Wet Strength Additives Global Market

Wet Strength Additives Global Market

Global Wet Strength Additives Market Research Report 2025

This report on the global wet strength additives market research report 2025 offers a comprehensive analysis of market size, growth drivers, emerging trends, regiona

Pages: 210

Format: PDF

Date: 12-2025

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Global Wet Strength Additives Market –Overview

The Global Wet Strength Additives Market is a vital component of the paper and pulp chemicals industry, enabling paper products to retain mechanical strength and structural integrity when exposed to moisture. In 2024, the market was valued at USD xxxx and is projected to reach USD xxxx by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period 2025–2035.

Market growth is primarily driven by rising demand for hygiene papers, increasing consumption of packaging paper for food and e-commerce applications, and growing use of specialty papers in industrial and commercial sectors. Wet strength additives—particularly polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins—play a critical role in improving durability, tear resistance, and performance of paper under wet conditions.

The study evaluates key growth drivers, regulatory developments, environmental considerations, technological innovations, and competitive strategies shaping the global wet strength additives industry.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Wet Strength Additives Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on the wet strength additives market. While disruptions in industrial paper production and supply chains negatively affected demand during early 2020, consumption of hygiene papers such as tissue, towels, and wipes increased significantly due to heightened health and sanitation awareness.

As packaging demand surged—driven by food delivery, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce—the market recovered rapidly. Post-pandemic, sustained emphasis on hygiene, safety, and sustainable packaging continues to support long-term growth of wet strength additives.

Global Wet Strength Additives Market Segmentation

By Type

PAE (Polyamide-Epichlorohydrin) Type

  • Dominant segment in terms of market share
  • Excellent wet strength development and retention
  • Widely used in tissue, towel, packaging, and specialty paper grades
  • Compatible with recycled fiber and neutral/alkaline papermaking systems

Others

  • Includes urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, and emerging bio-based alternatives
  • Used in niche and specialty paper applications
  • Growing interest in low-AOX and formaldehyde-free solutions

By Application

Hygiene Papers

  • Largest application segment
  • Includes tissue paper, paper towels, wipes, and sanitary products
  • Demand driven by urbanization, population growth, and hygiene awareness

Packaging Paper

  • Rapidly growing segment
  • Used in food packaging, corrugated boxes, and liquid packaging boards
  • Growth supported by e-commerce expansion and plastic replacement trends

Specialty Papers

  • Includes filter papers, label papers, and industrial-grade papers
  • Requires high durability and moisture resistance
  • Increasing use in medical, laboratory, and technical applications

Competitive Landscape – Key Players Analysis

The wet strength additives market is moderately consolidated, with global chemical companies and regional manufacturers competing based on product performance, sustainability, and technical service capabilities.

  • Solenis
    Market leader offering advanced wet strength solutions with strong focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance.
  • Kemira
    Provides high-performance PAE resins and fiber-based additive solutions for hygiene and packaging papers.
  • Hanghua Harima
    Strong presence in Asia with diversified wet strength and functional paper additives portfolio.
  • Arakawa Chemical Industries
    Specializes in paper chemicals and resins with advanced application-specific formulations.
  • Ecolab
    Offers integrated papermaking solutions including wet strength additives and process optimization services.
  • Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Vertically integrated player with internal consumption and formulation expertise.
  • Kurita
    Supplies functional paper chemicals with emphasis on process efficiency and environmental performance.
  • Zhejiang Chihe Chemical
    Regional supplier focused on cost-effective wet strength resins.
  • Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals
    Serves domestic and export markets with customized resin formulations.
  • Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology
    Expanding footprint in China’s hygiene and packaging paper segments.

