The acetic acid market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.18%, reaching a market size of US$13.150 billion in 2030 from US$9.740 billion in 2025.
Acetic acid as a base chemical is widely utilized as a raw material in various industries, including plastics, adhesives, shampoos, paints, solvents, and medicines. The major industries using acetic acid are food, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastic, and others. The pharmaceutical industry has grown significantly after the pandemic due to the increased demand for medicine for chronic and infectious diseases. It included the manufacturing of vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, and organic chemicals.
Moreover, the growth of the construction industry contributes to the application of vinyl acetate. Vinyl acetate is polymerized into different polymers and is used as a common component in adhesives and paints.
Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is utilized in multiple industries for the manufacturing of Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), Polyvinyl butyral (PVB), Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) resin, Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) resin, and food starch modifiers. These chemicals are very relevant in the adhesives and paints, laminated glass, packaging, and food industries. The growth of the paint and coating industry due to the growing demand for construction and residential housing is leading to the increased demand for the VAM. VAM is applied in the production of these important raw chemicals.
Further, Vinyl acetate can be homopolymerized into polyvinyl acetate (PVA, PVAc) or co-polymerized with ethylene to form ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) to form polymers with good adhesion properties. These are utilized in the packaging and paint industries. The consumption of acetic acid would increase as the primary chemical needed for the production process.
The expanding demand for textiles is a major factor behind the market's growth, as acetic acid is used to dye fabrics and produce fabrics such as viscose or latex. The textile industry’s growth is due to the changing trend through social media, growing demand for eco-friendly materials in the production process, and rising fashion sensibility.
Furthermore, acetic acid is used in the food industry as a medicine and preservative. It is also applied as food additives, food preservation, antimicrobial agents, acidulants, flavor and taste enhancers, edible packaging materials, artificial food ripening agents, etc. Additionally, acidulants are also used as food coatings. They can either be edible or non-edible to prevent contamination.
Ester solvents are used in coatings, such as acetate esters. Ethyl Acetate (EAC) has a fruity fragrance, can be mixed with most organic solvents, and is capable of dissolving vegetable oil, glycerol rosin ester, nitrocellulose, chlorovinyl resin, and polystyrene resin. n-Butyl Acetate (BAC) is a colorless liquid with a fruity fragrance, sparingly soluble in water, and less prone to hydrolysis. These chemicals give the paints an organic smell, increase stability, give glossiness to the surface, and optimize volatility.
The growing construction activities worldwide would lead to the demand for these solvents. One of the primary reasons for the expansion of residential activities is the growing global urbanization. The rate of urbanization in the developing part of the world is rising significantly.
The market is segmented by geography into North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Major economies like China, Japan, India, and South Korea dominate the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the fastest-growing emerging economies, such as ASEAN countries, are from this region.
The domestic apparel & textile industry in India contributes approx. 2.3 % to the country’s GDP, 13% to industrial production, and 12% to exports, according to IBEF (India Brand Equity Foundation). India is estimated to have a 4% share of the global trade in textiles and apparel. India is also the 2nd largest producer of silk in the world. Around 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric comes from India. It is also the second-largest manufacturer of PPE in the world. According to the estimates, India will achieve $250 Bn textiles production and $100 Bn exports by 2030. These figures suggest the demand for acetic acid in the industry.
The acetic acid market is segmented by industry vertical into textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, plastic, and others.
The textile industry has a major share in the demand due to the growing usage of acetic acid in the manufacturing of dyes. Chemical and pharmaceuticals are showing a significant upsurge due to acetic acid being used as a base chemical in manufacturing many other chemicals in the sector. The pharmaceutical industry is growing due to the rising demand for medicines to cure chronic ailments.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 β 2031 |
| Report Metric | Details |
| Acetic Acid Market Size in 2025 | US$9.740 billion |
| Acetic Acid Market Size in 2030 | US$13.150 billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 6.18% |
| Study Period | 2020 to 2030 |
| Historical Data | 2020 to 2023 |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 – 2030 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Billion |
| Segmentation |
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| Geographical Segmentation | North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific |
| List of Major Companies in Acetic Acid Market | |
| Customization Scope | Free report customization with purchase |
The acetic acid market is analyzed into the following segments: