Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Market Volume (2024) | 2.13 Million tons |
| Market Volume (2029) | 2.54 Million tons |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | > 3.50 % |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Market Analysis
The Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size is estimated at 2.13 Million tons in 2024, and is expected to reach 2.54 Million tons by 2029, growing at a CAGR of greater than 3.5% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
- In the medium term, increasing demand from the food packaging and construction sectors is expected to drive the growth of the EPS market.
- However, stringent government regulations and green alternatives are expected to hinder the market's growth.
- Recycling in the expanded polystyrene industry is likely to act as an opportunity during the forecast period.
Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Market Trends
The Building and Construction Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Expanded polystyrene, owing to its properties like low weight, durability, thermal efficiency, shock absorption, moisture resistance, usability, etc., is used in the building and construction sector. It is used in making roofs, walls, floor insulation, closed cavity walls, road construction, etc.
- EPS is an inert material that does not rot and provides no nutritional benefits to vermin. Therefore, it does not attract pests, such as rats or termites. Its strength, durability, and lightweight nature make it a versatile and popular building product.
- It is used in insulated panel systems for both residential and commercial building fronts, as well as walls, roofs, and floors. Moreover, it is utilized as a lightweight fill in the construction of roads and railways, as a void-forming fill material in civil engineering projects, and as a floatation material in the construction of marinas and pontoons.
- As per the Eumeps, approximately 75% of the EPS produced in Europe is used in the construction sector. Houses are renovated using EPS as insulation to improve their energy efficiency.
- As per the Eurostat, the annual average production in construction for the year 2023, compared with 2022, increased by 0.2% in Europe and by 0.1% in the European Union. The highest annual increases in construction production were recorded in Romania (+30.7%), Poland (+18.9%), and Belgium (+10.7%). The largest decreases were observed in Slovakia (-10.4%), Austria (-8.7%) and Sweden (-6.1%). Moreover, in 2022, Europe's construction sector grew by 2.5% because of new investments from the EU Recovery Fund. As per the European Commission and Eurostat, the biggest concern in the European Union’s construction sector (EU-27) was the shortage of labor.
- According to Euroconstruct, the volume of residential renovation in Europe was projected at EUR 456.8 billion in 2023. In 2019, the value stood at EUR 448.5 billion.
- Moreover, overall investment in non-residential construction has increased significantly in recent times and is likely to continue over the study period, which will influence the product demand.
- Therefore, the European EPS market is expected to flourish over the forecast period.
Germany is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Germany has the most significant construction industry in Europe. The construction industry in the country has been growing at a slow pace, majorly driven by increasing new residential construction activities. It is one of the leading markets for expanded polystyrene owing to high demand from the building and construction sector. Expanded polystyrene finds applications in this industry due to its shape formation properties, easy molding, and other versatile benefits.
- In recent years, Germany witnessed a rising demand for expanded polystyrene use in green building design applications owing to its excellent environmental advantages, enhanced durability, maximized energy efficiency, and improved indoor environment.
- As per the stats released by Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), the Federal Government has set the goal of constructing 400,000 new dwellings in Germany every year. In March 2023, the construction of 24,500 dwellings was permitted in Germany.
- Germany granted permission for 24,500 homes to be built in March 2023. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this represents a drop in building permits of 10,300, or 29.6%, from March 2022. A total of 68,700 residential building licenses were issued from January to March 2023, a decrease of 25.7% from the same period in the previous year (January to March 2022: 92,500 building permits). The drop in construction projects is most likely being caused by the high cost of building materials and the worsening financial situation.
- The construction of hotels in Germany is also expected to witness a sharp rise during the forecast period. As of 2021, a total of 360 new hotels with 56.565 rooms had been in the pipeline. The year 2022 was projected to witness the launch of 89 new hotels and 15,780 rooms. 78 more projects with 13,073 keys were mooted for 2023. The pipeline of hotels is anticipated to stay strong for 2024 and beyond, with 153 projects and 22,769 rooms already in the works.
- The German government initiated the construction of the Digital Park Fechenheim on a 10.7-ha area, with a gross floor area of 100,000 sq. m in Frankfurt-Fechenheim, Hesse, Germany, with an investment of USD 1,179 million. The construction work started in Q3 2021 and is expected to be completed by Q4 2028.
- In the third quarter of 2021, the country started the construction of the Central Hospital in Lörrach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, with an investment of USD 418 million. It is expected to be completed by 2025. The project aims to build a center for mental health and a medical department store with a parking garage.
- According to the Federal Statistical Office, Germany's GDP from construction declined from 62.01 EUR billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 51.61 EUR billion in the first quarter of 2023.
- Additionally, in Germany, packaging solutions are progressively being used for customized products and developing innovation. Therefore, there has been increased adoption of EPS in the nation, aiding the German expanded polystyrene market to grow further in the coming years. Smaller pack sizes are in demand across the county in the packaged food and personal care sectors. As per the data published by Statistisches Bundesamt, the revenue of the packaging industry in Germany in 2022 accounted for EUR 35.04 billion compared to EUR 29.59 billion in 2021.
- The key companies operating in the German EPS market are focusing on developing and launching innovative products that will further support the market's growth. For instance, in March 2022, BASF expanded its graphitic expandable polystyrene (EPS) granulate portfolio. Neopor F5 Mcycled contains 10% recycled material and is suitable for numerous building applications, particularly facade insulation. The new raw material is produced using the extrusion process and offers the same proven mechanical properties and optimized insulation performance as Neopor F 5200 Plus.
