Maleic Anhydride Market Report 2026

Maleic Anhydride Market Overview

• Maleic Anhydride market size has reached to $3.97 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $5.45 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% • Growth Driver: Global Demand For Automobiles Fuels Growth In The Maleic Anhydride Market • Market Trend: Technological Expansion Strengthens Maleic Anhydride Capability • Asia-Pacific was the largest region and fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Maleic Anhydride Market?

Maleic anhydride is an organic compound with the formula C₂H₂(CO)₂O, serving as the acid anhydride of maleic acid. It appears as a colorless or white solid and is primarily used in the production of various chemicals. MAN is used as a food preservative, flavor enhancer, and artificial sweetener after converting to maleic or fumaric acid and has broad applications in pharmaceutics, agricultural products, and surfactants. The main types of maleic anhydride are solid maleic anhydride and molten maleic anhydride. Solid maleic anhydride is primarily used in the formation of unsaturated polyester resins and is in solid form in nature. Maleic anhydride is made of different raw materials such as benzene and n-butane that are used by end users in various sectors such as construction, automobiles, food and beverages, oil products, electronics, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Maleic anyhydride is used in unsaturated polyester resin, copolymers, lubricant additives, alkyl succinic anhydrides, malic acid, fumaric acid.

What Is The Maleic Anhydride Market Growth Forecast?

The maleic anhydride market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.45 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for sustainable chemical production, increasing application in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, expansion of lightweight composites usage, rising focus on low-emission manufacturing processes, increasing investments in specialty chemical capacity. Major trends in the forecast period include expanding use of maleic anhydride in unsaturated polyester resins, rising demand for bio-based chemical intermediates, growing adoption in food additives and preservatives, increasing application in agricultural chemicals, enhanced focus on process efficiency optimization.

Global Maleic Anhydride Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Solid Maleic Anhydride, Molten Maleic Anhydride 2) By Raw Material: Benzene, N-Butane 3) By Application: Unsaturated Polyester Resin, Copolymers, Lubricant Additives, Alkyl Succinic Anhydrides, Malic Acid, Fumaric Acid 4) By End User: Construction, Automobile, Food and Beverage, Oil Products, Electronics, Personal Care, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture Subsegments: 1) By Solid Maleic Anhydride: Crystalline Maleic Anhydride, Powdered Maleic Anhydride 2) By Molten Maleic Anhydride: Liquid Maleic Anhydride

What Is The Driver Of The Maleic Anhydride Market?

The rising demand for automobiles globally has contributed to the growth of the maleic anhydride market. The automobile industry is a business of producing and selling self-powered vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, farm equipment, and other commercial vehicles. The automobile industry uses unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) derived from maleic anhydride for building parts due to its design versatility, lightweight, and mechanical properties. For instance, in March 2024, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, a Belgium-based automobile manufacturers association, the global car market experienced a significant rebound in 2023, with sales growing by almost 10% to surpass 72 million units. The European car market was particularly strong, with sales increasing by 18.6% compared to 2022. This growth was driven by a similar trend in both EU and Eastern European markets, with Russia and Ukraine showing impressive growth rates of 63.5% and 58.9% respectively. This rise has, in turn, boosted the growth of maleic anhydride and its product market.

What Is The Driver Of The Maleic Anhydride Market?

The rising demand for automobiles globally has contributed to the growth of the maleic anhydride market. The automobile industry is a business of producing and selling self-powered vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, farm equipment, and other commercial vehicles. The automobile industry uses unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) derived from maleic anhydride for building parts due to its design versatility, lightweight, and mechanical properties. For instance, in March 2024, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, a Belgium-based automobile manufacturers association, the global car market experienced a significant rebound in 2023, with sales growing by almost 10% to surpass 72 million units. The European car market was particularly strong, with sales increasing by 18.6% compared to 2022. This growth was driven by a similar trend in both EU and Eastern European markets, with Russia and Ukraine showing impressive growth rates of 63.5% and 58.9% respectively. This rise has, in turn, boosted the growth of maleic anhydride and its product market.

Global Maleic Anhydride Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the maleic anhydride market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as maleic anhydride technology to enhance production efficiency and support emerging applications, including biodegradable plastics. A maleic anhydride technology is a comprehensive process solution that provides the engineering design, catalytic systems, and operational support required to manufacture maleic anhydride at an industrial scale. For instance, in September 2024, MAIRE, an Italy-based engineering and technology solutions provider, announced CONSER’s maleic anhydride technology package for Al Baleed Petrochemical’s new 50,000-ton-per-year facility in Oman. The solution includes process licensing, a detailed design package, catalyst supply, and technical services to support construction, commissioning, and start-up. This development enhances Oman’s industrial capabilities and reinforces maleic anhydride’s strategic role in biodegradable plastics production.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Maleic Anhydride Market?

In June 2023, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad, a Malaysia-based chemical company reached final investment decision (FID) to acquire maleic anhydride plant from BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd (BPC) for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, the plant would make it possible to integrate specific chemical derivatives of man-made anhydride (MAN) in the future with our subsidiaries Perstorp and BRB to provide creative solutions and potentially work in tandem with other downstream manufacturers of man-made anhydride in Malaysia. This acquisition would enhance PCG's derivatives product offerings by diversifying the company's product line. BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd (BPC) is a Malaysia-based chemical company that produces maleic anhydride.

Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the maleic anhydride market share in 2025 and is also expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa The countries covered in this market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

What Defines the Maleic Anhydride Market?

The maleic anhydride market consists of sales of different forms of maleic anhydride including pellets, flakes and lumps. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Maleic Anhydride Market Report 2026?

The maleic anhydride market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the maleic anhydride industry. The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the industry.