Polymer Foam Global Market Report 2026

Polymer foam refers to a polymer material characterized by the presence of numerous tiny foam holes within the polymer matrix, resulting in a porous structure. These materials typically exhibit lower density and offer good sound and heat insulation properties. Polymer foam is commonly used as insulation material in various industries.

The main types of polymer foams include polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, PVC foam, phenolic foam, polyolefin foam, melamine foam, and others. Polystyrene foam is a synthetic polymer with thermoplastic properties, derived from the petroleum-based monomer known as styrene. It is available in both flexible and rigid foam forms and finds applications in diverse industries such as packaging, building and construction, furniture and bedding, automotive, rail, wind, marine, and others.

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 polymer foam market by increasing costs of imported petrochemical feedstocks, blowing agents, additives, and foam processing machinery. Construction, automotive, and packaging industries in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces pricing pressure on export-oriented foam production. These tariffs are increasing production costs and influencing pricing strategies. However, they are also encouraging local foam manufacturing, regional raw material sourcing, and innovation in cost-effective and sustainable polymer foam solutions.

The polymer foam market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides polymer foam market statistics, including polymer foam industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a polymer foam market share, detailed polymer foam market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the polymer foam industry. This polymer foam 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 polymer foam market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $118.04 billion in 2025 to $125.26 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of building insulation requirements, growth of packaging protection applications, increasing use in furniture and bedding, rising adoption in automotive interiors, availability of diverse foam formulations.

The polymer foam market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $156.73 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing focus on energy-efficient buildings, rising demand for lightweight vehicle components, expansion of renewable energy infrastructure insulation, growing use in rail and marine applications, increasing development of recyclable and low-emission foam materials. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of lightweight insulation foams, rising demand for high-performance thermal insulation materials, growing adoption of polymer foams in automotive applications, expansion of rigid foam usage in construction, enhanced focus on sound and vibration damping.

The rising sales of wood furniture are expected to drive the growth of the polymer foam market in the coming years. Wood furniture includes room furnishings such as tables, chairs, wood flooring, cabinets (for kitchens, bathrooms, and vanities), and other furniture made from wood, wood composites, or manufactured wood materials. Polymer foam, particularly polyurethane foam, is used in wood furniture as an alternative to real wood to replicate its appearance. This foam, made from a combination of polyol and isocyanate, is available in various densities to provide different levels of hardness and durability. For example, in October 2025, according to the Furniture Industry Research Association, a UK-based non-profit organization, total UK furniture manufacturing sales reached US $14.4 billion (£10.8 billion) in 2024, with strong product-based output. Additionally, in 2023, over 225,000 jobs were supported across the entire furniture and furnishings supply chain. Therefore, the growing sales of wood furniture are supporting the expansion of the polymer foam market.

Major companies in the polymer foam market are concentrating on introducing eco-friendly solutions to adopt sustainable practices, such as the mass balance approach, in order to gain a competitive advantage. The mass balance approach is a technique used across various industries, including chemicals, plastics, and food, to monitor the flow of sustainable materials through a complex value chain. For example, in September 2024, BASF, a Germany-based chemical company, and Future Foam, a U.S.-based manufacturer of various polyurethane foams, announced a partnership to launch the first commercially available flexible foam bedding made entirely from domestically produced BMB Lupranate T 80 TDI. This innovative foam marks a significant advancement towards sustainable manufacturing in the bedding industry by utilizing locally sourced materials, thereby reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional foam production. The collaboration highlights both companies' commitment to promoting eco-friendly practices while providing high-quality products that cater to consumer demand for sustainable bedding solutions.

In September 2023, Covestro, a Germany-based provider of high-performance materials, teamed up with the Selena Group to develop innovative solutions, including advanced foam products intended for construction and insulation applications. By combining their expertise and resources, Covestro and Selena Group aim to enhance their product offerings and bolster their market position within the construction industry. The Selena Group is a well-known manufacturer of construction chemicals and materials based in Poland.

Major companies operating in the polymer foam market are Sealed Air Corporation, Arkema Group, Armacell International SA, Borealis AG, Polymer Technologies Inc, Zotefoams plc, Synthos S A, BASF SE, KANEKA CORPORATION, Toray Industries Inc, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Huntsman International LLC, SEKISUI ALVEO AG, Covestro AG, Koepp Schaum GmbH, JSP Corporation, Lanxess AG, Tosoh Corporation, Recticel NV, Rogers Corporation, Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Spongex, Genesys Aero systems

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

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

The polymer foam market consists of sales of thermoplastic and thermoset foams, phenolformaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde foams. 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.

Polymer Foam 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 polymer foam 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.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for polymer foam ? 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 polymer foam 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: Polyurethane Foam; Polystyrene Foam; Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Foam; Phenolic Foam; Polyolefin Foam; Melamine Foam; Other Types
• 2) By Form: Flexible Foam; Rigid Foam
• 3) By Application: Packaging; Building And Construction; Furniture And Bedding; Automotive; Rail; Wind; Marine; Other Applications
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Polyurethane Foam: Flexible Foam; Rigid Foam
• 2) By Polystyrene Foam: Expanded Polystyrene (EPS); Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)
• 3) By Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Foam: Rigid Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Foam; Flexible Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Foam
• 4) By Phenolic Foam: Rigid Phenolic Foam
• 5) By Polyolefin Foam: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Foam; High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Foam
• 6) By Melamine Foam: Standard Melamine Foam; Melamine Foam With Additives
• 7) By Other Types: Composite Foams; Specialty Foams
• Companies Mentioned: Sealed Air Corporation; Arkema Group; Armacell International SA; Borealis AG; Polymer Technologies Inc; Zotefoams plc; Synthos S A; BASF SE; KANEKA CORPORATION; Toray Industries Inc; Saudi Basic Industries Corporation; Huntsman International LLC; SEKISUI ALVEO AG; Covestro AG; Koepp Schaum GmbH; JSP Corporation; Lanxess AG; Tosoh Corporation; Recticel NV; Rogers Corporation; Woodbridge Foam Corporation; Spongex; Genesys Aero systems
• 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.
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