Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Industry Overview

The global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market size was valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% from 2022 to 2030.

Increasing demand from various applications such as batteries, medical-grade prosthetics, additives, fibers, filtration, and membranes are significantly driving the growth of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) market. In addition, increasing product demand from defense applications and its superior physical properties as compared to other polymers are factors anticipated to significantly drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is gaining increasing acceptance in defense applications owing to its properties such as resistance to chemicals, moisture, corrosion, dirt. Furthermore, UHMWPE is preferred over other conventional metals and polymers in the defense sector because of its properties such as lightweight, low friction coefficient, self-lubricating, high impact strength, tremendous energy absorption capacity, wide service temperature range, and wear resistance.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Global Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market

UHMWPE's use results in lower weight, diminished noise vibrations, reduced production costs, and negligible maintenance. It is also used for personal protective equipment and vehicle armor owing to its too high impact strength. Several governments worldwide have taken initiatives to provide better protective gear for their military and law enforcement personnel, thereby boosting the product demand.

Joint replacement surgeries for knees and hips have witnessed a rapid uptrend over the last five years. A shift in trend wherein people aged 45 to 60 years are increasingly opting for joint replacement surgeries have been observed in the recent past. Technological advancements have resulted in better prosthetics, longer lifespan, and more comfort for patients. The increasing geriatric population in several countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and others are expected to drive medical grade UHMWPE demand over the forecast period. However, UHMWPE's high cost over other polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, engineering thermoplastics, and others is expected to hamper the market growth in the coming years.

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• Medical Grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market - The global medical grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market size was worth USD 1.22 billion in 2015. Rising orthopedic surgical procedures and an increasing number of diseases such as osteoarthritis are expected to contribute to demand growth over the forecast period.
• Personal Protective Equipment Market - The global personal protective equipment market size was valued at USD 77.36 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2020 to 2028.

Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market Segmentation 

Grand View Research has segmented the global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene market based on product, application, and region:

• Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
  • Medical-grade Prosthetics
  • Fibers
  • Sheets
  • Rods
  • Others

• Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
  • Medical-grade Prosthetics
  • Filtration
  • Batteries
  • Fibers
  • Additives
  • Membranes
  • Others

• Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Central and South America
• Middle East and Africa

Market Share Insights

• October 2020: Celanese Corporation, one of the leading companies in the market, announced to add a new production line of its GUR ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) at its Bishop, Texas manufacturing facility. This new production line is expected to add approximately 15 kilotons per annum to GUR product capacity and the production is slated to begin by 2022.
• March 2021: Celanese Corporation formally declared to enlarge its GUR ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene production capacity to approximately 34 KT in Europe. This new development will boost the growth of the company in GUR engineered materials portfolio. In addition, the company will be able to meet the rising demand for Lithium Ion Battery Separators in the electric vehicle market through this expansion.

Key Companies profiled:

Some prominent players in the global ultra high molecular weight polyethylene market include

• Celanese Corporation
• LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.
• Koninklijke DSM N.V.
• China Petrochemical Corporation
• Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Group
• LianLe Chemical Corporation
• Crown Plastics, Inc.
• Braskem
• Asahi Kasei Corporation
• Dotmar Engineering Plastics
• Honeywell International, Inc.
• Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
• TSE Industries, Inc.
• Garland Manufacturing Company

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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.