North America Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market Outlook, 2030

Since its initial use in the United States in the 1940s for boat construction, the market for unsaturated polyester resins UPR in North America has changed considerably. Originally employed for marine parts because of its corrosion resistance and low weight, UPR soon found widespread applications throughout industry. After WWII, as industries like the automobile, building, and electrical insulation sectors grew, they embraced UPR for its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. It became a popular material for roofing sheets, panels, and pipes in construction, while in the automobile industry, it replaced heavier metal components in order to increase fuel efficiency and lower vehicle weight.

The thermosetting property of UPR, which allows it to create composites with high strength and durability, is one of the main factors contributing to its supremacy. It is ideal for structural applications because it has dimensional stability and good adherence to fiberglass and other reinforcements when cured because there is an increasing need for strong but lightweight materials in the US market, notably in aerospace and infrastructure, this feature has been crucial. Recent North American research and development R&D has concentrated on employing nano-fillers such silica and clay to improve resin performance, as well as qualities like thermal resistance, stiffness, and barrier protection.

The demand for more sustainable, eco-friendly materials in industries like renewable energy and advanced mobility is the force behind these advancements. During its early stages, UPR struggled with issues like brittleness and poor heat tolerance, which restricted its use. American resin producers created modified resins such as orthophthalic, isophthalic, and DCPD-based versions to address these problems. Each of these resins is designed to meet particular needs for strength, corrosion resistance, and curing. Not only has this change diversified the product range, but it has also increased UPR's dependability and flexibility in meeting the high-performance requirements of North America's demanding industrial environment.

According to the research report, "North America Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market Outlook, 2030," the North America Unsaturated Polyester Resins market is anticipated to add to more than USD 690 Million by 2025-30. This expansion is driven by continuous advancements in resin formulations as well as rising demand in end-use sectors like the marine, automotive, and construction industries. The market has seen a major shift towards bio-based UPR formulations, which is largely due to growing pressure from regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA.

The EPA has pushed for sustainable chemical manufacturing and lower volatile organic compound VOC emissions, which has prompted manufacturers to embrace green chemistry practices and use renewable alternatives like bio-diols and recycled PET instead of petroleum-derived feedstocks. Leading industry companies like Reichhold and AOC have led the way in adapting to these regulatory shifts by making strategic investments in bio-resin research and development, capacity growth, and acquisitions. In order to satisfy the sustainability needs of both regulators and ecologically minded consumers, these firms have developed a range of environmentally friendly, low-styrene UPRs.

Their innovation has been essential in preserving a competitive advantage in the North American market. The increasing use of UPR in lightweight automotive components, which helps with fuel economy and meeting CAFE standards, as well as in infrastructure rehabilitation projects, such bridge overlays, and corrosion-resistant coatings are examples of emerging opportunities in the United States. These segments offer lucrative opportunities as government expenditure in infrastructure modernization rises.

Manufacturers adhere to certifications like ASTM standards and comply with REACH protocols for material safety and performance in order to ensure quality and regulatory alignment. These certifications assist in promoting customer trust, facilitating exports, and establishing a well-defined framework for the production and application of UPRs in high-performance, safety-critical industries throughout North America.

Market Drivers

• Infrastructure Upgrade:Due to their corrosion resistance and structural integrity, UPRs have seen increased demand as a result of the U.S. government's renewed emphasis on rehabilitating aging infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and water systems. Concrete reinforcements, bridge deck overlays, and tubing all employ UPRs because of their low weight and weather resistance, they are perfect for extended public works projects. The necessity for affordable, long-lasting substitutes for wood and metal increases this demand.
• Increase in the Production of Lightweight Automobiles:As rules governing fuel efficiency become stricter, manufacturers are utilizing composites for vehicle components. When reinforced with glass or carbon fiber, UPRs offer a lightweight but robust alternative to metals. Their inexpensive production costs, rapid curing time, and malleability make them perfect for mass-producing bumpers, panels, and hoods. This has made UPRs an essential component of the drive towards hybrid and electric cars.

Market Challenges

• Stringent Environmental Regulations VOC Emissions: The potential health and environmental hazards, styrene, a VOC found in many UPRs, is subject to strict regulations in North America. Meeting EPA and OSHA regulations raises the complexity and expense of manufacturing. Businesses must make investments in cleaner technology and pollution control systems, which may impede smaller producers. These regulatory restrictions may restrict the available formulation choices.
• Volatile Raw Material Prices:The production of UPR depends on inputs derived from petroleum chemistry, such maleic anhydride and styrene. Volatility in oil and gas prices immediately affects the price of resins, which in turn affects profit margins. Maintaining a reliable supply chain for raw materials has also been challenging, particularly since the COVID pandemic. This causes instability in pricing and production planning.

