Adhesives and sealants: Overview
From cartons to car bodies: where glue holds things together
What this tab covers What the chemical is, how big its market is, what it is used for (with shares, volumes, why it wins and what could replace it), and its chain from raw material to end user. Ends with three things to remember.Adhesives join materials; sealants fill gaps and keep out water and air. Most are formulated from polymers such as polyvinyl acetate, acrylics, EVA, polyurethanes, epoxies and silicones, plus tackifiers, fillers and solvents or water. The world market was about $77 billion in 2025 and grows about 3.5% a year. Packaging and construction take the largest volumes. Adhesives make lightweight cars, flexible packaging and modern furniture possible, but they also make recycling harder. India's market is led by Pidilite's Fevicol, one of the most profitable consumer chemical franchises anywhere.
Volume about 20 Mt a year (indicative, basis: $77 billion at about $3.5-4/kg; no free volume figure found) Market value $76.96 billion (2025), forecast $91.23 billion by 2030 Growth 3.46% a year 2025-2030 MarketsandMarkets research insight (2025); volume indicativeKey uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and packaging (cartons, corrugated board, flexible laminates, labels) | 30% | about 6 Mtbasis | Starch, PVAc and hot-melt adhesives close cartons and make corrugated board at high line speeds. Polyurethane laminating adhesives bond the layers of snack and pouch films. Volume follows e-commerce and FMCG. MarketsandMarkets (paper and packaging a named segment); share indicative | Mechanical closures and tapes Mono-material heat-sealed packs (for recyclability) |
| Building and construction (tile adhesives, sealants, flooring, waterproofing, insulation) | 22% | about 4.4 Mtbasis | Silicone, MS-polymer and PU sealants seal glazing and joints; cementitious tile adhesives replace sand-cement beds. In India Pidilite (Dr Fixit, Roff) and Sika are large. Indiantelevision May 2026 (Dr Fixit in Pidilite C&B); share indicative | Mortar and mechanical fixings Gaskets |
| Woodworking and furniture | 12% | about 2.4 Mtbasis | White PVAc glue is the carpenter's default: Fevicol is the category name in India. Panel and plywood makers use urea- and phenol-formaldehyde and, increasingly, formaldehyde-free resins. indicative | Nails, screws and joinery Formaldehyde-free soy or lignin binders |
| Tapes and labels (pressure-sensitive adhesives) | 10% | about 2 Mtbasis | Acrylic and rubber-based PSAs on film or paper make labels, protective films and industrial tapes. Avery Dennison, 3M and LINTEC lead. ASI Top 20 2026 (Avery Dennison, LINTEC); share indicative | Printing directly on packs Mechanical fastening |
| Transportation (automotive, rail, aerospace, EV batteries) | 8% | about 1.6 Mtbasis | Structural epoxy and PU adhesives replace welds and rivets, joining mixed metals and composites in lighter bodies; EV battery packs use thermally conductive adhesives and potting compounds. indicative | Welding Rivets and bolts |
| Footwear, consumer and DIY | 10% | about 2 Mtbasis | Polychloroprene and PU contact adhesives assemble shoes; cyanoacrylate instant glues and epoxy putties (Fevikwik, M-Seal) serve households and repair. Indiantelevision May 2026 (Pidilite brands); share indicative | Stitching and moulded soles |
| Other: hygiene nonwovens, electronics, medical | 8% | about 1.6 Mtbasis | Hot melts build diapers and sanitary pads; electronics use conductive and UV-cured adhesives (DELO). ASI Top 20 2026 (DELO); share indicative | Thermal and ultrasonic bonding |
From raw material to user
- Monomers Vinyl acetate monomer (from ethylene and acetic acid), acrylate esters, isocyanates, epoxy resin and silicones are the main building blocks; VAM rose about 70% during the 2026 West Asia conflict (FundsIndia).
- Polymers and emulsions VAM is polymerised in water to PVAc or VAE emulsion; acrylic PSAs and EVA hot-melt bases are made similarly.
- Formulation Polymers are mixed with tackifier resins (rosin, C5/C9 hydrocarbon), fillers, plasticisers and additives; water-based white glue is about 40-55% solids (indicative).
- Packaging and distribution Consumer packs through hardware and stationery shops; Pidilite's Consumer and Bazaar segment earned a 30.6% EBIT margin in Q4 FY26 (Indiantelevision).
- Application Industrial users apply adhesives on lines; carpenters and contractors drive brand choice in India.
Made from (commodity table)
Oil Crude oilThree things to know
- Henkel's Adhesive Technologies had about EUR 10.67 billion of sales in 2025, about one-sixth of the world market (ASI Top 20, 2026; MarketsandMarkets).
- Pidilite earned a 24.6% standalone EBITDA margin on Rs 13,437 crore of sales in FY26 (Indiantelevision, May 2026).
- The top five adhesive makers hold only about 25-30% of the world market (MarketsandMarkets).