Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Adhesives and Sealants (Acrylic, PVA, PU, Epoxy, EVA, Silicones) Market - Global Industry Analysis to 2018" report to their offering.

Key markets for adhesives and sealants include automobile, construction and packaging. Along with growing applications in these industries, adhesives and sealants are expected to experience moderate growth in other applications such as furniture, pressure sensitive accessories, footwear etc. Major industry participants are now focusing on development of bio-based adhesives and sealants, in order to reduce reliance on synthetic adhesives and sealants.

Asia Pacific continued to dominate the global adhesives market and accounted for 41.4% share of the total adhesives market in 2012. The growth of major end use industries including construction and transportation mainly in emerging economies of China and India are expected to fuel the market for adhesives in the region. Asia Pacific was followed by Europe and North America, which together accounted for over 50% of the total market in 2012.

Acrylic based adhesives emerged as the largest consumed product and accounted for 35.4% of the total adhesives consumed in 2012. Acrylic based adhesives are also expected to be the fastest growing product at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2012 to 2018, owing to increasing demand in pressure sensitive applications. Polyurethane based adhesives accounted for just over 10% of the total adhesives market in 2012.

Pressure sensitive applications (PSA) dominated the global adhesives market and accounted for approximately 28% of the total market in 2012. Furniture is expected to be the fastest growing market for adhesives at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2012 to 2018. The growing disposable income level mainly in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) is one of the major factors driving the demand for adhesives in the furniture industry.

Unlike adhesives, sealants have lower strength and higher elongation, which makes them ideal for sealing assemblies and joints. Growing construction activities mainly in BRIC countries is expected to fuel the global market for sealants. However, the growing environmental concerns and regulations have been and are expected to inhibit market growth over the forecasted period, leading to development of bio-based adhesives and sealants.

Asia Pacific emerged as the leading consumer for sealants and accounted for over 35% of the total market in 2011. Asia Pacific was closely followed by Europe and North America, which together accounted for approximately 54% of the total market in 2011. Asia Pacific is also expected to be the fastest growing market for sealants, growing at a CAGR of 5% from 2012 to 2018.

Silicones and polyurethane based sealants were the leading sealants consumed worldwide and together accounted for approximately 58% of the total market in 2012. Silicone based sealants are also expected to be the fastest growing type of sealants growing at a CAGR of 5% from 2012 to 2108. The growth in demand for silicone based sealants is mainly due to increasing innovative product development catering to the growing automobile and packaging industries where sealants are extensively used for lamination and protection.

Construction emerged as the leading market for sealants and accounted for approximately 27% of the total sealants consumed in 2012. Sealants' usage in the construction industry was followed by the automotive and packaging industry, which together accounted for approximately 34% of the total market in 20112. The automotive industry is also expected to be the fastest growing market for sealants at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2012 to 2018.

Henkel dominated the adhesives and sealants market with major market share of 19.0% of the global market in 2012. It is a concentrated market with top four companies accounting for 47.4% share of the total market. Some of the other major players in the market are 3M, Dow Chemical Company, Avery Dennison, BASF and other.