Acrylic Fiber Market

The Acrylic Fiber market size is forecast to reach US$7.123 billion by 2030, after growing at a CAGR of 3.1% during 2024-2030. Acrylic fibers are a type of synthetic fiber that is made of polyacrylonitrile and a comonomer. For a synthetic fiber to be called “acrylic”, it must contain at least 85% of acrylonitrile monomer. Typical comonomers that are used in acrylic fibers are vinyl acetate and vinyl bromide, among others. The increasing demand for the textiles and apparels, along with a rising trend in e-commerce for furniture and upholstery, proves to be great drivers for the acrylic fiber market. Meanwhile, the availability of substitutes can hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period of 2024-2030. In this report, we will take an in-depth look at the acrylic fiber industry outlook and analyse the market share of the acrylic fiber top 10 companies.

Acrylic fabric is generally not sustainable. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive and chemically hazardous. Acrylic fiber is 30% more energy intensive than polyester. Acrylic fabric is also not biodegradable, and its environmental impact is largely negative. The production processes used to make acrylic fabric harm workers and the ecosystems surrounding manufacturing facilities. Acrylic clothing is one of the major sources of microplastics in the ocean, even higher than other synthetic fibers such as polyester. However, acrylic is recyclable, and increased emphasis is being put to use more and more recycled acrylic fiber to meet today’s standard set by the eco-friendly mindset.

Technological advancements are revolutionizing the acrylic fiber industry, particularly in terms of product innovation and performance enhancements. Companies such as Japan Exlan Co. Ltd. Are using nanotechnology also being increasingly utilized to engineer acrylic fibers with specific functionalities, such as antimicrobial properties or moisture management capabilities, expanding the application possibilities across various industries including apparel, automotive, and home furnishings. Japan Exlan Co., Ltd. successfully developed a photocatalytic deodorant acrylic fiber "SELFCLEAR", having unique nano-voids and nano-sized photocatalysts in the fiber structure. Malodorous substances are efficiently adsorbed through the nano-voids, and then immediately decomposed by photocatalysis. "SELFCLEAR" shows an excellent odor-eliminating effect on various malodorous substances such as ammonia, aldehydes, acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide and BTX gases.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many industries had suffered a tumultuous time, and it was no different for the acrylic fiber market. Many governments across the globe implemented lockdown regulations and factories & production facilities in many sectors came to a halt. The supply chain was greatly disrupted as many businesses followed lockdown protocols. According to Textile Exchange, the global fiber production volume had decreased from 111 million metric tonnes in FY 2019 to 109 million metric tonnes in FY 2020. However, the 2022 Materials Market Report from Textile Exchange shows that global fiber production increased to a record 116 million tonnes in 2022. The situation is now improving as the world population is undergoing vaccination and governments across the globe are lifting lockdown protocols. As such, the acrylic fiber industry is projected to grow in the forecast period of 2024-2030.

The report: “Acrylic Fiber Market Report – Forecast (2024-2030)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the acrylic fiber industry.

By Form: Continuous/Filament Fiber, and Non-continuous/Staple Fiber.

By Blend: Acrylic-Wool, Acrylic-Viscose, Acrylic-Nylon, Acrylic-Cotton, and Others.

By End-Use Industry: Textiles & Apparel, Furniture & Upholstery, Industrial, Building & Construction, Automotive, and Others.

By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), and Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa).

•The Asia-Pacific region dominates the acrylic fiber market primarily due to the growing textile & apparel industry in the region, especially in China, Japan, India, and Bangladesh.

•Acrylic fibers are primarily used as linings in the production of textiles and fabrics. This is because they provide superior resistant properties and have excellent wicking ability that offer moisture absorption properties.

•The increase in demand of the global textile and apparel industry, as well as the furniture and upholstery sector, prove to be great drivers for the growth of the acrylic fiber market within the forecast period of 2024-2030.

•The availability of substitutes like polyester, polyamide and polypropylene amongst synthetic fibers can prove to be a restraint for the growth of the acrylic fiber market within the forecast period.

 

The Acrylics-wool blends segment held the largest share in the acrylic fiber market in 2023 with a share of 23%. Acrylic fibers are blended with other different types of fibers such as wool, nylon, and cotton, to enhance its properties and produce more resilient fiber. Acrylic-wool blends provide excellent durability, washability, resistance to shrinkage and so on. It is widely used in making sportswear and are used to make circular knitted goods in the textile industry. According to Textile Exchange, wool is the most preferred animal fiber with a total production of 1.2 million tons in 2023. New developments in the production of wool are also propelling the segment. For instance, Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool has recached a share of 24.3% in the global wool market in 2023.

