Engineering Plastics Market Report 2026

The engineering plastics market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $121.77 billion in 2025 to $133.74 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of automotive lightweighting initiatives, rising use of plastics in electronics, growth in industrial manufacturing applications, increased substitution of metals with plastics, advancements in polymer processing technologies.

The engineering plastics market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $192.42 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand from electric mobility platforms, expansion of smart electronics manufacturing, rising focus on sustainable polymer solutions, growth in high-performance industrial machinery, increasing adoption of specialty engineering plastics. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of lightweight high-performance polymers, growing adoption in electric vehicle components, expansion of flame-retardant plastic applications, rising demand for heat-resistant materials, enhanced focus on recyclable engineering plastics.

The rising demand for automobiles is expected to drive the growth of the engineering plastics market going forward. Automobiles are self-propelled vehicles designed for personal transportation and are typically powered by internal combustion engines or electric motors. Engineering plastics are widely used in automotive applications due to their lightweight properties, which help improve fuel efficiency, as well as their durability and resistance to chemical and thermal stress across various vehicle components. For example, in August 2023, according to MarkLines Co., Ltd., a Japan-based automotive industry data provider, passenger car sales in the United States increased by 12.7%, rising from 248,704 units in August 2022 to 280,223 units in August 2023. During the same period, sales of light trucks grew by 17.2%, increasing from 905,069 units to 1,060,946 units. Therefore, the growing demand for automobiles is contributing to the expansion of the engineering plastics market.

Leading companies operating in the engineering plastics market are increasingly focused on developing products made from combinations of materials, such as blending cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs) with polypropylene (PP), to gain a competitive advantage. Combining COCs with PP enhances material characteristics, including improved transparency, chemical resistance, and heat stability, making these plastics suitable for a wide range of applications. For instance, in May 2023, Borealis AG, an Austria-based chemical manufacturer, introduced a new category of engineering polymer called Stelora. This innovative material is designed for technically demanding applications and offers high-temperature resistance, improved strength, and enhanced durability. Stelora is also an environmentally friendly engineering polymer produced using renewable feedstocks, supporting the transition toward a circular economy and helping customers achieve their sustainability objectives.

In October 2023, Plaskolite LLC, a US-based manufacturing company, acquired Vycom for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Plaskolite aims to expand its product portfolio, diversify its substrate offerings, and strengthen its position in the engineered thermoplastic sheet market. Vycom is a US-based manufacturer specializing in highly engineered olefin- and PVC-based thermoplastic sheets used in industrial, marine, graphics, and signage applications.

Major companies operating in the engineering plastics market are Covestro AG, DuPont de Nemours Inc., LG Chem Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Mitsubishi Chemical Engineering Corporation, BASF SE, Celanese Corporation, Solvay S.A., Dow Chemical Company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, LANXESS AG, Asahi Kasei Corporation, DSM Engineering Plastics, Polyplastics Co. Ltd., Teijin Limited, Toray Industries Inc., Arkema S.A., Chi Mei Corporation, Daicel Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, EMS-Chemie Holding AG, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH, JSR Corporation, KOLON Industries Inc., Kuraray Co. Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals Inc, Nilit Ltd., Radici Group, RTP Company, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Techno Polymer Co. Ltd., Tosoh Corporation, Ube Industries Ltd., Victrex plc, Zhejiang NHU Special Materials Co. Ltd.

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

The engineering plastics market consists of sales of polyetheretherketone, nylon 6, and polyetherimide (PEI). 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.

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.

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