Methyl Cellulose Market Size & Growth Report to 2030

The global methyl cellulose market size was valued at around USD 2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 4.0% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.  Methylcellulose is a key ingredient used in various industrial applications due to its unique properties such as water solubility, thickening ability, and adhesive properties. The growth of the methylcellulose market is primarily driven by the rising demand from the construction, food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care industries.

Driving Factors:

Increasing demand in the construction industry: Methyl cellulose is used as a thickener, binder, and water retention agent in the construction industry. The growing demand for methyl cellulose in the construction industry for cement and mortar applications, such as tile adhesives, renders, and joint fillers, is expected to drive market growth.

Rising demand for convenience food: Methyl cellulose is used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in the food industry, especially in the production of convenience foods. With the increasing demand for convenience foods and processed food products globally, the demand for methylcellulose is also expected to rise.

Growing demand in pharmaceuticals: Methyl cellulose is used as a binder and disintegrant in the pharmaceutical industry. The increasing demand for methyl cellulose in the pharmaceutical industry for tablet formulations and drug delivery systems is expected to drive market growth.

Increasing demand in personal care and cosmetics: Methyl cellulose is used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in personal care and cosmetic products such as shampoos, creams, and lotions. The growing demand for personal care and cosmetic products globally is expected to drive market growth.

Market Attributes:

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Market Insights:

Global Methyl Cellulose Market Analysis by Grade

The global methyl cellulose market is bifurcated into grade, application, and geography. On the basis of grade, the market is further segmented into technical grade, food grade, pharmaceutical grade, and cosmetic grade. The food grade methyl cellulose is expected to have a significant share in the market due to the increasing demand for convenience food and functional food products. Methylcellulose is used as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in various food products such as sauces, dressings, and baked goods. The pharmaceutical grade methyl cellulose is also expected to have a significant market share due to its use as a binder, coating, and controlled release agent in various drug formulations.

Technical grade: It is the most widely used grade of methyl cellulose, and it finds applications in various industries such as construction, paints and coatings, ceramics, and adhesives.

Food grade: Methyl cellulose is used as a food additive due to its ability to increase the viscosity of liquids and improve texture. It is commonly used in processed foods, bakery products, and beverages.

Pharmaceutical grade: Methyl cellulose is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a binder, emulsifier, and thickener. It is commonly used in tablets, capsules, and ointments.

Cosmetic grade: Methyl cellulose is used in the cosmetic industry as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier. It is commonly used in creams, lotions, and shampoos.

Global Methyl Cellulose Market Analysis by Application

On the basis of application, the global methyl cellulose market is bifurcated into construction, pharmaceutical, food, personal care, and others. The dominant segment in the market by application is the construction industry. Methyl cellulose is extensively used as a thickener and water retention agent in the construction industry, especially in the production of dry mix mortars, cement renders, and tile adhesives. It improves the workability of the material, increases the strength of the final product, and helps in reducing cracking and shrinkage. The increasing construction activities and the demand for sustainable building materials are driving the growth of the construction industry, which in turn is boosting the demand for methyl cellulose in this segment.

However, the pharmaceutical industry is also a significant application area for methyl cellulose due to its use as a binder and disintegrant in tablet formulations. The growing demand for generic drugs and increasing investments in the pharmaceutical industry are expected to drive the growth of this segment in the coming years.

Construction: Methyl cellulose is used in the construction industry as a water retention agent, thickener, and binder for cement, mortar, and other building materials. It enhances the workability, adhesion, and water retention properties of construction materials.

Pharmaceutical: Methyl cellulose is widely used as a coating agent, binder, and thickener in pharmaceuticals. It helps in the controlled release of drugs and improves the physical and chemical properties of the medication.

Food: Methyl cellulose is used as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in food products such as baked goods, dairy products, and sauces. It helps in improving the texture, consistency, and shelf life of the food products.

Personal Care: Methyl cellulose is used in personal care products such as cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos as a thickener, emulsifier, and binder. It enhances the texture, viscosity, and stability of the products.

Others: Methyl cellulose is also used in various other applications such as paper and pulp production, textile printing, and oil drilling.

The methyl cellulose market research report presents the analysis of each segment from 2020 to 2030 considering 2022 as the base year for the research. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each respective segment is calculated for the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

Historical & Forecast Period

• 2020-21 – Historical Year
• 2022 – Base Year
• 2023-2030 – Forecast Period

Market Segmentation:

By Grade:

• Technical Grade
• Food Grade
• Pharmaceutical Grade
• Cosmetic Grade

By Application:

• Construction
• Pharmaceutical
• Food
• Personal Care
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa

Geographic Coverage:

Geographically, the methyl cellulose market report comprises dedicated sections centering on the regional market revenue and trends. The methyl cellulose market has been segmented on the basis of geographic regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The methyl cellulose market has been extensively analyzed on the basis of various regional factors such as demographics, gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate, acceptance, and others. Methyl cellulose market estimates have also been provided for the historical years 2020 & 2021 along with forecasts for the period from 2023 – 2030.

Competitive Assessment:

Some of the prominent market players operating in the global methyl cellulose market are DowDuPont Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Samsung Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Kehong Chemical Co. Ltd., and Ashland Inc. Companies are exploring markets by expansion, new investment, the introduction of new services, and collaboration as their preferred strategies. For instance:

• In June 2021, Dow introduced METHOCEL™ DC2, a new dry-coating technology for the pharmaceutical industry. It is designed to improve the solubility and bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients in drugs.
• In May 2021, Ashland announced the launch of a new range of Aqualon™ cellulose gum products, which includes a low-viscosity variant suitable for use in liquid laundry detergents.
• In January 2021, LOTTE Fine Chemical announced the expansion of its production facilities for methyl cellulose in South Korea to meet growing demand for the material in construction applications.
• In December 2020, The Dow Chemical Company announced the expansion of its METHOCEL™ line of cellulose ethers with the launch of a new grade designed for use in building materials such as cement and gypsum-based products.

Key Companies:

• DowDuPont Inc.
• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.
• Samsung Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd.
• Zhejiang Kehong Chemical Co. Ltd.
• Ashland Inc.
• The Dow Chemical Company
• LOTTE Fine Chemical
• Reliance Cellulose Products Ltd.
• RETTENMAIER & SÖHNE GmbH + Co KG (JRS)
• Shandong Head Co. Ltd.

Key Questions Answered by Methyl Cellulose Market Report

• Global methyl cellulose market forecasts from 2023-2030
• Regional market forecasts from 2023-2030 covering Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America
• Country-level forecasts from 2023-2030 covering 15 major countries from the regions as mentioned above
• Methyl cellulose submarket forecasts from 2023-2030 covering the market by grade, application, and geography
• Various industry models such as SWOT analysis, PESTEL analysis, Value Chain Analysis about the market
• Analysis of the key factors driving and restraining the growth of the global, regional, and country-level methyl cellulose markets from 2023-2030
• Competitive Landscape and market positioning of top 10 players operating in the market