Italy Adhesives Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts Up To 2028

Italy Adhesives Market Trends

Rising trend of cheap and lightweight packaging in Italy drives the demand for flexible and rigid plastic packaging

• Italy has a GDP of USD 34,780 per capita with a growth rate of 2.3% Y-o-Y in 2022. The packaging industry sector contributes to around 0.36% of the country's GDP. Italy is the second-largest packaging industry in Europe after Germany. Factors that are affecting the Italian packaging industry are trade exchange, employment, wine production, government policy support, etc.
• The country witnessed an economic slowdown because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production volume was reduced by 3.75% in the same year compared to 2019. This happened due to a supply chain disruption, labor shortages, and a lockdown in the country for nearly three months. International borders were opened in 2021 because of the economic recovery, which resulted in a regular supply of raw materials for production that increased by 3500 tons in 2021.
• In the European Union, packaging production reaches USD 400 billion annually, out of which 15% of the share is produced in Italy. The packaging industry in the country is dominated by the paper and paperboard packaging segment, which is the second largest in Europe. Packaging is majorly used in food and beverages (29%) and healthcare and beauty products packaging (26%).
• Italy is the second largest in corrugated box packaging in Europe. The rising trend of cheap and lightweight packaging in France is expected to drive the demand for flexible packaging and rigid plastic packaging in the coming years. Hence, it is expected to lead to the growth of the packaging industry in the country. Italy is the world's largest producer of wine. However, declining wine production in the country may hinder packaging products in the future. Wine production was reduced by 9% Y-o-Y in 2021.

Rising electric vehicles demand is likely to boost automotive production

• Italy is one of the major automotive manufacturers in Europe. Compared to 2017, automotive vehicle production in the country contracted by 9.26% in 2018 and 22.2% in 2019, as in 2018 and 2019, factors like the fallout from Brexit, the implementation of more complex environmental regulations, and the tensions between the United States and China negatively affected the market for automotive vehicles in Italy.
• The automotive vehicle production volume contracted by 20% in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions in car manufacturing and had a negative impact on the whole supply chain. Many suppliers additionally suffer from increased raw material costs (e.g., for steel, plastics, and resin) and higher energy prices, affecting the automotive market in the country.
• In 2020, the country's electric vehicle growth further increased. Registrations for pure EVs in the first six months of 2020 were up by 86% compared to 2019. Almost 31,000 pure EVs were sold in 2020 till the end of June. Total sales of all plug-in vehicles rose to 50,500 units. The average pure-electric market share also increased significantly, driving the market for adhesives and sealants in the country.
• Similarly, the year 2021 witnessed continued growth in the Italian EV market. In recent years, electric vehicle sales increased by six-fold in just three years. Similarly, the market share of electric vehicles increased to 4.6% in 2021. Thus, it is expected to improve the market for adhesives and sealants in the country.

OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT

Segment Analysis: End User Industry

Packaging Segment in Italy Adhesives Market

The packaging segment dominates the Italian adhesives market, holding approximately 38% of the market share in 2024. This significant market position is driven by the robust packaging industry in Italy, which is one of the largest in Europe with nearly 7,000 active major and minor packaging companies. The segment's strength is particularly evident in paper and paperboard packaging applications, where adhesives play a crucial role in carton sealing, laminating, and various other bonding applications. The increasing importance of supermarket retailing and changing consumer buying habits, especially the surge in e-commerce activities, have substantially boosted the demand for packaging adhesives. The segment has also benefited from the growing trend toward sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions, particularly in paper and paperboard applications, where water-based and environmentally friendly adhesives are increasingly preferred.

Packaging Segment Growth in Italy Adhesives Market

The packaging segment is projected to maintain its strong growth trajectory, with an expected growth rate of approximately 7% during 2024-2029. This robust growth is primarily driven by the expanding e-commerce sector in Italy, which has created substantial demand for packaging solutions and, consequently, adhesives. The segment's growth is further supported by the increasing adoption of flexible packaging solutions and the rising demand for sustainable packaging materials. The packaging industry's focus on innovative solutions, particularly in cold chain applications and transport packaging for electronics, consumer goods, medical, and food industries, is expected to create new opportunities for adhesive applications. Additionally, the increasing emphasis on recyclable and eco-friendly packaging solutions is driving the development and adoption of specialized adhesives that comply with sustainability requirements while maintaining high performance standards.

Remaining Segments in End User Industry

The Italian adhesives market encompasses several other significant segments including wood adhesives and joinery, healthcare, building and construction, automotive, aerospace, and footwear industries. The woodworking segment maintains a strong position due to Italy's renowned furniture manufacturing industry. The healthcare segment is driven by the growing medical device manufacturing sector, while the building and construction segment benefits from ongoing infrastructure development and renovation projects. The automotive segment continues to evolve with the transition to electric vehicles, while the aerospace segment serves Italy's position as a key player in European aerospace manufacturing. The footwear segment, though smaller, remains significant due to Italy's prestigious position in luxury footwear manufacturing. Each of these segments contributes uniquely to the market's diversity and overall growth.