Market Trends

• Use of bio-based UPRs:As sustainability takes center stage, North American manufacturers are creating bio-based UPRs using renewable resources like soy-based diols and recycled PET. The goal of these resins is to lower carbon footprint while preserving mechanical qualities. Bio-UPRs are becoming more popular in sustainable buildings, environmentally friendly automobiles, and consumer products.
• Nano-Filler Integration for High Performance:To improve thermal stability, strength, and chemical resistance, advanced R&D is driving the inclusion of nano-fillers such as nanoclay and silica in UPR formulations. These improved resins are being used in demanding industries like aerospace, defense, and offshore energy. The trend indicates the market's shift toward application-specific, performance-driven UPR variations.

Its cost-effectiveness, versatility, and widespread application across numerous industries, including the building, maritime, and automobile sectors, orthophthalic resin dominates the unsaturated polyester resins market in North America.

It has a well-balanced combination of cost, mechanical performance, and chemical versatility, making it ideal for a wide variety of uses, orthophthalic resin is the most popular material in the North American unsaturated polyester resins UPR market. Due to their superior adhesion, impact resistance, and moderate chemical durability, orthophthalic UPRs, which were initially created for general applications, are now indispensable to industries like building, vehicle, and marine.

Due to its rapid cure and support for mass production, this resin is widely utilized in the building industry for the manufacture of pipes, panels, roofing sheets, and architectural façades. Due to their low weight and inexpensive tooling costs both of which are essential for improving fuel efficiency and cost management the automobile industry makes use of orthophthalic resins for non-structural components like hoods, bumpers, and door panels.

It is also employed by marine manufacturers in boat hulls and interior components because, when properly formulated, it has enough water resistance because of their compatibility with fiberglass reinforcement, orthophthalic resins are also preferred in North America, increasing their usefulness in fiberglass-reinforced plastics FRP, a material that is becoming more popular due to its strength-to-weight ratio because orthophthalic resin is simpler to handle and less expensive, the majority of the small to medium-sized composite manufacturers in the United States and Canada prefer it over specialized resins.

Regulatory organizations such as the EPA have begun promoting low-styrene and non-styrene formulations, which has led to innovation even within orthophthalmic alternatives, making them more environmentally friendly while still remaining economically viable. Ongoing research into enhancing resin curing kinetics, fire retardancy, and environmental resistance has enabled this kind of UPR to advance and maintain its competitiveness. Due to its mature supply chain, broad availability, and robust technical assistance from major market participants, orthophthalic resin is predicted to maintain its leadership in the North American UPR market for the foreseeable future.

Due to the material's widespread application in composite panels, roofing, pipes, and other infrastructure items that need durability and cost effectiveness, the construction and building industry dominates the North American market for unsaturated polyester resins UPR.

It’s ideal combination of strength, corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness, and ease of manufacture, unsaturated polyester resins UPRs are the primary end-use sector for the building and construction sector in North America. UPRs, especially orthophthalic and isophthalic varieties, are frequently used in the production of composite materials like fiberglass-reinforced panels, doors, cladding, septic tanks, and bathroom fixtures. These materials are ideal for outdoor uses and humid conditions since they are lightweight as well as weather-resistant and extremely robust.

Due to its improved chemical and abrasion resistance, polymer concrete, which is increasingly taking the place of traditional concrete in underground building and drainage systems, is also made using UPRs. Due to a consistent need for residential, commercial, and infrastructure development, the U.S. construction industry has generated significant demand for innovative composite materials. UPRs are an alluring alternative to metals and wood, particularly in buildings that need corrosion resistance, such as bridges, cooling towers, and chemical storage tanks, since they prioritize sustainable and high-performance building solutions.

The usage of UPR composites, which maintain structural integrity in severe conditions, is further supported by the harsh climates of North America, which range from frigid winters to humid summers. The simplicity with which UPRs can be molded into intricate forms also makes them perfect for factory-made architectural components, which facilitates faster and more affordable building methods. With the region progressing into green building certifications like LEED, low-VOC UPRs and bio-based resin alternatives are becoming more popular.

