Global Cellulose Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2031

Cellulose Market Analysis and Size     

The cellulose market is experiencing steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly materials in various industries. Cellulose, derived primarily from plant sources such as wood pulp, cotton, and hemp, is widely used in the production of paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food products. The market is propelled by the rising awareness among consumers and manufacturers regarding the environmental impact of traditional materials, leading to a shift towards cellulose-based alternatives. In addition, the versatility of cellulose in various applications, including packaging, construction, and automotive industries, further fuels market growth.

The global cellulose market size was valued at USD 44.48 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 93.08 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 9.67% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2031. In addition to the insights on market scenarios such as market value, growth rate, segmentation, geographical coverage, and major players, the market reports curated by the Data Bridge Market Research also include in-depth expert analysis, geographically represented company-wise production and capacity, network layouts of distributors and partners, detailed and updated price trend analysis and deficit analysis of supply chain and demand.

Report Scope and Market Segmentation

Market Definition

Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. It is a key structural material in the plant kingdom, contributing to the formation of fibers in cotton, wood, and other plant-based materials. It is the main structural component of the cell walls in plants, providing rigidity and strength to plant cells. It is insoluble in water and resistant to digestion by most animals, although some microorganisms and animals possess enzymes capable of breaking it down.

Cellulose Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Growing Demand for Sustainable Products

Cellulose is derived from plant sources such as wood pulp, cotton, and hemp, making it a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials. With governments and organizations around the world enforcing stricter regulations and policies to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainability, there is a growing preference for cellulose-based products across various industries. This shift towards sustainable products is a key driver of market growth as manufacturers seek to meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly alternatives.                

• Rising Demand in End-Use Industries  

In the textile industry, cellulose fiber is used to produce fabrics such as rayon and viscose, which are valued for their softness, breathability, and draping qualities. In the paper and pulp industry, cellulose is a primary raw material for producing paper, packaging materials, and other paper-based products. In addition, cellulose derivatives are widely used in pharmaceuticals as binders, coatings, and disintegrants in tablet formulations. In the food processing industry, cellulose is used as a dietary fiber additive and as a thickener in food products. The diverse applications of cellulose across these industries drive its demand and contribute to the growth of the market.

Opportunities 

• Bio-Based Chemicals and Materials        

Cellulose can be used as a feedstock to produce a wide range of bio-based chemicals, such as ethanol, acetone, and butanol, which are important raw materials for various industries. In addition, cellulose can be processed into bio-based materials, such as bioplastics and composite materials, which offer comparable performance to traditional petroleum-based products but with lower environmental impact. The development of cellulose-based bio-based chemicals and materials represents a significant opportunity for market growth, especially in the chemicals and materials sectors.           

• Circular Economy Initiatives   

Products made from cellulose, such as paper, cardboard, and textiles, can be recycled and reused multiple times, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. Recycling cellulose-based products not only conserves natural resources but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption associated with the production of virgin materials. Moreover, innovations in recycling technologies are making it possible to recover cellulose fibers from mixed waste streams, further expanding the scope of recycling. The focus on the circular economy and the recycling of cellulose-based products is creating a sustainable market ecosystem and generating new growth opportunities.

Restraints/Challenges

• Competition from Synthetic Materials     

Synthetic materials like polyester and nylon frequently provide lower production costs and specific performance benefits, such as durability and resistance to wrinkles and shrinkage. These properties make synthetic materials attractive to manufacturers and consumers, especially in industries such as textiles and packaging. Despite the environmental concerns associated with synthetic materials, including their non-biodegradability and reliance on fossil fuels, their competitive pricing and performance characteristics continue to pose a challenge to the cellulose market.            

• Limited Availability of Raw Materials  

The production of cellulose-based products relies heavily on wood pulp, which is obtained from trees. However, the availability of sustainable wood pulp is limited due to factors such as deforestation, climate change, and land use conflicts. As a result, the cost of raw materials can fluctuate, impacting the cost-effectiveness of cellulose products. Constraints in the availability of raw materials, such as sustainable wood pulp, can hinder the expansion of the cellulose market.