The textile & apparel industry held the largest share in the acrylic fiber market in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2024-2030. Acrylic fibers are primarily used as linings for textiles and furnishing fabrics in the textile and apparel industry. It is manufactured as a filament, then cut into short staple lengths, and is spun into yarn. Acrylic fibers are resistant to moths, oils, and chemicals and also provides a soft and warm feel while also being lightweight. It also has excellent wicking ability, which lets the acrylic fiber fabric absorb moisture from sweating and transfer it to the outer surface where it is evaporated. The readymade apparel market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 8.3% and reach a value of US$ 1.612 trillion by 2030. Thus, it would also propel the acrylic fiber market growth within the forecast period of 2024-2030.

Asia-Pacific region dominated the acrylic fiber market with a share of 59.4% in the year 2023. Due to the rising growth of the textile industry, especially in countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Australia, and Korea, the demand for acrylic fiber has seen a rise in the region. According to Textile Technology, the production of fiber in India is estimated to have been 1.5 million tonnes in FY 2023. The Indian textiles and apparel industry also contributed to 2% of the GDP and 7% of the total industry output. It also holds 5% of the world's textile and clothing trade and contributes 12% to export earnings in the year 2023. China is the world’s leading producer of acrylic fibers accounting for over 30% of the global production. Additionally, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, there has been an increase in investment in the textile and apparel industry in Malaysia, which was estimated to be about USD $ 3.3 billion in 2023.

The demand for clothing and apparels has seen a tremendous rise in the last few years with a change in the financial landscape and the introduction of fast fashion being some of the primary catalysts for the market. Clothing item consumption in developing countries are especially picking up the pace due to a rapid increase in their GDP. China, and India are projected to be the fastest growing countries in the industry as they are investing heavily in the market. Schemes, such as the USD $ 1.44 billion Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes by the Indian government, greatly helps the textile manufacturers in the country. According to TEXtalks China’s garment export also reached USD $ 223.14 billion in 2023. Additionally, according to Business Finland, the global apparel market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.6% and reach a value of US$ 3.22 trillion by 2030. Acrylic fibers are one of the key providers for the textile and apparel market and the growing demand for the textile and apparel market proves to be a great driver for the global apparel industry.

Acrylic fibers are widely used in the furniture and upholstery market as one of the staple fabrics used in furnishing. One of the key driving factors for the acrylic fiber market is the increase in demand for the furniture & upholstery market. The e-commerce space for furniture & upholstery has seen a steady rise due to the ease of viewing products and availability. This was further bolstered by the Covid-19 pandemic as stay-at-home culture and social distancing became common norms. This led to an increase in sales of furniture and upholstery online. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the online retail market in India is estimated to reach 37% of the total retail market by 2030, the furniture eCommerce market revenue will reach $252 billion in 2023. Along with that, an increased interest in eco-friendly furniture and flexible workspaces have garnered more investment in the industry. Hence, this is a key driving factor for the acrylic fiber market within the forecast period of 2024-2030.

Acrylic fiber is one of many different types of synthetic fiber used in the market. As such, there is a wide variety of substitutes for the material. For instance, some of the commonly used synthetic fibers are polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene. Polyester fibers are the most widely used synthetic fiber in the world, primarily due to its durability, lightweight form factor, and strong fastness to dyes. According to Textile Exchange, polyester fibers hold the largest share in the synthetic fiber space, with a market share of 60% in 2023. As such, the biggest challenge for the acrylic fiber market is the availability of substitutes for acrylic fiber during the forecast period of 2024 to 2030.

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the acrylic fiber market. The key companies in the acrylic fiber market are:

1. Aditya Birla Group (Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd.)

2. Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S.

3. Kairos Industries (Dralon GmbH)

4. Jilin Qifeng Chemical Fiber Company Ltd.

5. Indian Acrylics Ltd.

6. Taekwang Group (Taekwang Industry Co, Ltd.)

7. Kaneka Corporation

8. Japan Exlan Co. Ltd.

9. M&G Group (Chemtex Group)

10. SINOPEC

• On 18 October, 2023, Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd.’s showcased Regel™, which is a recycled acrylic fibre, and other sustainable innovations in the Textile Exchange Conference 2023, London. 

• In March 2023, Indian Acrylics Ltd. Announced that it has commissioned a new plant for acrylic fiber manufacturing. They claim that that the plant has a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year.

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