| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 24.80 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 34.95 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 7.10 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Hydrogel Market Analysis
The Hydrogel Market size is estimated at USD 24.80 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 34.95 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The COVID-19 pandemic harmed the hydrogel sector. Global lockdowns and severe rules enforced by governments resulted in a catastrophic setback as most production hubs were shut down. Nonetheless, the business has been recovering since 2021 and is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
- Over the short term, the increasing application of hydrogel in the healthcare industry and the surge in adoption in the agriculture industry are expected to drive the market's growth.
- However, the high production cost of hydrogel is expected to hinder the market's growth.
- The emergence of a new application area for hydrogel and rising awareness and adoption of hydrogel in the biomedical and personal care sector will act as an opportunity for the market studied.
- The Asia-Pacific region dominated the global hydrogel market with a significant share, and it is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.
Hydrogel Market Trends
Personal Care and Hygiene Segment to Dominate the Market
- Hydrogel is suitable for hygiene products due to its soft and tissue-like physical properties, superior water absorption, good oxygen permeability, superior biocompatibility, and micro-porous structure for additional transport channels.
- Hygiene products aim to make thinner pads with higher absorbency under load, increased swelling pressure, and increased suction power. Hence, the hydrogel is the most suitable option due to its properties.
- Several government organizations, such as the World Health Organization, World Bank Group, and UNICEF, are raising awareness about the importance of hygiene, especially menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for women and adolescent girls.
- The World Bank Group initiated a flagship sanitation operation under the Swachh Bharath Mission in India. This operation aims to increase awareness among the community, including boys and men, to break the taboo around menstruation.
- Further, the personal care industry is also expected to observe a surge in the number of young and independent brands, as e-commerce sales are surging and providing stiff competition to some of the major companies in the personal care industry, including Procter & Gamble, Revlon Inc. Oriflame Cosmetics Global SA, The Avon Company, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., and Unilever.
- The market for personal care products is dominated by a few key players, such as L'Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Shiseido Co., Ltd. L'Oréal has the highest cosmetics and personal care sales among the companies, and the company generated sales of around USD 41.95 billion in 2022.
- According to Cosmetic Europe, the personal care association, Europe's 500 million consumers use cosmetic and personal care products every day to protect their health, enhance their well-being and boost their self-esteem. Ranging from antiperspirants, fragrances, make-up, shampoos, soaps, and sunscreens, to many others.
- Oberlo stated that, in the United States, the personal care industry grew by 2.95% in 2022, and this growth is expected to outpace in 2023 to reach USD 42.2 billion. This is expected to stimulate the demand for the hydrogel market in the country.
- Owing to all these factors, the personal care and hygiene products in the world may drive the demand for hydrogel during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market
- The Asia-Pacific region dominated the global market share due to the growing personal care and hygiene, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare sectors in countries such as China, India, and Japan.
- The pharmaceutical industry in China was anticipated to grow by about 17% year-on-year in 2022 stated by ECHEMI. Digestive and metabolic drugs account for around 14% of the total pharmaceutical market of the country.
- The growing middle-class and aging population in China, rising incomes, and increasing urbanization drive pharmaceutical sales in the country. According to CEIC Data, the pharmaceutical sales revenue in China in June 2022 accounted for USD 223,946 million, up compared to USD 146,041 million in April 2022. The country has a large and diverse domestic drug industry, comprising around 5,000 manufacturers and many small or medium-sized companies.
- In the global pharmaceuticals sector, India is a prominent and expanding player. According to PIB India, India is one of the world's major suppliers of generic medicines, accounting for 20% of the global supply by volume. Indian drugs are exported to more than 200 countries, with the United States being the key market.
- According to the Director General of the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), India exported INR 1,75,040 crore (USD 24.62 billion) worth of pharmaceutical products, including bulk drugs/drug intermediates, in FY2021-22. Furthermore, India's pharmaceutical exports increased by 4.22% from April to October 2022, reaching USD 14.57 billion. The exports were valued at USD 13.98 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal.
- Further, according to Indian Brand Equity Foundation, by 2030, the Indian Pharma industry is expected to reach USD 130 billion. In contrast, global pharmaceutical production's revenue is forecasted to reach nearly USD 1 trillion by the end of 2023.
