Polyacrylic Acid Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Co-polymer, Ter-polymer, Homo-polymer), By Grade (Industrial, Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical), By Application (Thickeners, Dispensing Agents, Conditioners and Emulsifiers, Anti-Scaling, Ion-Exchanger, Clarifying Agent), End User Industry (Water Treatment, Personal care, Detergents, Cleaner, and Others), and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Polyacrylic Acid Market size was valued at US$ 1,140 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 1,560 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 3.7% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. Polyacrylic Acid Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 480 million by 2031, driven by rising demand in water treatment, detergents, and personal care applications, along with advancements in polymer-based formulations.

The market is witnessing a low-profile but deep-seated change, spurred by growing uses in water treatment, cleaning products, and farming. Conventional perception as a functional additive, polyacrylic acid has evolved to become a strategic material based on its superior water absorbency, dispersion properties, and potential biodegradability. While tightening environmental and safety standards, industries are looking to polymers that are performing and sustainable possibly placing polyacrylic acid in the forefront. Asia-Pacific growth markets, in particular, are driving capacity additions to underpin infrastructure and sanitation efforts, creating a new growth avenue. The trend is redefining supply chains and R&D strategies in the chemicals industry.

Polyacrylic acid's versatility as a thickener, stabilizer, and scale inhibitor has made it an industry standard in the range of industries from detergents to superabsorbent polymers. But on its performance, it is the polymer's versatility toward environmental regulations and circular innovation that's catching manufacturers' eyes. As consumers and industries alike consider green-compatible solutions, demand tips more sharply in the direction of bio-based derivatives and recyclables. Joint partnerships between chemical majors and FMCG companies are becoming increasingly common, symptomatic of a market that's not only expanding—but evolving. Material science flexibility and creativity are increasingly becoming competitive imperatives in this regard.

Key Developments:

• In May 2025, Arkema has inaugurated its €130 million Carat Project at its Carling, France, plant to boost acrylic acid monomer and superabsorbent polymer production. It includes a cutting-edge purification unit that will lower energy consumption by 25% and carbon footprint by 20% and boost production and waste treatment. Arkema's new-generation acrylic acid purification investment, opened in March 2025, is the benchmark for cleaner-emission, resource-saving production in the European chemical industry.
• In February 2025, LG Chem entered the global market for renewable raw materials in February 2025 with the production of plant-based bio-acrylic acid from microbial fermentation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP). LG Chem's bio-acrylic acid shares the same molecular properties as conventional acrylic acid but is 100% plant-based and thus can be utilized in cosmetics, SAPs, adhesives, electronics, and green-coatings—in fulfilling growing needs for green alternatives.
• In August 2024, Nippon Shokubai remains to expand its acrylic acid production capacity in Southeast Asia through its Indonesian unit as regional demand rises and supply chain proximity becomes more stringent

Polyacrylic Acid Market Segmentation:

Based on the type:

• Co-polymer
• Ter-polymer
• Homo-polymer

Amongst the different types, co-polymer-based polyacrylic acid is the largest sub-segment primarily due to it being more functionally adaptable and offering better performance in multi-condition applications. The co-polymer advantage lies in tailor-made molecular structure so that viscosity, solubility, and also compatibility with other formulation components may be better controlled providing them with a sharp preference in dynamic industry processes. Their water-based applications and oil-compatibility formulation flexibility give them a market edge over homo-polymers in applications such as detergents, water treatment, and superabsorbent products. In addition, advances in controlled polymerization technologies have enabled the manufacturers to specify co-polymers with custom performance features, enabling new windows of innovation in targeted markets such as biomedical coatings and smart materials systems.

Based on the grade:

• Industrial
• Cosmetic
• Pharmaceutical

Polyacrylic acid, industrial grade, sweeps the market off its feet due to its heavy-duty application in water treatment, oil refining, and bulk production. Its high molecular weight and superior dispersing power render it applicable for preventing scaling, stabilizing suspensions, and enhancing thermal process efficiency. It is particularly valued in regions of extreme water stress, where water boiler treatment and wastewater recycling plants demand stability of polymer performance in aggressive chemical environments. Industrial-grade forms differ from pharmacy or cosmetic grades in that they are robust, economical, and can operate through wide pH ranges a key factor for industries that aim for optimum uptime in operations and uphold rigorous discharge and safety standards.

Based on the applications:

• Thickeners
• Dispensing Agents
• Conditioners and Emulsifiers
• Anti-Scaling
• Ion-Exchanger
• Clarifying agent

Thickeners are one of the largest application areas for polyacrylic acid as a formulation, and they are of great significance in personal care product, paint, and detergent usage. The ability of polyacrylic acid to form high-viscosity gels at relatively low concentrations gives formulators precise control over texture, spread, and stability. In personal care, it allows the production of light creams and serums with a smooth application profile. In cleaning products, its thickening value provides a uniform, easy-to-dispense product experience without compromising on cleaning agents being kept in suspended state evenly. Increasing demand for sensorially pleasing, stable, and eco-friendly products has positioned thickeners at the centre of R&D initiatives, particularly from high-end formulation plants and private-label producers.

Based on the End User Industry:

• Water Treatment
• Personal Care
• Detergents
• Cleaners
• Others

In the end-use market, the water treatment sub-sector dominates the sub-segments of the polyacrylic acid consumption market. Its superior property as a scale inhibitor and dispersant makes it a vital active component in municipal and industrial water treatment. The polymer inhibits scaling by calcium and magnesium specifically, which tints pipes, reduces thermal efficiency, and is more maintenance-intensive. As water scarcity becomes a global concern as well as increasing contamination problems, governments and private utility firms are committing themselves more and more to more sustainable treatment plants—a sure bet for a growth path for polyacrylic acid. Demand to zero-liquid discharge technology and closed-loop recycling is also driving its application in newer water technologies.