Crosslinking Agent Market Report 2025

The crosslinking agent market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $8.06 billion in 2024 to $8.67 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising preference for durable consumer goods, increased consumption of marine coatings, growing use of wood coatings and finishes, higher demand from textile finishing industries, and the increasing popularity of protective coatings.

The crosslinking agent market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $11.43 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth projected for the forecast period can be attributed to increased usage of packaging materials, rising consumption of marine coatings, growing demand from the oil and gas industry, heightened focus on durable protective coatings, and expanding demand for furniture and wood finishes. Key trends during this period include the development of smart polymers, integration of click chemistry, incorporation of electrospun nanofibers, formation of hybrid organic-inorganic networks, and the emergence of 3D printing-compatible resins.

The increasing automotive production is expected to drive growth in the crosslinking agent market. Automotive production encompasses the entire process of manufacturing motor vehicles, including the design, assembly, and testing of components such as engines, chassis, body parts, electronics, and interiors. This production rise is primarily fueled by growing global vehicle demand due to economic growth and urbanization, which enhance consumer purchasing power and the need for personal transportation. Crosslinking agents play a crucial role in automotive manufacturing by improving the durability, chemical resistance, and heat resistance of coatings, adhesives, and composite materials, resulting in stronger, longer-lasting, and more fuel-efficient vehicles. For example, in 2023, the France-based international association of automobile manufacturers, Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), reported that global automotive production reached 84.83 million units in 2022, up significantly from 80 million units in 2021. Hence, the rising automotive production is propelling the growth of the crosslinking agent market.

Key companies in the crosslinking agent market are advancing polyamide-based technology to improve flexibility, mechanical strength, environmental safety, and curing efficiency in epoxy systems, particularly for demanding applications such as civil engineering and industrial flooring. Polyamide-based technology utilizes polyamide materials in products such as epoxy curing agents to enhance flexibility, strength, and chemical resistance. For instance, in September 2024, Germany-based Evonik Industries AG introduced Ancamide 2853 and Ancamide 2865, two new polyamide-based, nonylphenol-free epoxy curing agents. These act as polyamide crosslinking agents designed to cure standard diluted epoxy resins without needing additional polyurethane modifiers. They offer high flexibility, mechanical strength, rapid curing, and up to 40% bio-based content, making them ideal for civil engineering and flooring applications. This development aims to improve sustainability, safety, and performance by providing eco-friendly, fast-curing, and highly flexible polyamide-based curing agents tailored for challenging uses.

In February 2022, US-based petrochemical company Westlake Chemical Corporation acquired the epoxy-based coatings and composite businesses from Hexion Holdings Corporation for $1.2 billion. This acquisition expanded Westlake’s specialty materials portfolio by integrating Hexion’s epoxy resins business, strengthening its position in coatings, composites, and construction markets. Hexion Inc., also US-based, specializes in thermoset resins and related technologies, including crosslinking (curing) agents used in coatings, adhesives, composites, and other applications.

Major players in the crosslinking agent market are BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Toray Industries Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Covestro AG, INEOS Group Holdings S.A., Arkema S.A., LANXESS AG, Huntsman Corporation, DIC Corporation, H.B. Fuller Company, Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, Allnex Holdings S.à r.l., Ashland LLC, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Perstorp Holding AB, Hexion Inc.

North America was the largest region in the crosslinking agents market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in crosslinking agent report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the crosslinking agent market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s recommendations and conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The intensifying U.S. tariffs and escalating trade tensions in spring 2025 are expected to have a significant impact on the chemicals sector, which is bearing a disproportionate burden, particularly from tariffs on petrochemicals and intermediates, where affordable domestic substitutes are often unavailable. Producers of specialty chemicals, heavily dependent on Chinese raw materials, are experiencing production disruptions. At the same time, fertilizer manufacturers are seeing profit margins eroded due to tariffs on phosphate imports. In response, companies are ramping up R&D into bio-based alternatives, forming procurement alliances to consolidate buying power, and shifting production to tariff-neutral nations such as Saudi Arabia.

A crosslinking agent is a chemical substance used to link two or more polymer chains by forming covalent bonds between them. These agents are widely applied in rubber vulcanization, hydrogels, adhesives, coatings, and biomedical materials. Depending on the targeted properties and applications, crosslinking can be performed through chemical, thermal, or radiation-induced methods.

The primary types of crosslinking agents include epoxy crosslinkers, amine crosslinkers, peroxide crosslinkers, isocyanate crosslinkers, and silane crosslinkers. Epoxy crosslinkers react with epoxy resins to create a three-dimensional, hardened polymer network, improving the strength, chemical resistance, and durability of the final material. They involve various chemistries such as amine, amino, amide, aziridine, carbodiimide, isocyanate, and others. These agents find applications in decorative and industrial coatings. Key end-use industries include automotive, construction, packaging, electronics, and medical sectors.

The crosslinking agent market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides crosslinking agent market statistics, including the crosslinking agent industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the crosslinking agent market share, detailed crosslinking agent market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the crosslinking agent industry. This crosslinking agent market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The crosslinking agent market consists of sales of peroxides, sulfur, isocyanates, aziridines, and carbodiimides. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.