosynthetic method is gaining preference due to its higher efficiency. Acrylamide is the fundamental building block for Polyacrylamide (PAM), extensively utilized in wastewater treatment because of its excellent water solubility. Besides wastewater management, PAM finds applications in petroleum production, pulp and paper industries, and mineral processing. Consequently, the growth of the acrylamide market is closely tied to the expanding polyacrylamide segment.

Market Segmentation and Applications

Acrylamide's primary application is as a precursor to polyacrylamide, which plays a vital role in the flocculation process for solid-liquid separation in water and wastewater treatment. It is widely used in municipal sewage treatment, mineral mining effluent processing, and other industrial wastewater applications.In the oil and gas sector, acrylamide enhances oil recovery by increasing the viscosity of injected water, improving extraction efficiency. Beyond industrial uses, acrylamide derivatives are increasingly employed in cosmetics and personal care products such as skin cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, creams, hair care, and nail care formulations. Here, polyacrylamides act as stabilizers, binders, and thickeners, providing desirable foaming, anti-static, and lubricating effects. These polymers also improve product tackiness, permeability, and texture performance.

Leading Acrylamide Manufacturers

Key players dominating the acrylamide market include BASF SE, SNF Chemtall, Nalco, Kemira, Beijing Hengju Oilfield, China National Petrochemical, and Dia-Nitrix. These companies supply acrylamide and related products across sectors such as water treatment, paper manufacturing, and petroleum production.

Regional Market Analysis

As of 2024, the global demand for acrylamide was estimated to be around 2,000 kilo tons, growing at an average annual rate of around 3.5% between 2018 and 2023. Nearly 45% of this demand stems from water treatment applications, while the petroleum and pulp & paper sectors together contribute another 45%.

The global acrylamide market is largely driven by the rising need for water and wastewater treatment solutions, fueled by increasing industrialization worldwide. Key industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, pulp and paper, and textiles generate significant quantities of toxic effluents, necessitating efficient water treatment. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, which utilize acrylamide to increase the viscosity of injected water, help extract an additional 30-60% of oil trapped in reservoirs, further bolstering demand.

Asia-Pacific accounts for around 57% of the global acrylamide consumption, with China alone representing 79% of the region's demand translating to roughly 45% of worldwide acrylamide use. North America is the second-largest market, capturing about 23% of global demand, followed by Western Europe with a 17% share. Other regions, including Central & South America, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East & Africa, collectively make up the remaining 3%.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market due to rapid industrialization and expanding infrastructure in countries like India, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia. The presence of significant oil and gas reserves further stimulates acrylamide demand here. Latin America is estimated to witness growth driven by its developing industrial base.

In North America, the expanding industrial and petrochemical sectors support steady demand. Europe's growth is fueled by the transportation, construction, and power generation industries, with countries like Germany, the UK, France, and Russia being key contributors.