Film Formers Market Report 2026

The film formers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.77 billion in 2025 to $1.87 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of cosmetics industry, expansion of paint formulations, demand for protective coatings, availability of polymer technologies, rising healthcare applications.

The film formers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.31 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth of premium personal care products, increasing medical device usage, demand for eco friendly film formers, innovation in polymer chemistry, expansion of functional coatings. Major trends in the forecast period include rising use in personal care formulations, growing demand for long lasting coatings, expansion of medical equipment applications, increasing adoption of synthetic polymers, focus on flexible and durable films.

The increasing demand for personal care is expected to drive the growth of the film formers market going forward. Personal care encompasses products and practices aimed at hygiene, grooming, skincare, and overall body care to maintain health and appearance. Rising awareness of personal hygiene, skincare, and grooming is fueling demand, as consumers seek to protect against damage, prevent premature aging, and maintain a healthy appearance. Film formers contribute to personal care products by forming a protective, flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails, enhancing durability, moisture retention, and overall product performance. For instance, in December 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average consumer expenditure on personal care products increased by 9.7 percent in 2023 compared with 2022. Therefore, the growing demand for personal care is driving the growth of the film formers market.

Companies in the film formers market are working on developing advanced polymer formulations, such as water-resistant products, to improve durability, adhesion, and the longevity of products in various applications. Water-resistant materials are designed to repel water, preventing moisture absorption and degradation, thus enhancing durability and performance. These products are particularly useful in applications such as cosmetics, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. For instance, in April 2024, Roquette Frères S.A., a France-based chemical manufacturing company, introduced beauté by Roquette ST 730, a pea-based biodegradable film former at in-cosmetics Global 2024. This product meets the demand for sustainable cosmetics and offers higher water resistance than synthetic film formers such as PVP and pullulan. It also provides a visible lifting effect in skincare and eye care and has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, making it ideal for long-lasting makeup applications.

In April 2024, Clariant AG, a Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company, acquired Lucas Meyer Cosmetics for $810 million. The acquisition strengthens Clariant's portfolio in natural and sustainable cosmetic ingredients, fostering innovation and growth in the personal care sector. Lucas Meyer Cosmetics S.A.S., a Canada-based manufacturer, specializes in providing active ingredients, functional ingredients, and delivery systems for personal care products.

Major companies operating in the film formers market are BASF SE, Dow Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Solvay S.A., Akzo Nobel N.V., Eastman Chemical Company, DSM-Firmenich AG, INOLEX Inc., Lubrizol Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, Kuraray Co. Ltd., Roquette Frères S.A., Clariant AG, Croda International Plc, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Innospec Inc., Sensient Technologies Corporation, 3V Sigma S.p.A.

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

The film formers market consists of sales of paints, coatings, cosmetics, adhesives, and sealants. 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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