Polylactic Acid Market Report 2026

The polylactic acid market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.61 billion in 2025 to $1.93 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in sustainable packaging demand, increasing regulatory restrictions on conventional plastics, expansion of biopolymer production capacity, rising consumer preference for eco-friendly materials, availability of renewable feedstocks.

The polylactic acid market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.84 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising adoption in flexible and rigid packaging, increasing use in agricultural films, expansion of electric vehicle interior components, growing focus on recyclable bioplastics, increasing investment in advanced PLA formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of biodegradable packaging materials, increasing use in compostable films, growing demand for bio-based plastics, expansion of pla blends for performance enhancement, enhanced focus on circular economy solutions.

The growth of the personal care sector is expected to drive the polylactic acid (PLA) market forward. The personal care sector encompasses a wide range of products and services aimed at enhancing personal appearance and hygiene. This sector’s growth is driven by factors such as evolving consumer preferences, expansion of e-commerce, aging populations, and rising health and wellness awareness. Polylactic acid is increasingly used in personal care products for sustainable packaging and biodegradable formulations, reducing environmental impact. For instance, in July 2024, according to a report by the British Beauty Council, a UK-based organization, the personal care sector contributed £27.2 billion ($30.44 billion) to the GDP in 2023, marking an 11% increase compared to 2022. This growth was supported by a 10% rise in household spending on personal care products and services in the UK. Therefore, the expanding personal care sector is driving demand for polylactic acid.

Key players in the polylactic acid market are forming strategic partnerships to enhance their capabilities. Strategic partnerships involve companies leveraging each other's strengths and resources to achieve mutual advantages and success. For instance, in May 2023, Xiamen Changsu Industrial Pte Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of BOPA (Biaxially Oriented PolyAmide) films, collaborated with TotalEnergies Corbion, a Netherlands-based producer of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA). This partnership aims to replace conventional fossil-based materials with BOPLA-based adhesive tapes developed from Changsu's BiONLY, particularly in China's postal sector.

In February 2024, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, an India-based sugar manufacturer, acquired a minority stake in Konkan Speciality Poly Products Private Limited for $0.735 million. This strategic decision is intended to strengthen Balrampur's market presence in the production of polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable and bio-based material that is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. Konkan Speciality Poly Products Private Limited is an Indian provider of polylactic acid (PLA).

Major companies operating in the polylactic acid market are NatureWorks LLC, Total Corbion PLA, Futerro SA, Jiangxi Keyuan Bio-Material Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Co. Ltd., Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Biomaterials Co. Ltd., Anhui BBCA Biochemical Co. Ltd., COFCO Group, Corbion N.V., Synbra Technology BV, Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Esun Industrial Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Jiuding New Material Co. Ltd., Nantong Jiuding Biological Engineering Co. Ltd., Toray Industries Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Radici Partecipazioni SpA, Danimer Scientific Inc., Chengdu Polyster Co. Ltd., Hainan Yisheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd.

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

The polylactic acid market consists of sales of polylactic acid that are of thermoforming grade, injection molding grade, extrusion grade, and blow molding grade. 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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