Maleic Anhydride Global Market Report 2026

Maleic anhydride serves diverse purposes, including the manufacturing of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR), utilization as lubricating oil additives, dispersants, and corrosion inhibitors. This chemical intermediate is derived through the oxidation of benzene or butane in the presence of a vanadium oxide catalyst. Maleic anhydride, characterized by its colorless or white solid state, is a cyclic dicarboxylic anhydride organic chemical. It finds application as a food preservative, flavor enhancer, and artificial sweetener upon conversion to maleic or fumaric acid, with extensive uses in pharmaceutics, agricultural products, and surfactants.

The primary types of maleic anhydride exist are solid maleic anhydride and molten maleic anhydride. Solid maleic anhydride, present in a solid form, is predominantly employed in the creation of unsaturated polyester resins. Derived from raw materials like benzene and n-butane, maleic anhydride serves various sectors, including construction, automobiles, food and beverages, oil products, electronics, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Its applications encompass use in unsaturated polyester resin, copolymers, lubricant additives, alkyl succinic anhydrides, malic acid, and fumaric acid.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the maleic anhydride market by increasing costs of imported feedstocks, processing catalysts, industrial reactors, and logistics infrastructure required for chemical manufacturing. Asia-Pacific regions such as China and India are most affected due to export-oriented production, while North America and Europe face higher raw material procurement costs. These tariffs are pressuring margins for chemical producers and downstream resin manufacturers. However, they are also encouraging regional feedstock sourcing, domestic capacity expansion, and efficiency-driven process optimization.

The maleic anhydride market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides maleic anhydride market statistics, including maleic anhydride industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a maleic anhydride market share, detailed maleic anhydride market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the maleic anhydride industry. This maleic anhydride market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The maleic anhydride market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.97 billion in 2025 to $4.26 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of construction and infrastructure activities, rising demand for polyester resins, growth in agrochemical production, increasing consumption of food additives, availability of benzene and n-butane feedstocks.

The maleic anhydride market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.45 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for sustainable chemical production, increasing application in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, expansion of lightweight composites usage, rising focus on low-emission manufacturing processes, increasing investments in specialty chemical capacity. Major trends in the forecast period include expanding use of maleic anhydride in unsaturated polyester resins, rising demand for bio-based chemical intermediates, growing adoption in food additives and preservatives, increasing application in agricultural chemicals, enhanced focus on process efficiency optimization.

The rising global demand for automobiles has driven the growth of the maleic anhydride market. The automobile industry, which produces and sells vehicles including passenger cars, trucks, and commercial equipment, utilizes unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) derived from maleic anhydride for parts due to its lightweight, mechanical properties, and design versatility. For instance, in March 2024, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, global car sales rebounded strongly in 2023, growing nearly 10% to surpass 72 million units. The European market saw an 18.6% increase, while Russia and Ukraine posted growth rates of 63.5% and 58.9%, respectively. This surge has boosted the demand for maleic anhydride and its derivatives.

Major companies in the maleic anhydride market are developing innovative solutions to improve production efficiency and support emerging applications such as biodegradable plastics. Maleic anhydride technology encompasses engineering design, catalytic systems, and operational support for industrial-scale production. For example, in September 2024, MAIRE, an Italy-based engineering provider, announced CONSER's maleic anhydride technology package for Al Baleed Petrochemical's new 50,000-ton-per-year facility in Oman. The solution includes process licensing, design packages, catalyst supply, and technical services to support construction, commissioning, and start-up, strengthening Oman's industrial capabilities and promoting maleic anhydride use in biodegradable plastics.

In June 2023, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad, a Malaysian chemical company, made a final investment decision (FID) to acquire a maleic anhydride plant from BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd (BPC) for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition is poised to integrate specific chemical derivatives of maleic anhydride in the future, potentially collaborating with other downstream manufacturers of maleic anhydride in Malaysia. The move aims to diversify PCG's product line and enhance the company's derivatives offerings. BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd (BPC) is a Malaysian chemical company specializing in the production of maleic anhydride.

Major companies operating in the maleic anhydride market are Huntsman Corporation, Lanxess AG, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, HELM AG, Ningbo Jiangning Chemical Co. Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd., Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Changzhou Shuguang Chemical Co. Ltd., Bartek Ingredients Inc., BASF SE, Cepsa Quimica S.L.U., Polynt S.p.A., Sasol Limited, Flint Hills Resources LP, Zibo Qixing Tengda Chemical Co. Ltd., Yongsan Chemicals Inc., Tianjin Bohai Chemicals, Thirumalai Chemicals Limited, Gulf Advanced Chemical Industries Co. Ltd., MOL Group, Yunnan Yunwei Company Limited, Jiangyin Shunfei Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Zhongteng Chemical Co. Ltd., Fuso Chemical Co. Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Shandong Hongxin Chemical Co. Ltd., Baotie Hebei Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Aekyung Petrochemical Co. Ltd., DSM NV, Merck & Co. Inc., Bluestar Harbin Petrochemical Corporation, INEOS, NAN YA PLASTICS CORPORATION, China National Chemical Corporation, Hexion Inc., Lonza Group AG, Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Weishi Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Zouping Qili Additives Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the maleic anhydride market share in 2025 and is also expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the maleic anhydride market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the maleic anhydride market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The maleic anhydride market consists of sales of different forms of maleic anhydride including pellets, flakes and lumps. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Maleic Anhydride Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses maleic anhydride market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for maleic anhydride ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The maleic anhydride market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Solid Maleic Anhydride; Molten Maleic Anhydride
• 2) By Raw Material: Benzene; N-Butane
• 3) By Application: Unsaturated Polyester Resin; Copolymers; Lubricant Additives; Alkyl Succinic Anhydrides; Malic Acid; Fumaric Acid
• 4) By End User: Construction; Automobile; Food and Beverage; Oil Products; Electronics; Personal Care; Pharmaceuticals; Agriculture
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Solid Maleic Anhydride: Crystalline Maleic Anhydride; Powdered Maleic Anhydride
• 2) By Molten Maleic Anhydride: Liquid Maleic Anhydride
• Companies Mentioned: Huntsman Corporation; Lanxess AG; Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation; HELM AG; Ningbo Jiangning Chemical Co. Ltd.; Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd.; Ashland Global Holdings Inc.; Changzhou Shuguang Chemical Co. Ltd.; Bartek Ingredients Inc.; BASF SE; Cepsa Quimica S.L.U.; Polynt S.p.A.; Sasol Limited; Flint Hills Resources LP; Zibo Qixing Tengda Chemical Co. Ltd.; Yongsan Chemicals Inc.; Tianjin Bohai Chemicals; Thirumalai Chemicals Limited; Gulf Advanced Chemical Industries Co. Ltd.; MOL Group; Yunnan Yunwei Company Limited; Jiangyin Shunfei Fine Chemical Co. Ltd.; Jiangsu Zhongteng Chemical Co. Ltd.; Fuso Chemical Co. Ltd.; Mitsui Chemicals Inc.; Shandong Hongxin Chemical Co. Ltd.; Baotie Hebei Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.; Aekyung Petrochemical Co. Ltd.; DSM NV; Merck & Co. Inc.; Bluestar Harbin Petrochemical Corporation; INEOS; NAN YA PLASTICS CORPORATION; China National Chemical Corporation; Hexion Inc.; Lonza Group AG; Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Co. Ltd.; Zhejiang Weishi Biotechnology Co. Ltd.; Zouping Qili Additives Co. Ltd.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.