Top 10 Superabsorbent Polymers Companies Shaping the Future of Sustainable Materials

Amid globally rising population and escalating significance of eco-friendly products, a wave of innovation has touched the superabsorbent materials industry with several universities and research institutes setting pace for new and advanced methods to enhance product quality. Such initiatives are aimed at overcoming the shortcomings of traditionally used materials. According to the World Economic Forum, the incineration rate of baby nappies exceeds 300,000 nappies per minute. Such cases have heightened environmental concerns, resulting in an increase in endeavors focused on the development of sustainable products. An instance of the same is a Purdue univaersity research initiative underpinning the development of biodegradable materials that retain water in a sustainable and cleaner way by deploying cellulose extracted from hemp. 

Superabsorbent Polymers: Key Application Areas and a Competitive Brief

Superabsorbent polymers are deployed in products that are designed to contain fluids such as feminine hygiene products, incontinence products, and baby diapers. In aqueous liquids, these compounds can absorb up to 300 times their weight. Some of the key areas of application comprise medical, personal hygiene, and the agriculture sectors. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global market for superabsorbent polymers is poised to hit USD 10.46 billion by 2032 from USD 6.57 billion in 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.9% over 2025 to 2032. In 2024, the market value stood at USD 6.18 billion. 

Amid a globally soaring inclination toward sustainability and growing environmental concerns, leading companies are undertaking R&D endeavors to push the development of sustainable products. Partnerships, acquisitions, and investments toward the enhancement of production capacities are additional initiatives industry players are adopting to increase their footprint in the global market. 

Given below is a list of 10 prominent players and the steps they are forging to consolidate their market standing:

1. BASF SE: 

BASF SE, one of the leading chemical players and top superabsorbent polymers manufacturers, has an extensive portfolio of products that include oil and gas products, agricultural solutions, performance products, plastics, and chemicals. The company conducts its business via six segments, comprising nutrition & care, industrial solutions, materials, chemicals, agricultural solutions, and surface technologies. The Germany-based company is committed to sustainable development and caters to the requirements of numerous industries, including construction, automotive, and electronics. In 2023, the company generated a revenue of USD 78.7 billion and is keen to enhance its production capacity. In October 2024, the company made an investment of USD 19.2 million to expand its North America-based SAP (superabsorbent polymers) facility.

2. Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited: 

Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited is a manufacturer of chemical products. The application areas comprise agriculture, battery, cosmetic, IT electronics, daily necessities, automobile, ecological measurements, and medical and pharmaceutical items, among others. The company’s product portfolio comprises polymer products for pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, functional chemicals, and superabsorbent polymers for disposable diapers. In 2023, the company generated a revenue of USD 944.5 million.

3. NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO. LTD: 

NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD conducts its business via two segments, solutions and materials. The company has a wide portfolio that includes ethylene oxide, acrylic acid, and superabsorbent polymers that are deployed across environment and water treatment, energy storage, building & construction, daily use materials, life science, mobility, inks and coatings, electronics, oil & gas, and other industries. In 2023, the revenues of the company touched USD 2.58 billion. In April 2024, Nippon Shokubai shared plans for the expansion of its SAP manufacturing capacity with the construction of a 50,000 metric tons/year capacity in Indonesia.

4. SDP Global Co. Ltd: 

Sanyo Chemical Industries Limited’s subsidiary SDP Global Co., Ltd., is one of the top superabsorbent polymers manufacturers with products under the brand name ‘SANWET’. The company, with a rich portfolio of over 20 types of SAP products, deploys three core technologies, comprising particle shape control, precise polymerization, and surface modification, for its SANWET brand. 

5. Kao Corporation: 

Japanese multinational company Kao Corporation, with a robust presence in the consumer electronics sector, caters to the requirements of various industries, comprising chemicals, household products, healthcare products, and beauty care products. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability and exhibits continuous efforts aimed at developing production processes and environmentally friendly products. In 2023, the company generated a revenue of USD 10.9 billion. 

6. LG Chem: 

LG Chem, an LG Group affiliate, is a leading producer of different materials and chemicals deployed in numerous end-user industries. The company carries its business via three areas, comprising advanced materials, petrochemicals, and life sciences. LG Chem has a rich portfolio that includes battery separators, cathode materials, IT materials, engineering files, high-performance materials, life sciences, evolution, and sustainability. The 2023 revenue generation of the company stood at USD 42.6 billion and is keen to partner with other players to strengthen its industry position. For instance, in September 2019, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company) and LG Chem struck an agreement for the creation of bio-based acrylic acid. The chemical is fundamentally deployed in the production of superabsorbent polymers used in numerous hygiene products.

7. Formosa Plastics Corporation: 

One of the key subsidiaries of Formosa Plastics Group, Formosa Plastics Corporation, has an extensive portfolio that spans across electronics, biotech, plastics, petrochemicals, semiconductors, and other sectors. The company is one of the largest producers of SAP at the global level and began manufacturing in 1993 under the ‘Taisap’ brand at its Sing Kang plant. In addition, the company has two other production plants, NingBo and Mai Liao, and its total manufacturing capacity is 200,000 tons/year.

8. Satellite Chemical Co. Ltd: 

China-based Satellite Chemical Co., Ltd., has a portfolio that comprises hydrogen peroxide, acrylic acid and esters, C3 bulk chemicals, propylene, and polypropylene. The company provides products to enterprises across numerous industries such as electronic chips, new energy vehicles, aerospace, healthcare, and green infrastructure. It claims to be the first Chinese company having an integrated C3 industrial chain and deploying an ethane cracker. The company is also the first privately listed Chinese company to construct an esters and acrylic acid plant. 

9. Qingdao SOCO New Material Co. Ltd: 

Qingdao SOCO New Material Co., Ltd., is specialized in superabsorbent polymer development, production, and sale. The company’s products are popular for their non-toxic, non-polluting, biodegradable, sustainable, and safe products. Furthermore, it has a well-established network for product distribution given its presence in more than 100 countries and over five international warehouses. In addition, it has more 30 international certificates and has a rapid shipment system and an R&D lab. 

10. Quanzhou Banglida Technology Industry Co. Ltd: 

Quan Zhou Banglida Technology Industry Co., Ltd., deals in the sales and manufacturing of superabsorbent polymers with an annual production output of 20 kilotons. As claimed by the company, its products undergo rigorous tech evaluations for building robust business collaborations and quality adherence. 

What Lies in the Coming Years

In the years to come, a rise in geriatric and pediatric population across the globe is touted to create a soaring demand for hygiene products, spurring the consumption of superabsorbent polymers in the medical and consumer goods industries. The product demand is also likely to augment with the expansion of the global construction industry, where these polymers find application in waterproofing and concrete admixtures.