The use of FRP fiber-reinforced polymer materials made from UPR is also being promoted by government-funded infrastructure improvements throughout the United States and Canada. Given these considerations and the growing interest in smart construction materials, the building and construction industry continues to be the cornerstone of the North American UPR market, driving both volume demand and innovation-driven expansion.

It is more adaptable for molding, simpler to mix with reinforcements, and less expensive to transport and use in large-scale industries, liquid form is the dominant and fastest-growing form in the North America unsaturated polyester resins UPR market.

The majority of the market for unsaturated polyester resins UPR in North America is dominated by the liquid form because of its processing versatility, effective use in composites, and suitability for a wide range of businesses. Liquid UPRs are often pre-accelerated and may be readily mixed with fillers, colors, and glass fibers to create reinforced plastics for use in industries like the automobile, marine, construction, and electrical. One of the major benefits of liquid UPRs is their capacity to cure at room temperature, which allows manufacturers to save money by not having to use expensive curing ovens or autoclaves, resulting in a more energy-efficient and cost-effective manufacturing process.

Liquid resin's versatility also allows for accuracy in the molding of complicated shapes, making it extremely useful in manufacturing techniques such hand lay-up, spray-up, and resin transfer molding RTM because of the region's emphasis on high-performance composite structures that are also lightweight and cost-effective, these processes are widely used in North American factories. Liquid UPRs offer a smooth production pathway for a wide range of applications, from fiberglass bathtubs and shower stalls in homes to wind turbine components and automobile body panels. Furthermore, because the liquid form may be pumped and dispensed with little equipment, it is simpler to store and transport than solid resins.

This aids producers in maintaining a lean supply chain and increasing output. New advances in research and development have resulted in low-VOC and low-styrene liquid resins that comply with the environmental and safety requirements set by U.S. agencies such the EPA and OSHA. Liquid UPRs have established themselves as the material of choice in industries throughout North America due to their numerous benefits in processing, customization, and regulatory compliance. The increasing usage of liquid form in sustainable and high-strength composite applications further solidifies its position as the largest and fastest-growing sector in the regional UPR market.

The United States is the leader in the North American unsaturated polyester resins UPR market because of its robust manufacturing base, cutting-edge research in composite materials, and high demand from industries that use them, such as the automobile and construction industries.

Due to a mature end-user landscape, government infrastructure projects, and a thriving industrial ecosystem, the United States holds the majority of the North American market for unsaturated polyester resins UPR. The seamless integration of UPRs into applications spanning transportation to building is made possible by the nation's vast network of resin manufacturers, composite fabricators, and end-use industries. The sophisticated manufacturing infrastructure in the United States, which includes high-capacity composite facilities, precise mold tooling systems, and automated production lines, is a major reason for this leadership.

These resources facilitate the high-volume, steady production of UPR-based goods utilized in a variety of industries. Furthermore, in order to enhance thermal resistance, chemical resistance, impact strength, and other characteristics of UPR that are especially important in transportation, aerospace, and marine applications, U.S. institutions and private firms make significant investments in research and development. Due to their corrosion resistance and durability, fiber-reinforced UPR composites have seen increased demand in automotive structural parts as a result of the rising trend towards lighter and more fuel-efficient automobiles.

Concurrently, federal funding for urban renewal and smart infrastructure has promoted the usage of UPRs in bridges, pipelines, tanks, and cladding materials. Moreover, strict adherence to quality standards, enforced by organizations like ASTM, EPA, and UL, ensures product reliability, promoting greater acceptance across sectors. The U.S. is the leader in both manufacturing capacity and technical competence thanks to its strong supply chains and technical support networks, which have been established by American businesses like AOC, Interplastic Corporation, and Polynt-Reichhold.

With a well-regulated logistics and raw material supply chain that allows for just-in-time resin delivery to manufacturing centers across the country, the United States also gains. The U.S. continues to lead the UPR market in North America, establishing the standard for regional development and global competitiveness, thanks to ongoing technological innovation, proactive environmental compliance, and robust end-market demand.

Considered in this report

• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report

• Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type

• Orthophthalic Resin
• Isophthalic Resin
• Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) Resin
• Others (Terephthalic-Based UPRs, Vinyl Ester-Modified UPRs, Halogenated UPRs, Bio-Based UPRs)

By End-use

• Building & Construction
• Tanks & Pipes
• Electrical
• Marine
• Transport
• Artificial Stones
• Others

By Form

• Liquid Form
• Powder Form

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.