This market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Recent Developments

• In February 2024, Birla Cellulose introduced its newest innovation, Birla Viscose – Intellicolor, at the renowned Bharat Tex event. With this patented product, Birla Cellulose aims to revolutionize the textile industry by addressing a persistent issue in conventional reactive dyeing
• In February 2023, the Japanese multinational corporation Asahi Kasei completed the construction of its second plant for Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) at its Mizushima Works in Japan. This new facility is designed to address the rising demand for MCC, especially for use in pharmaceutical tablets

Impact and Current Market Scenario of Raw Material Shortage and Shipping Delays

Data Bridge Market Research offers a high-level analysis of the market and delivers information by keeping in account the impact and current market environment of raw material shortage and shipping delays. This translates into assessing strategic possibilities, creating effective action plans, and assisting businesses in making important decisions.

Apart from the standard report, we also offer in-depth analysis of the procurement level from forecasted shipping delays, distributor mapping by region, commodity analysis, production analysis, price mapping trends, sourcing, category performance analysis, supply chain risk management solutions, advanced benchmarking, and other services for procurement and strategic support.

Expected Impact of Economic Slowdown on the Pricing and Availability of Products

When economic activity slows, industries begin to suffer. The forecasted effects of the economic downturn on the pricing and accessibility of the products are taken into account in the market insight reports and intelligence services provided by DBMR. With this, our clients can typically keep one step ahead of their competitors, project their sales and revenue, and estimate their profit and loss expenditures.

Cellulose Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of source, modification, manufacturing process, purity, and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze meager growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to help them make strategic decisions for identifying core market applications.

Source

• Natural
• Fruits
• Treewood

Modification

• Unmodified
• Modified

Manufacturing Process

• Viscose
• Cellulose Ethers

Purity

• Above 95%
• 85% - 95%
• Below 85%

Application

• Food
• Pharmaceuticals
• Paper
• Cosmetics
• Textiles

Cellulose Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, source, modification, manufacturing process, purity, and application as referenced above.

The countries covered in the market report are U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, rest of Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, rest of Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., South Africa, Egypt, Israel, rest of Middle East and Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and rest of South America.

Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the market due to its significant presence in the textile and pharmaceutical industries, which are major consumers of cellulose products. The region's robust industrial base, coupled with increasing investments in these sectors, drives the demand for cellulose-based materials. The growing population and rising disposable incomes in countries like China and India further boost the consumption of textiles and pharmaceuticals, thereby reinforcing the market dominance of the Asia-Pacific region.      

Europe is expected to be the fastest growing due to region's stringent regulations on product quality and sustainability, which necessitate the use of high-quality, eco-friendly materials. European consumers and businesses are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, leading to a higher demand for cellulose products that meet these rigorous standards. Moreover, governmental policies and initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices further stimulate the adoption of cellulose-based materials in various industries across Europe.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in market regulation that impact the current and future trends of the market. Data points like down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.   

Competitive Landscape and Cellulose Market Share Analysis

The market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to the market.

Some of the major players operating in the market are:

• Ashland (U.S.)
• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan)
• Dow (U.S.)
• CP Kelco (U.S.)
• Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands)
• LOTTE Chemical CORPORATION (South Korea)
• China RuiTai International Holdings Co., Ltd. (China)
• DKS Co. Ltd. (South Korea)
• Daicel Corporation (Japan)
• Fenchem (China)
• J. RettenmaierandSöhne GmbH + Co.Kg (Germany)
• Lotte Fine Chemical (South Korea)
• Reliance Cellulose Products Ltd. (India)
• SE Tylose GmbH and Co. Kg (Germany)
• Shandong Head Co., Ltd. (China)
• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan)
• MAZRUI INTERNATIONAL (U.A.E.)
• Zhejiang Kehong Chemical Co. Ltd. (China)
• Rayonier Inc. (U.S.)
• Tembec Inc. (Canada)
• Borregaard (Norway)

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