The flexible foam market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market size for flexible foam has witnessed significant expansion in the past few years. The market is set to rise from a value of $53.96 billion in 2024 to a future projection of $57.58 billion in 2025, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth throughout the historical period is credited to the demand arising from the consumer electronics sector, the growth of packaging applications, the shift towards more comfortable furniture and bedding, the surge in automotive applications, as well as the escalating demand for insulation in construction.
The Flexible Foam market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The next few years are anticipated to witness robust expansion in the flexible foam market, with the size projected to escalate to $77.4 billion by 2029, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%.
The surge in this forecast duration could be credited to the increasing acceptance of intelligent and functional foam solutions, augmented utilization in packaging sectors, escalation in healthcare and medical applications, progress in bio-based materials, and focus on energy efficiency in construction. The key trends expected in this forecast phase encompass lightweight and high-performance materials, inclination towards sustainability and environmentally friend solutions, innovation in comfort and ergonomic aspects, advancements in insulation and energy efficiency, and a move towards customization and specialization.
The flexible foam market is set to expand due to the escalating demand from a variety of industries. A material derived from petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic compounds through the formation of urethane bonds, flexible foam finds vast applications in industries thanks to its superior features, cost-effective raw materials, and dependability. With the rise in its utilization across end-user industries, the demand for flexible foam also surges, thereby pushing the growth curve of the flexible foam market. Citing an August 2024 report by Furnishing Idea, a UK-based web portal that focuses on the furnishing industry, there was a 1.8 percent growth in the production of flexible polyurethane foams in Europe in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 1.38 million tons. On top of that, Turkey emerged as Europe's largest producer of PU block foam. It was reported that about 50% of the foam produced goes into upholstered furniture, 35% into bedding, 10% is for transportation purposes, and the remaining 5% is for other uses, maintaining the same pattern as the previous year. Consequently, the increasing demand of flexible foam across varied industries is catalyzing the expansion of the flexible foam market.
The flexible foam market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Polyurethane (PU) Foam, Polyethylene (PE) Foam, Polypropylene (PP) Foam, Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Other Types
2) By Density: High-Density, Medium-Density, Low-Density
3) By Application: Furniture And Upholstery, Automotive, Packaging, Building And Construction, Consumer Goods, Other Applications
Subsegments:
1) By Polyurethane (PU) Foam: Flexible PU Foam, Rigid PU Foam
2) By Polyethylene (PE) Foam: Cross-Linked PE Foam, Non-Cross-Linked PE Foam
3) By Polypropylene (PP) Foam: Expanded PP Foam, Extruded PP Foam
4) By Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Foam: Closed-Cell EVA Foam, Open-Cell EVA Foam
5) By Other Types: Neoprene Foam, Rubber Foam, Latex Foam
Innovation in product manufacturing is becoming a primary trend that is reshaping the flexible foam market. To solidify their market positions, major corporations in the flexible foam industry are pivoting towards the creation of unique solutions. A case in point, Huntsman International LLC, a prominent chemical manufacturer based in the US, unveiled its SHOKLESS polyurethane foam system in April 2024. This system, lightweight and enduring, is constructed to safeguard the structural solidity and thermal performance of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), and can potentially be used as moldable encapsulants in battery units or packs. It promises speedy processability, the flexibility of application methods, and unwavering mechanical properties over different temperature scales, thus offering amplified safety and efficiency for EV battery producers.
Major companies operating in the flexible foam market include:
• Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik SE
• The Dow Chemical Company
• Huntsman Corporation
• Ube Industries Ltd.
• Recticel Flexible Foams nv
• Zotefoams PLC
• The Woodbridge Group of Companies
• SEKISUI Alveo AG
• Covestro AG
• Rogers Corporation
• JSP Foam Products Pte. Ltd.
• O.R.S.A. Foam Spa
• Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
• Kaneka Corporation
• Flexipol Foams Pvt. Ltd.
• Sealed Air Corporation
• UFP Technologies Inc.
• Vita Group
• Eurofoam Group GmbH
• Armacell International S.A.
• INOAC Corporation
• FXI Inc.
• Future Foam Inc.
• W.W. Carpenter Company
• Foamcraft Inc.
• Foam Supplies Inc.
• Alanto Ltd.
• FoamPartner (Switzerland) AG
• Grand Rapids Foam Technologies
• Hira Industries LLC
• Innovo Packaging Group LLC
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the flexible foam market share in 2024. The regions covered in the flexible foam market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.