Organic Filler Market Size, Share Global Analysis Report, 2022 – 2028

Industry Insights

[213+ Pages Report] According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global organic filler market size was worth around USD 20.96 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 27.79 billion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 4.12% between 2022 and 2028. The report analyzes the global organic filler market’s drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the organic filler market.

Market Overview

Organic fillers are irregular, acicular, fibrous, flakey, or solid fibers and particulates, which are used in significant quantities in polymers such as thermoplastic, thermoset, and elastomer. Organic fillers enhance various mechanical, thermomechanical, and load-bearing characteristics of these polymer products. Some of the key organic fillers are natural fiber, such as bamboo flour, wood flour, clamshell flour, and tree bark flour, among others; carbon; and synthetic organic fillers, such as synthetic cellulose fibers, powdered fluorinated polymers, etc.

Furthermore, the cost of these organic fillers is very low. Also, organic fillers are biodegradable in nature, thereby, delivering less environmental impact and contributing to an eco-friendly society. Rising consciousness about a clean environment is favoring the usage of organic fillers, instead of inorganic fillers.

Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global organic filler market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 4.12% over the forecast period (2022-2028).
• In terms of revenue, the global organic filler market size was valued at around USD 20.96 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 27.79 billion, by 2028. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate.
• Based on product type segmentation, natural fiber was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2021
• Based on end-user industry segmentation, building and construction were the leading revenue-generating end-user industry in 2021.
• On the basis of region, Asia-Pacific was the leading revenue generator in 2021.

Covid-19 Impact

In 2020, the global organic filler demand decreased, considering the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the government-imposed lockdowns, such that to stop the new COVID-19 cases, various industries’ activities were stopped temporarily. Construction activities were stopped in various countries, across the globe, however, the impact was for the short term only. In the construction industry, organic filler-based polymer products are widely used. Automotive production sites were also stopped temporarily, which further declined the consumption of these filler-based polymer products from the manufacturing of various automotive parts. However, the demand from the IT and computer segment of electrical and electronics increased in 2020, as various firms offered work-from-home models to their employees, which further enhanced the demand for organic filler-based polymers, used in the parts for the IT and computer products.

Furthermore, in 2021, these end-user industries recovered significantly. The construction industry grew significantly in 2021, owing to the various order backlogs fulfillment for the construction industry and rising demand for office & commercial spaces across the globe. Moreover. the automotive industry has also shown a positive trend in 2021, compared to 2020. According to the OICA, global automotive production accounted for 80.15 million units of vehicles in 2021, witnessing a growth rate of 3% compared to 77.71 million units of vehicles in the previous year.

Growth Drivers

• Growing demand from the automotive industry to drive market growth during the forecast period.

The global organic filler market cap may grow owing to the rising trend of using organic filler-based polymer parts in the automotive sector, including the electric vehicle segment. Organic fillers are used in polymer products, such that to enhance the characteristics of end products and reduce the overall cost of the product. The demand for automobiles has increased, which also supported the production of vehicles and related polymer parts. According to the OICA, global automotive sales accounted for 82.68 million units in 2021, witnessing a growth rate of 5% compared to 78.77 million units sold in 2020.

Apart from conventional vehicles, the sales of electric vehicles greatly increased in the current scenario, which also supported the demand for the organic filler market, as these fillers are also used in electric vehicle parts, similar to conventional vehicles. According to the EV Volumes, around 4.3 million new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were sold during the first half of 2022, registering a growth rate of 62% compared to the H1 2021. Further, as per EV Volumes, the total electric vehicle sales are likely to reach 10.6 million units in full-year 2022, witnessing a growth of 57%, over 2021. All such factors are supporting the demand for organic fillers used in various automotive parts manufacturing.

Restraints

• Availability of various inorganic substitutes to restrict market expansion

The availability of various inorganic alternatives for organic fillers is likely to hinder the growth of the studied market. Various types of inorganic fillers are being used in polymer products of different end-user sectors. Some of the key types of inorganic fillers include an oxide, hydro-oxide, silicate, salt, metal, and other inorganic fillers. Specifically, glass fiber, talc, mica, kaolin, clay, nano clay, silver nanoparticles, and calcium carbonate are among the common inorganic fillers. Most of the inorganic fillers are abundantly available for end-use applications, after required processing. Inorganic fillers such as aluminum trihydrate, calcium carbonate, talc, and others, are also widely used due to their low cost, continuous supplies, and ability, after surface treatment, to improve selected resin properties. Considering various established technology which uses inorganic fillers such as talc, glass fiber, kaolin, etc. during the formulation of polymer end-products, the demand is likely to remain high for inorganic fillers in the coming years, which will further, somehow, hinder the growth of organic filler market.

Opportunities

• Rising research and development for bio-based organic fillers to provide growth opportunities

Recently, researchers have suggested various potential applications for new bio-based organic fillers. These organic background fillers are particles added to polymeric materials to lower the consumption of more expensive polymer materials and to enhance some properties of the end-products. In the current scenario, a huge amount of organic fillers are being used in various end-user industries. Recently, environmental consciousness and concerns have resulted in a renewed interest in natural, renewable resources-based, and compostable materials, thereby, bio-fillers have been increasingly used as fillers in various polymer products. These new bio-based organic fillers are majorly derived from agricultural products. These organic fillers can be based on polysaccharides, lignin, and proteins. Researchers have also checked various organic fillers such as walnut shells, ground coffee waste, pistachio shells, brewers’ spent grains, chestnuts, etc. impact on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of silicone-based materials. All such factors are likely to act as opportunities for the global organic filler market.