Regional Analysis

North America

  • Mature but stable market
  • Strong demand from hygiene papers and food packaging
  • United States dominates regional consumption
  • Emphasis on regulatory-compliant and sustainable additives

Europe

  • High adoption of eco-friendly and low-AOX wet strength additives
  • Strong packaging and specialty paper industries
  • Germany, France, and the U.K. are key contributors

Asia-Pacific

  • Largest and fastest-growing regional market
  • Driven by expanding paper production capacity in China and India
  • Rising hygiene awareness and packaging demand
  • Increasing penetration of PAE-based wet strength additives

South America

  • Moderate growth supported by tissue and packaging paper demand
  • Brazil and Argentina are major markets
  • Gradual shift toward higher-performance paper additives

Middle East & Africa

  • Emerging market with steady growth
  • Demand driven by hygiene products and infrastructure development
  • Saudi Arabia and South Africa act as regional growth hubs

DRTO Analysis (Drivers, Restraints, Trends & Opportunities)

Drivers

  • Rising consumption of hygiene papers (tissue, towels, wipes) globally
  • Rapid growth of packaging paper driven by food delivery and e-commerce
  • Increasing use of recycled fiber requiring enhanced wet strength performance
  • Urbanization and improved sanitation standards in emerging economies
  • Demand for high-performance specialty papers in medical and industrial uses

Restraints

  • Environmental concerns related to AOX formation in conventional PAE resins
  • Regulatory pressure on epichlorohydrin and formaldehyde-based chemicals
  • Volatility in raw material prices
  • Cost sensitivity among small and mid-sized paper mills

Trends

  • Shift toward low-AOX and eco-compliant PAE wet strength additives
  • Development of bio-based and recyclable-strength additive solutions
  • Increased compatibility with recycled and mixed fiber furnishes
  • Customized formulations for tissue softness and packaging strength balance
  • Integration of wet strength additives with broader papermaking chemistry solutions

Opportunities

  • Expansion of hygiene paper capacity in Asia-Pacific and Africa
  • Rising demand for sustainable and biodegradable paper products
  • Replacement of plastic packaging with paper-based alternatives
  • Technological innovation in formaldehyde-free wet strength resins
  • Strategic partnerships between chemical suppliers and paper manufacturers

SWOT Analysis – Key Market Players

Strengths

Weaknesses

Strong application chemistry expertise

Dependence on pulp and paper industry cycles

Established relationships with large paper producers

Higher costs for compliant and low-AOX formulations

Broad product portfolios covering hygiene and packaging

Limited adoption in small, unorganized mills

Opportunities

Threats

Growth of sustainable packaging and hygiene demand

Tightening global environmental regulations

Innovation in bio-based wet strength technologies

Substitution risk from alternative fiber treatments

Expansion in emerging paper markets

Intense competition from regional manufacturers

     

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

1. Threat of New Entrants – Moderate

  • High technical expertise and regulatory compliance requirements
  • Capital investment needed for resin manufacturing facilities

2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers – Moderate

  • Dependence on specialty chemical intermediates
  • Price fluctuations impact profit margins

3. Bargaining Power of Buyers – High

  • Large paper producers exert strong pricing pressure
  • Availability of multiple regional and global suppliers

4. Threat of Substitutes – Low to Moderate

  • Limited effective substitutes for true wet strength functionality
  • Mechanical and fiber-treatment alternatives offer partial replacement

5. Competitive Rivalry – High

  • Presence of global leaders and numerous regional players
  • Competition based on performance, sustainability, and cost

Competitive Landscape – Strategic Positioning

Company

Market Presence

Product Depth

Sustainability Focus

Solenis

Very Strong

Extensive

High

Kemira

Strong

Broad

High

Hanghua Harima

Strong (Asia)

Broad

Medium

Arakawa Chemical Industries

Moderate

Specialized

Medium–High

Ecolab

Moderate

Integrated Solutions

High

Investor-Focused Executive Summary

The Global Wet Strength Additives Market represents a defensive and resilient segment within the pulp and paper chemicals industry, supported by non-discretionary demand from hygiene and packaging applications. While PAE-based wet strength additives dominate the market, innovation is increasingly focused on low-AOX, environmentally compliant, and recyclable-friendly formulations.

Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest and fastest-growing region, driven by expanding tissue production, rising packaging consumption, and capacity additions in China and India. North America and Europe remain high-value markets, characterized by strong regulatory compliance, premium product adoption, and replacement demand.