- The aforementioned trends are likely to influence the overall consumption of EPS in Germany during the forecast period.
Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Industry Overview
The European expanded polystyrene market is partially concentrated, with the top five players accounting for a considerable share of the production capacity in Europe. The five key players in the market (in no particular order) are Synthos Group, BASF SE, Ravago, SUNPOR, and BEWiSynbra Group.
Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Market Leaders
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BASF SE
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Ravago
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SUNPOR
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BEWiSynbra Group
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Synthos
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Market News
- September 2023: BEWI made a significant announcement regarding its long-term strategic collaboration with the Karl Bachl Group for the supply of EPS (expanded polystyrene) raw materials, including recycled EPS. This partnership marks a significant development for both companies, signifying a shared commitment to sustainability and the pursuit of a circular economy.
- November 2022: BEWI completed the acquisition of EPS producer Jackon. The acquisition was previously expected to conclude by the end of the third quarter of 2022, following the completion of divestments. EPS is a rigid form of polystyrene (PS) used in insulation foams for the construction industry as well as for packaging.
- September 2022: Sundolitt Ltd, the UK division of Sunde AS, acquired FoamExtra Ltd, based in Glasgow. Sunde AS is one of the leading European manufacturers in the production and conversion of EPS and XPS-based products.
Expanded Polystyrene Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Assumptions
1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 Drivers
4.1.1 Increasing Demand From the Building and Construction Industry
4.1.2 Growing Demand From Food Packaging Industry
4.2 Restraints
4.2.1 Government Regulations
4.2.2 Alternative Materials For Expanded Polystyrene
4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services
4.4.5 Degree of Competition
4.5 Import-Export Trends
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size in Volume)
5.1 Product Type
5.1.1 White EPS
5.1.2 Grey and Silver EPS
5.2 End-user Industry
5.2.1 Packaging
5.2.2 Building and Construction
5.2.3 Other End-user Industries
5.3 Geography
5.3.1 Germany
5.3.2 United Kingdom
5.3.3 Italy
5.3.4 France
5.3.5 Spain
5.3.6 Norway
5.3.7 Sweden
5.3.8 Denmark
5.3.9 Finland
5.3.10 Rest of Europe
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
6.2 Market Ranking Analysis
6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
6.4 Company Profiles
6.4.1 Alpek SAB de CV
6.4.2 BASF SE
6.4.3 BEWiSynbra Group
6.4.4 Epsilyte LLC
6.4.5 KANEKA Belgium NV
6.4.6 Ravago
6.4.7 SABIC
6.4.8 SIBUR International GmbH
6.4.9 Sundolitt Ltd
6.4.10 SUNPOR
6.4.11 Synthos Group
6.4.12 Unipol Holland BV
6.4.13 Versalis SpA
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
7.1 Growing Emphasis on Expanded Polystyrene Recycling
Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Industry Segmentation
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a foam plastic material produced from solid beads of polystyrene. It is primarily used for packaging, insulation, etc. Due to its lightweight properties, durability, thermal efficiency, shock absorption, moisture resistance, and ease of use, expanded polystyrene is used significantly in the building and construction sector.
The market is segmented by product type, end-user industry, and geography. By product type, the market is segmented into white EPS and grey and silver EPS. By end-user industry, the market is segmented into packaging, building and construction, and other end-user industries. The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the European EPS market in nine countries across the region. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of volume (kiloton).
| Product Type | |
| White EPS | |
| Grey and Silver EPS |
| End-user Industry | |
| Packaging | |
| Building and Construction | |
| Other End-user Industries |
| Geography | |
| Germany | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Italy | |
| France | |
| Spain | |
| Norway | |
| Sweden | |
| Denmark | |
| Finland | |
| Rest of Europe |
Expanded Polystyrene Market Research FAQs
How big is the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market?
The Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size is expected to reach 2.13 million tons in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of greater than 3.5% to reach 2.54 million tons by 2029.
What is the current Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size?
In 2024, the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size is expected to reach 2.13 million tons.
Who are the key players in Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market?
BASF SE, Ravago, SUNPOR, BEWiSynbra Group and Synthos are the major companies operating in the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market.
What years does this Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size was estimated at 2.06 million tons. The report covers the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Europe Expanded Polystyrene Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What are the future prospects of the Europe EPS Market?
The future prospects of the Europe EPS Market are a) Increasing demand for sustainable packaging materials and energy-efficient building solutions b) Development of bio-based and recyclable EPS materials to address environmental concerns
EPS Industry Report
The Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) market is a dynamic and growing sector within the European plastics industry, driven by the rising demand for EPS in packaging applications, particularly in the food and beverage industry. The construction sector is another major consumer of EPS, where it is widely used for insulation purposes, contributing to energy efficiency in buildings. The market is characterized by intense competition among key players, leading to product innovation and technological advancements. The Europe Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) market is expected to witness steady growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable packaging materials, energy-efficient building solutions, and lightweight automotive components. Polystyrene Market in Europe offers numerous opportunities for innovation and expansion, particularly in the development of sustainable and recyclable EPS materials, technological advancements, and strategic partnerships. Statistics for the EPS market share, size, and revenue growth rate are available in the Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. The EPS analysis includes a market forecast outlook and a historical overview. You can get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