- Therefore, the abovementioned factors are expected to increase the demand for hydrogel in the coming years.
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Hydrogel Industry Overview
The hydrogel market is fragmented, with a few players holding a considerable share in the market. Some of the market's key players (not in any particular order) include 3M, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Cardinal Health, CooperVision, and Smith & Nephew.
Hydrogel Market Leaders
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3M
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Cardinal Health
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CooperVision
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Smith & Nephew
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Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Hydrogel Market News
- March 2022: CooperVision announced that it offered more options to the eye care professional by providing plastic neutral silicone hydrogel 1-day contact lenses in the United States. It helped the company to expand its leadership in reducing environmental impact.
Hydrogel Industry Segmentation
Hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymers that can retain large amounts of water. It can be derived from synthetic or natural polymers. Hydrogels are responsive to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, etc., and can change their function and structure according to the external environment. The hydrogel market is segmented by structure, material, end-user industry, and geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle-East, and Africa). The market is segmented by structure into amorphous, semi-crystalline, and crystalline. The market is segmented into polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, silicone, and other materials. The market is segmented into personal care and hygiene, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food, agriculture, and other end-user industries by end-user industry. The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the hydrogel market in 15 countries across major regions. The market sizing and forecasts have been done for each segment based on revenue (USD).
| Structure | Amorphous | ||
| Semi-crystalline | |||
| Crystalline | |||
| Material | Polyacrylate | ||
| Polyacrylamide | |||
| Silicone | |||
| Other Materials (Agar, Gelatin, PVP, and PEG) | |||
| End-user Industry | Personal Care and Hygiene | ||
| Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare | |||
| Food | |||
| Agriculture | |||
| Other End-user Industries (Forensics and Research) | |||
| Geography | Asia-Pacific | China | |
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South korea | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| North America | United States | ||
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| Italy | |||
| France | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| South America | Brazil | ||
| Argentina | |||
| Rest of South America | |||
| Middle-East and Africa | Saudi Arabia | ||
| South Africa | |||
| Rest of Middle-East and Africa | |||
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Hydrogel Market Research FAQs
How big is the Hydrogel Market?
The Hydrogel Market size is expected to reach USD 24.80 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 7.10% to reach USD 34.95 billion by 2030.
What is the current Hydrogel Market size?
In 2025, the Hydrogel Market size is expected to reach USD 24.80 billion.
Who are the key players in Hydrogel Market?
3M, Cardinal Health, CooperVision, Smith & Nephew and Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. are the major companies operating in the Hydrogel Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Hydrogel Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Hydrogel Market?
In 2025, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Hydrogel Market.
What years does this Hydrogel Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Hydrogel Market size was estimated at USD 23.04 billion. The report covers the Hydrogel Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Hydrogel Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Hydrogel Industry Report
The global hydrogel market is analyzed comprehensively in this industry report, offering a detailed market overview. The report segments the hydrogel market by structure, material, end-user industry, and geography, providing a thorough industry analysis. Key segments include amorphous, semi-crystalline, and crystalline structures, with materials such as polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, and silicone. The end-user industries covered are personal care and hygiene, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, food, agriculture, among others.
This market report provides insights into the market size and forecasts for hydrogel, with a focus on market growth and market trends. The report includes a market forecast outlook, highlighting the expected market growth and market value over the forecast period. Additionally, the report covers market segmentation and market share, offering a detailed industry overview.
Industry research and industry statistics are presented, giving a clear picture of the market leaders and their market share. The report also includes industry sales and industry size data, providing a comprehensive view of the market dynamics. Market predictions and market review sections offer insights into future trends and market outlook.
The industry reports also feature a report example and a free report PDF download, providing valuable industry information. The report's industry outlook and market overview sections offer a summary of the current market scenario, while the market data and market forecast sections provide detailed analysis and projections.
In conclusion, this report is a valuable resource for research companies and stakeholders looking to understand the global hydrogel market. The report's thorough industry analysis and detailed market segmentation make it a crucial tool for strategic planning and market research.