From an investment perspective, market participants with:

  • Advanced low-AOX and sustainable wet strength technologies
  • Strong customer integration with large paper mills
  • Exposure to hygiene and packaging paper segments
  • R&D-driven product differentiation

are best positioned to achieve stable margins and long-term growth over the forecast period.

 

1. Market Overview of Wet Strength Additives Market
    1.1 Wet Strength Additives Market Market Overview
        1.1.1 Wet Strength Additives Market Product Scope
        1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook
    1.2 Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Regions:
    1.3 Wet Strength Additives Market Historic Market Size by Regions
    1.4 Wet Strength Additives Market Forecasted Market Size by Regions
    1.5 Covid-19 Impact on Key Regions, Keyword Market Size YoY Growth
        1.5.1 North America
        1.5.2 East Asia
        1.5.3 Europe
        1.5.4 South Asia
        1.5.5 Southeast Asia
        1.5.6 Middle East
        1.5.7 Africa
        1.5.8 Oceania
        1.5.9 South America
        1.5.10 Rest of the World
    1.6 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Impact Will Have a Severe Impact on Global Growth
        1.6.1 Covid-19 Impact: Global GDP Growth,  Projections
        1.6.2 Covid-19 Impact: Commodity Prices Indices
        1.6.3 Covid-19 Impact: Global Major Government Policy
2. Covid-19 Impact Wet Strength Additives Market Sales Market by Type
    2.1 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Historic Market Size by Type
    2.2 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Forecasted Market Size by Type
    2.3 PAE Type
    2.4 Others
3. Covid-19 Impact Wet Strength Additives Market Sales Market by Application
    3.1 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Historic Market Size by Application
    3.2 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Forecasted Market Size by Application
    3.3 Hygiene Papers
    3.4 Packaging Paper
    3.5 Specialty Papers
4. Covid-19 Impact Market Competition by Manufacturers
    4.1 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity Market Share by Manufacturers
    4.2 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers
    4.3 Global Wet Strength Additives Market Average Price by Manufacturers
5. Company Profiles and Key Figures in Wet Strength Additives Market Business
    5.1 Solenis
        5.1.1 Solenis Company Profile
        5.1.2 Solenis Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.1.3 Solenis Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.2 Hanghua Harima
        5.2.1 Hanghua Harima Company Profile
        5.2.2 Hanghua Harima Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.2.3 Hanghua Harima Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.3 Kemira
        5.3.1 Kemira Company Profile
        5.3.2 Kemira Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.3.3 Kemira Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.4 Arakawa Chemical Industries
        5.4.1 Arakawa Chemical Industries Company Profile
        5.4.2 Arakawa Chemical Industries Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.4.3 Arakawa Chemical Industries Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.5 Goodrich Agrochem
        5.5.1 Goodrich Agrochem Company Profile
        5.5.2 Goodrich Agrochem Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.5.3 Goodrich Agrochem Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.6 Ecolab
        5.6.1 Ecolab Company Profile
        5.6.2 Ecolab Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.6.3 Ecolab Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.7 Zhejiang Chihe Chemical Co. Ltd
        5.7.1 Zhejiang Chihe Chemical Co. Ltd Company Profile
        5.7.2 Zhejiang Chihe Chemical Co. Ltd Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.7.3 Zhejiang Chihe Chemical Co. Ltd Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.8 Georgia-Pacific Corporation
        5.8.1 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Company Profile
        5.8.2 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.8.3 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.9 Kurita
        5.9.1 Kurita Company Profile
        5.9.2 Kurita Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.9.3 Kurita Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.10 Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals
        5.10.1 Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals Company Profile
        5.10.2 Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.10.3 Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.11 Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology Co
        5.11.1 Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology Co Company Profile
        5.11.2 Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology Co Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.11.3 Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology Co Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
    5.12 Yingde City Yunchao Polymeric Material Co
        5.12.1 Yingde City Yunchao Polymeric Material Co Company Profile
        5.12.2 Yingde City Yunchao Polymeric Material Co Wet Strength Additives Market Product Specification
        5.12.3 Yingde City Yunchao Polymeric Material Co Wet Strength Additives Market Production Capacity, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin
6. North America
    6.1 North America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    6.2 North America Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    6.3 North America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    6.4 North America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
7. East Asia
    7.1 East Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    7.2 East Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    7.3 East Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    7.4 East Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
8. Europe
    8.1 Europe Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    8.2 Europe Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    8.3 Europe Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    8.4 Europe Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
9. South Asia
    9.1 South Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    9.2 South Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    9.3 South Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    9.4 South Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
10. Southeast Asia
    10.1 Southeast Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    10.2 Southeast Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    10.3 Southeast Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    10.4 Southeast Asia Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
11. Middle East
    11.1 Middle East Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    11.2 Middle East Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    11.3 Middle East Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    11.4 Middle East Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
12. Africa
    12.1 Africa Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    12.2 Africa Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    12.3 Africa Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    12.4 Africa Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
13. Oceania
    13.1 Oceania Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    13.2 Oceania Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    13.3 Oceania Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    13.4 Oceania Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
14. South America
    14.1 South America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    14.2 South America Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    14.3 South America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    14.4 South America Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
15. Rest of the World
    15.1 Rest of the World Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size
    15.2 Rest of the World Wet Strength Additives Market Key Players in North America
    15.3 Rest of the World Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Type
    15.4 Rest of the World Wet Strength Additives Market Market Size by Application
16 Wet Strength Additives Market Market Dynamics
    16.1 Covid-19 Impact Market Top Trends
    16.2 Covid-19 Impact Market Drivers
    16.3 Covid-19 Impact Market Challenges
    16.4 Porter?s Five Forces Analysis
18 Regulatory Information
17 Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions
18 Appendix
    18.1 Research Methodology
        18.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
        18.1.2 Data Source
    18.2 Disclaimer

