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Global Olefinic Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Types, By Applications [Footwear, Adhesives, Houseware, Infrastructure, Others] & Forecast Analysis, 2036

Olefin Block Copolymers Market

The global Olefinic Block Copolymer Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% to reach USD 3 billion by 2032 from the current market size of USD 1.3 billion in 2023. Olefin Block Copolymers (OBCs) are a new class of thermoplastic olefin elastomers developed by Dow Chemical back in 2006. They were brought into commercial production in 2008. 

OBC are composed of alternating hard and soft segments arranged in a linear fashion that provide them with elastomeric properties. This composition and property are generic to elastomers.  The hard segment can be crystalline or semi-crystalline in nature and is composed of either polyethylene or polypropylene. The soft segments consist of polymers of ethylene and alpha-olefin. This segment is amorphous in nature. These block copolymers offer better properties than random copolymers based on olefins. The crystallinity and density of the polymer is dictated by its composition and its molecular weight distribution. 

Moreover, OBC is different from other block copolymers due to the fact that the polymer chain consists of a distribution of number of blocks and block lengths rather than having fixed number of blocks of similar compositions. OBCs are sought as an alternative to elastomers like Styrene Block Copolymers (SBC). Further, OBCs are used along with Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) in the form of blends and in foam applications. It can also be used as a replacement of EPDM in compounded thermoplastic olefins (TPO). OBCs are widely used as compatibilizers in PP/HDPE blends.

Global Olefin Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Region 2032 (Kiloton)
Global Olefinic Block Copolymer (OBC) Market Demand & Forecast Analysis, 2016 - 2032

Asia-Pacific is the biggest market at global level in 2023 accounting for more than 65% of the global Olefinic Block Copolymer demand on account increase in athletic footwear market and shift of the footwear manufacturing from mature market such as North America and Western Europe to Asia-Pacific regions like China, Vietnam, India and other Southeast Asian Countries. North America is estimated to account over 12% Olefinic Block Copolymer demand, while Western Europe’s share is estimated to be around 10%. The other regions like Central & Eastern Europe, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa together account for remaining share.

Global Olefin Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Region - 2023 (Kilo Tons)
Global Olefin Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Region - 2021 (Kilo Tons)

Olefinic Block Copolymer Market, By Application

Key drivers for Olefinic Block Copolymer market especially INFUSE OBCs have been their increasing consumption in in the footwear industries, hot melt adhesives (HMA) and pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) applications. In 2023, Footwear applications constituted the largest demand for Olefinic Block Copolymer accounting for more than 45% of the total demand followed by adhesives applications accounting for around 25% of the total demand. 

All other applications, including, houseware, infrastructure and others together constituted remaining share of total Olefinic Block Copolymer demand. OBC finds numerous applications in the footwear industry, including outsoles, sandals, floats, slippers, sock liners, and midsoles. OBCs are commonly used in blends with Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) to manufacture midsoles for shoes. There is potential for OBCs to be utilized in hunting boots as well.

Global Olefin Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Application -2032 (Kilo Tons)
Global Olefin Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Application- 2016-2032 (Kilo Tons)
Olefinic Block Copolymer Market Dynamics

Drivers: Replacement of EPDM, EVA, SBC, and other elastomers 

OBC possesses properties that make it a suitable substitute for styrene block copolymers (SBC) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) in adhesive applications. Additionally, it can be used as an alternative to flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for halogen-free compounds. OBCs can produce TPOs (thermoplastic olefins) with enhanced flow, impact resistance, and compression set, making them viable replacements for thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) and SEBS (styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene). The product has successfully replaced SBC and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) in various consumer applications, ranging from footwear to hygiene products and housewares.

Rising Demand from End Use Industry will further drive OBCs market in the forecast period

In the footwear industry, OBC provides improved resilience, softness, and durability. It enhances cushioning performance by reducing the overall weight of the shoe. As a result, there has been strong demand for athletic and running shoes among consumers in recent years. According to the World Footwear Yearbook, global footwear production reached 22 billion pairs in 2021, experiencing nearly 9% growth compared to the previous year. 

The majority of shoe production, approximately 88%, is concentrated in the Asia Pacific region. China holds over 54% market share in global shoe production, making it one of the largest producers worldwide. In terms of consumption, the Asia Pacific region accounts for more than 55% of footwear consumption, followed by North America and Europe with individual market shares ranging from 12% to 15%. However, footwear consumption trends are highly influenced by population size.