Segment Analysis: Technology

Water-borne Segment in Italy Adhesives Market

Water-borne adhesives dominate the Italian adhesives market, holding approximately 54% market share in 2024, primarily due to stringent regulations against VOC content in chemical products under Directive 2010/75/EU. These adhesives have gained significant traction in the packaging industry due to their excellent adhesion properties with cardboard, paper, and pulp materials. The segment's growth is further supported by their widespread application in the construction industry for vinyl flooring, wooden flooring, and other applications, benefiting from the European Commission's Next Generation EU recovery plan that focuses on energy-efficient building construction. Additionally, water-borne adhesives, particularly acrylic-based formulations, are extensively used in household appliance manufacturing for assembly and wire tacking applications, contributing to their market dominance.

Hot Melt Segment in Italy Adhesives Market

The hot melt adhesives segment is experiencing the fastest growth in the Italian market, with an expected growth rate of approximately 4% during 2024-2029. This growth is primarily driven by their increasing adoption in the packaging sector, where more than 68% of hot melt adhesives are based on EVA/VAE and polyurethane resins, mainly used in packaging and assembly operations. The segment's expansion is further supported by its diverse applications in the construction industry, including flooring, roofing, tile insulation, and soundproofing applications. The European Commission's Next Generation EU recovery plan, which emphasizes energy-efficient building construction, is expected to boost the demand for hot melt adhesives in construction applications, further accelerating the segment's growth trajectory.

Remaining Segments in Technology Segmentation

The remaining segments in the Italian adhesives market include reactive adhesives, solvent-borne, and UV cured adhesives, each serving specific industrial applications. Reactive adhesives are particularly valued in the automotive and footwear industries due to their strong adhesion properties and cross-linking capabilities. Solvent-borne adhesives, despite environmental concerns, maintain their position in applications requiring quick tact and curing time, especially in automotive applications. UV cured adhesives, while representing the smallest segment, play a crucial role in specialized applications requiring flexibility in curing, particularly in automotive electronics and semiconductor applications. These segments collectively contribute to the market's diversity by offering specialized solutions for specific industrial requirements.

Segment Analysis: Resin

Polyurethane Segment in Italy Adhesives Market

Polyurethane adhesives maintain their dominant position in the Italian adhesives market, holding approximately 22% market share in 2024. The segment's leadership is attributed to polyurethane's exceptional durability and flexibility properties, making these adhesives highly suitable for diverse applications across multiple industries. These adhesives demonstrate superior performance in bonding various substrates including glass, ceramic, plastic, composites, metals, alloys, and wood. The automotive and construction sectors particularly favor polyurethane adhesives due to their excellent weather resistance and structural bonding capabilities. Their ability to withstand more wear and tear when applied on substrates has made them indispensable in high-stress applications. Additionally, polyurethane adhesives offer advantages like excellent gap-filling properties, good chemical resistance, and the ability to bond dissimilar materials, further solidifying their market position.

VAE/EVA Segment in Italy Adhesives Market

The VAE/EVA adhesives segment is experiencing robust growth in the Italian market, projected to grow at approximately 7% annually from 2024 to 2029. This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from the woodworking and packaging industries, where these adhesives are extensively used in hot melt applications. The segment's expansion is further supported by the rising trend in sustainable packaging solutions and home renovation activities. VAE/EVA adhesives are gaining popularity in the footwear industry due to their strong adhesion to fabrics and their cost-effectiveness compared to other adhesive types. The construction sector's recovery and the growing emphasis on energy-efficient buildings are also contributing to the segment's growth, as these adhesives demonstrate excellent performance in applications such as flooring, roofing, and general construction bonding.

Remaining Segments in Resin Segmentation

The other significant segments in the Italian adhesives market include acrylic adhesives, epoxy, cyanoacrylate, and silicone resins, each serving specific industrial applications. Acrylic adhesives are particularly valued in the automotive and construction sectors for their excellent bonding properties with metals and engineering plastics. Epoxy adhesives maintain a strong presence in high-performance applications, especially in aerospace and automotive industries, due to their superior structural bonding capabilities. Cyanoacrylate adhesives, known for their rapid curing properties, are essential in assembly operations across various industries. Silicone-based adhesives have carved out a niche in applications requiring extreme temperature resistance and flexibility, particularly in automotive electronics and construction applications. These segments collectively contribute to the market's diversity and cater to specific end-user requirements across different industries.

Free With This Report

We provide a complimentary and exhaustive set of data points on global and regional metrics that present the fundamental structure of the industry. Presented in the form of 24+ free charts, the section covers rare data on various end-user production trends including automobile production, newly built construction floor area, packaging production, aircraft deliveries, footwear production, and regional data on adhesives and sealants demand, etc.