Global Wet Strength Additives Market Segmentation

By Type

PAE (Polyamide-Epichlorohydrin) Type

  • Dominant segment in terms of market share
  • Excellent wet strength development and retention
  • Widely used in tissue, towel, packaging, and specialty paper grades
  • Compatible with recycled fiber and neutral/alkaline papermaking systems

Others

  • Includes urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, and emerging bio-based alternatives
  • Used in niche and specialty paper applications
  • Growing interest in low-AOX and formaldehyde-free solutions

By Application

Hygiene Papers

  • Largest application segment
  • Includes tissue paper, paper towels, wipes, and sanitary products
  • Demand driven by urbanization, population growth, and hygiene awareness

Packaging Paper

  • Rapidly growing segment
  • Used in food packaging, corrugated boxes, and liquid packaging boards
  • Growth supported by e-commerce expansion and plastic replacement trends

Specialty Papers

  • Includes filter papers, label papers, and industrial-grade papers
  • Requires high durability and moisture resistance
  • Increasing use in medical, laboratory, and technical applications

Competitive Landscape – Key Players Analysis

The wet strength additives market is moderately consolidated, with global chemical companies and regional manufacturers competing based on product performance, sustainability, and technical service capabilities.

  • Solenis
    Market leader offering advanced wet strength solutions with strong focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance.
  • Kemira
    Provides high-performance PAE resins and fiber-based additive solutions for hygiene and packaging papers.
  • Hanghua Harima
    Strong presence in Asia with diversified wet strength and functional paper additives portfolio.
  • Arakawa Chemical Industries
    Specializes in paper chemicals and resins with advanced application-specific formulations.
  • Ecolab
    Offers integrated papermaking solutions including wet strength additives and process optimization services.
  • Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Vertically integrated player with internal consumption and formulation expertise.
  • Kurita
    Supplies functional paper chemicals with emphasis on process efficiency and environmental performance.
  • Zhejiang Chihe Chemical
    Regional supplier focused on cost-effective wet strength resins.
  • Wuxi Tianxin Chemicals
    Serves domestic and export markets with customized resin formulations.
  • Hubei Jiayun Chemical Technology
    Expanding footprint in China’s hygiene and packaging paper segments.

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