The growing fitness trend is fueling the demand for athletic shoes with high-performance midsoles. OBC-based midsoles enhance the durability of the shoe, thereby improving the quality and comfort of the athlete's experience. These midsoles offer protection, stability, and shock absorption, reducing the impact and stress on the athlete s body. Due to increasing consumer demand for advanced cushioning technology in athletic footwear for running and other sports, as well as market competition, footwear manufacturers prefer using high-performance OBC midsole solutions to meet evolving consumer trends in performance. OBC solutions for footwear foams provide superior benefits compared to other materials, offering increased dimensional stability and assisting OEMs in reducing production costs. OBC midsole formulations based on INFUSE OBCs offer enhanced resilience, reduced shrinkage, improved low-temperature flexibility, and superior compression properties compared to conventional materials like EVA.

Apart from footwear, adhesive applications are a significant driving force in the olefinic block copolymer market, particularly in the manufacturing of hot melt adhesives. Prominent adhesive manufacturer Bostik offers hot melt adhesives composed of olefinic block copolymers for various end products, including disposable diapers, bed pads, bandages, sanitary napkins, tapes, surgical drapes, labels, nonwoven sheets, cardboard, filters, and paper sheets.

Growing purchasing power in the developing economies and growth in footwear is seen as a key driver of demand for like. The economy in Asia-Pacific has been thriving on account of the advancements witnessed in the houseware, hygiene, and consumer appliances. Increased participation in the sports and fitness activities along with rise in demand for athletic footwear in developing economies is likely to drive the demand for Olefinic Block Copolymer in the long-term forecast.

Scope of Report 
The Olefinic Block Copolymer report describes the global Olefinic Block Copolymer market, with focus on the country, applications and other end-use scenarios. The study provides

Market Data & Forecast (Short-term and Long-term)
•  Demand Analysis
•  Demand Composition, by Type and Applications
•  Capacity 
•  Sales & Revenue
•  Pricing Analysis
•  Market Dynamics

Country Summaries & Product Review
•  Demand Balance 
•  OBC Market data in terms of volume and value for each end-use at regional and country level
•  OBC Market analysis for capacity and demand, at regional and country level
•  Historical, Current & Market Forecast
•  Macro-economic factors like GDP, Population and World Economic integration
•  Economic & Energy Outlook
•  Industry & Policy Developments 
•  End-use Industry / Applications Market 
•  Reasoning & Analysis
•  Insightful Commentary
•  Market Review
•  Comparative Analysis
•  Latest Trends and market developments
•  Key players
•  Strategic Issues and Recommendations