Challenges

• Unawareness related to the right applications of various natural organic fillers to challenge market cap growth

Various natural organic fillers are available for being used in different polymer product manufacturing. However, the key challenge is to match the right natural organic filler with the right application. This is a short-term issue only. Already various R&D has been carried out and many of them are in the initiation phase, to find the right application and overcome this issue. For example, researchers have used rice husk ash as fillers in the natural rubber industry. The use of rice husk ash in natural rubber enhanced hardness but decreased tensile strength and tear strength. Researchers have also tested corn starch, potato starch, sago starch, sisal fibers, and kenaf fibers, as organic fillers in various applications. Such developments are likely to overcome the challenges faced due to unawareness related to the right application of natural fibers.

Segmentation Analysis

The global organic filler market is segmented based on product type, polymer type, end-user industry, and region.

Based on product type, the global market segments are natural fiber, carbon, and synthetic organic fillers. Currently, the global market is dominated by carbon, however, there is a significant increase in the adoption rate of natural fibers too, in recent years. Carbon product types include carbon fibers, graphite fibers and flakes, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and others. These organic fillers are widely used in the automotive, aerospace & defense, and construction industry. In natural fiber, cellulosic filler materials are generally used, which can be mixed with polymers to improve their mechanical and physicochemical properties.

Based on polymer type, the global market is segmented into thermoplastic, thermoset, and elastomer. Meanwhile, thermoplastic accounted for a major share in the studied market. The growing thermoplastic industry is likely to retain the largest market share in the coming years too. According to Plastics Europe, the production of plastics in primary forms in the European Union (EU)-27 countries increased in 2021, after a significant decline in 2020. The production of plastics in primary forms in EU-27 countries increased by 4.2% in Q4 2021, over Q3 2021. The recovery of European customer industries, such as the automotive industry, and the high demand for plastics in primary forms outside of Europe had a positive impact on production.

Based on the end-user industry, the global market segments are automotive, building & construction, electrical & electronics, aerospace & defense, and other end-user industries. Currently, the global market is dominated by building and construction. According to the IEA, the building and construction industry declined by 2% to USD 6 trillion in 2020. Furthermore, the construction market was valued at USD 7.28 trillion in 2021 and is predicted to reach USD 14.41 trillion by 2030. China and the United States of America are among the key countries involved in construction activities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the annual value for construction put in place in the United States accounted for USD 1,626,444 million in 2021, compared to USD 1,499,570 million in 2020. Further, in the first 7 months of 2022, the value of construction put in place accounted for USD 1,013,738 million, compared to USD 915,179 million during the same period in 2021. Such trends have supported the demand for organic fillers from the building and construction sectors.

Recent Developments:

• In March 2022, Cabot Corporation completed the acquisition of Tokai Carbon’s carbon black plant based in Tianjin, China. Carbon black is significantly used as organic filler material. The site has a production capacity of 50 kilotons of carbon black annually.
• In March 2022, Orion Engineered Carbons announced the commercial sale of carbon black from its new plant based in Italy, with a production capacity of 25 kilotons of specialty and technical rubber carbon blacks per annum.

Report Scope

Regional Analysis

• Asia-Pacific to lead owing to rising consumption from building & construction, automotive, and electrical and electronics sectors, among others, during the forecast period

The global organic filler market growth is expected to be driven by Asia-Pacific. China, India, and Japan are the key consumers of organic fillers from their building and construction, automotive, and electrical and electronics sectors.

In China, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the construction output value in the country was valued at CNY 29.31 trillion in 2021, compared to CNY 26.39 trillion in 2020. The growing trend increased the demand for organic fillers from the Chinese construction sector.

Further, according to OICA, China produced 26,082,220 units of vehicles in 2021, compared to 25,225,242 units of vehicles in 2020, with a growth rate of 3%.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the annual growth rate of value added in the electronics manufacturing industry in China accounted for 15.7% in 2021, compared to 7.7% in 2020.

In India, according to the Department of Economic Affairs (India), the gross value added (GVA) change in the construction industry in the country accounted for -12.6% Y-O-Y in FY 2021, compared to 1.3% growth in FY 2020.

Moreover, according to OICA, India produced 4,399,112 units of vehicles in 2021, compared to 3,381,819 units of vehicles in 2020, with a growth rate of 30%.

In Japan, according to the Ministry of Finance Japan, the sales revenue of the construction industry in Japan accounted for JPY 136.7 trillion in FY 2021, compared to JPY 133.9 trillion in FY 2020.

Meanwhile, according to JEITA, the total production value of the electronics industry in Japan accounted for JPY 10.95 trillion in 2021, compared to JPY 9.96 trillion in 2020. Thereby, enhancing the demand for organic fillers from the electrical and electronics segment of the country.

Competitive Analysis

• BASF SE
• Birla Carbon (Aditya Birla Group)
• Cabot Corporation
• Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co. Ltd.
• Eastman Chemical Company
• Hexcel Corporation
• JELU-WERK J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG
• LG Chem
• Orion Engineered Carbons
• Pollen AM inc.
• SGL Carbon
• TORAY INDUSTRIESINC.

The global organic filler market is segmented as follows:

By Product Type

• Natural Fiber
• Carbon
• Synthetic Organic Fillers

By Polymer Type

• Thermoplastic
• Thermoset
• Elastomer

By End-user Industry

• Automotive
• Building and Construction
• Electrical and Electronics
• Aerospace and Defense
• Other End-user Industries

By Regional Segment Analysis

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Nordic Countries
    • Denmark
    • Sweden
    • Norway
  • Benelux Union
    • Belgium
    • The Netherlands
    • Luxembourg
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Malaysia
    • Singapore
    • Rest of Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• The Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Egypt
  • South Africa
  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America