1.  Introduction
      •  Scope
      •  Market Coverage
          -  Applications
          -  Regions
          -  Countries
      •  Years Considered
          -  Historical - 2016 – 2022
          -  Base - 2023
          -  Forecast Period - 2024 – 2036
      •  Research Methodology
          -  Approach
          -  Research Methodology
          -  Prismane Consulting Market Models
          -  Assumptions & Limitations
          -  Abbreviations & Definitions
          -  Conversion Factors
          -  Data Sources
2.  Market Synopsis 
      •  Market Evolution
      •  Demand Overview
      •  Industry Structure
      •  Strategic Issues
      •  End-use Trends
      •  Growth Forecast
3.  Economic & Energy Outlook
      •  GDP and Demographics
      •  Monetary & Fiscal Policies
      •  Crude Oil Production and prices
      •  Natural Gas
      •  Electricity Prices
4.  End-use Sector Performance      
      • Footwear
      • Consumer Goods
      • Construction
      • Others 
5.  Introduction to Olefinic Block Copolymers and Market Overview 
      •  Product Description
      •  Grades & Properties
      •  Raw Material
      •  Manufacturing Process
      •  Environmental Issues
      •  Value Chain
      •  Applications
6.  Market Dynamics and Industry Trends 
      •  Market Dynamics and COVID-19 Impact
          -  Drivers
          -  Restraints
          -  Opportunities
          -  Challenges
7.  Plants & Project Analysis
          -  USA
          -  Spain
          -  Thailand
8.  Global Olefinic Block Copolymers Demand Analysis, By Types, By Applications (Volume, Value) (2016–2036) 
      •  Strategic Issues and COVID-19 Impact
      •  Demand Analysis and Forecast (2016 – 2036)
          -  Demand
          -  Demand Growth Rate (%)
          -  Driving Force Analysis
      •  Global Olefinic Block Copolymers Market, By Types
               - Polyethylene-based OBCs
               - Polypropylene-based OBCs
      •  Global Olefinic Block Copolymers Market, By Applications
               - Footwear
               - Adhesives
               - Houseware
               - Infrastructure
               - Others
9.  Demand Analysis and Market Review, By Region, By Country (Volume, Value), (2016– 2036)
      •  Strategic Issues and COVID-19 Impact
      •  Demand Analysis and Forecast (2016-2036)
      •  Demand Growth Rate (%)
      •  Olefinic Block Copolymers Market, By Types
      •  Olefinic Block Copolymers Market, By Applications
Note: Demand Analysis has been provided for all major Regions / Countries as mentioned below. The demand(consumption) split by types and applications has been provided for each of the countries/regions in Volume (Kilotons) and Value (USD Million).
      •  North America
         -  USA
         -  Canada
         -  Mexico
      •  Western Europe
         -  Germany
         -  France
         -  Italy
         -  United Kingdom
         -  Spain
         -  Rest of Western Europe
      •  Central & Eastern Europe
         -  Russia
         -  Poland
         -  Rest of Central & Eastern Europe
      •  Asia-Pacific
         -  China
         -  Japan
         -  India
         -  South Korea
         -  Rest of Asia-Pacific
      •  Central & South America
      •  Middle East & Africa
Note: CAGR will be calculated for all the types and applications to arrive at the regional/global demand growth for the forecast period (2024 – 2036)
10.  Pricing Analysis
11.  Key Strategic Issues and Business Opportunity Assessment 
      •  Market Attractiveness Assessment
      •  Prospective & Target Market Study
12.  Strategic Recommendation & Suggestions
13.  Company Analysis and Market Share Analysis
      • Olefinic Block Copolymers Manufacturers Profiles/ Company Analysis
         -  Basic Details
         -  Headquarter, Key Markets
         -  Ownership
         -  Company Financial
         -  Manufacturing Bases
         -  Global Turnover
         -  Total Employee
         -  Product Portfolio / Services / Solutions
         -  Key Business Strategies adopted and Prismane Consulting Overview
         -  Recent Developments
         -  Companies Covered
             - Dow
Note: This section includes company information, company financials, manufacturing bases, and operating regions. Company financials have been mentioned only for those companies where financials were available in SEC Filings, annual reports, or company websites. All the reported financials in this report are in U.S. Dollars. Financials reported in other currencies have been converted using average currency conversion rates. Company profiles may include manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors.
14.  Appendices
      •  Demand- Regions
      •  Demand– Countries

Scope of Report 
The Olefinic Block Copolymer report describes the global Olefinic Block Copolymer market, with focus on the country, applications and other end-use scenarios. The study provides

Market Data & Forecast (Short-term and Long-term)
•  Demand Analysis
•  Demand Composition, by Type and Applications
•  Capacity 
•  Sales & Revenue
•  Pricing Analysis
•  Market Dynamics

Country Summaries & Product Review
•  Demand Balance 
•  OBC Market data in terms of volume and value for each end-use at regional and country level
•  OBC Market analysis for capacity and demand, at regional and country level
•  Historical, Current & Market Forecast
•  Macro-economic factors like GDP, Population and World Economic integration
•  Economic & Energy Outlook
•  Industry & Policy Developments 
•  End-use Industry / Applications Market 
•  Reasoning & Analysis
•  Insightful Commentary
•  Market Review
•  Comparative Analysis
•  Latest Trends and market developments
•  Key players
•  Strategic Issues and Recommendations


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary growth drivers of demand of Olefinic Block Copolymers?
Key drivers for OBCs market especially INFUSE OBCs have been their increasing consumption in in the footwear industries, hot melt adhesives (HMA) and pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) applications.
Which region dominates the global Olefinic Block Copolymer Market?
Asia-Pacific is the biggest market at global level in 2023 accounting for more than 65% of the global OBCs demand on account increase in athletic footwear market and shift of the footwear manufacturing from mature market such as North America and Western Europe to Asia-Pacific regions like China, Vietnam, India and other Southeast Asian Countries. North America is estimated to account over 12% OBCs demand, while Western Europe’s share is estimated to be around 10%.
Which application is the largest consumer of global Olefinic Block Copolymer Market?
In 2023, Footwear applications constituted the largest demand for OBCs accounting for more than 45% of the total demand followed by adhesives applications accounting for around 25% of the total demand.
How big is Olefinic Block Copolymer Market?
The global Olefinic Block Copolymer Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% to reach USD 3 billion by 2032 from the current market size of USD 1.3 billion in 2023.