Market Insights
The hollow microspheres market was estimated at USD 2.75 billion in 2020 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during 2021-2026 to reach USD 4.13 billion in 2026.

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Market Dynamics
Introduction
Hollow microspheres are low-density, lightweight fillers that add volume without significantly adding weight. Benefits offered by these microspheres include weight reduction, viscosity reduction, cost-saving through lower resin consumption, enhanced mold flow, improved resistance, and more.
COVID-19 Impact
However, the rapid spread of the pandemic exacerbated the existing challenges of key demand generators, including automotive and construction, weakening the industry sales to its lowest figure of the decade. Global automotive production declined by ~22% in 2020 amid the pandemic. Analogously, major aircraft manufacturers, such as Airbus, have curtailed the production rates of their key programs.
Based on the study of market recoveries in previous downturns (The Great Recession, SARS, etc.) coupled with primary interviews across the supply chain, Stratview estimates suggest that the market for hollow microspheres will maintain sequential growth till 2026.

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Market Drivers
Hollow microspheres are widely used for a variety of applications with each of them suitable for the application. For instance, with increasing demand for lightweight materials to curb emissions from the automotive industry, hollow microspheres are widely used by the automotive industry.
Hollow glass microspheres and expanded polymer microspheres are also used in paints & coatings and plastics & rubber applications, whereas foam glass granulates, cenosphere and perlite microspheres are more used in construction material applications.
The regulation to reduce volatile organic compounds in paints & coatings, and the rising demand for energy-efficient buildings were the major factors that helped hollow microspheres to grow at a healthy pace till 2019. The market was expected to continue its remarkable growth in 2020.
Hollow microspheres have witnessed a remarkable journey with their increasing adoption into various end-use industries to leverage weight reduction benefits. Owing to this, hollow microspheres dominated the overall microsphere market in 2020.
Segments Analysis
Segmentations
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List of Sub-Segments
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Segments with High Growth Opportunity
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Material Type Analysis
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Hollow Glass Microsphere, Foam Glass Granulates, Cenosphere, Perlite Microsphere, and Expanded Polymer Microsphere
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The hollow glass microsphere is likely to remain the most preferred microsphere type in the market in the coming years.
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Application Type Analysis
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Plastics & Rubber, Paint & Coatings, Construction Materials, and Others
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Plastics and rubber are likely to remain the most dominant application segment, in terms of value, in the hollow microspheres market during the forecast period.
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Regional Analysis
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North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World
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Europe, currently holding the leading position, will manage its lead in the global market by 2026, propelled by Germany. Whereas Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period with China and India being the key sources of growth engines.
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By Material Type
Based on the material type, the market is segmented as hollow glass microsphere, foam glass granulates, cenosphere, perlite microsphere, and expanded polymer microsphere. The hollow glass microsphere is likely to remain the most preferred microsphere type in the market in the coming years. Hollow glass microspheres are increasingly finding usage in plastics and rubber applications such as SMCs, injection-molded parts, packaging films, and wood composites. Similarly in paints and coatings, such as acrylic and industrial latex paints, solar reflective coatings, and epoxy coatings; in construction materials, such as engineered wood, kitchen sinks, putties, caulks and sealants, washbasins and bathtubs, wall, sealing, gaps, cracks, interior and exterior use on walls, lightweight cement slurries and other applications such as agriculture, buoyancy modules, and risers, deep-sea pipe, and flowline insulation.
Expanded polymer microsphere, currently holding a diminutive position as compared to hollow glass microspheres, is estimated to capture some share of other hollow microspheres, especially of hollow glass microspheres in the coming years. Expanded polymer microspheres usually expand about 60 times their original size without the addition of weight. Furthermore, the density of the expanded polymer microsphere is relatively lower than the hollow glass microsphere. Expanded polymer microspheres are gaining traction in paints and coatings, plastics and rubbers, and construction materials, such as crack fillers, polyester putties, and cultured marble.
By Application Type
Based on the application type, the market is classified as plastics and rubber, paint and coatings, construction materials, and others. Plastics and rubber are likely to remain the most dominant application segment, in terms of value, in the hollow microspheres market during the forecast period. Plastics have been replacing metals for years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Now research is focused on low-density plastics that are lighter in weight without compromising performance. Contrary to the traditional fillers (talc, calcium carbonate, and clay with a specific density of 2.5 to 2.8 g/cm3), hollow microspheres with a specific density of less than 0.6 g/cm3 help in 10-30% plastic parts’ weight reduction. Hollow microspheres also improve productivity by reducing energy consumption, cost, and cycle time (by 25%).

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Regional Insights
In terms of regions, all regions are expected to mark a huge decline in 2020 in the wake of the rapid spread of the pandemic across regions. However, Europe, currently holding the leading position, will manage its lead in the global market by 2026, propelled by Germany. Increased demand for hollow microspheres in fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient homes in the region are the major factors behind the dominance of Europe in the market.
Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period with China and India being the key sources of growth engines. The region is the largest manufacturer as well as consumer of traditional fillers in the world. An expected rebound in the production of automobiles and construction activities coupled with a gradual shift from traditional fillers to hollow microspheres may drive the region’s market in years to come.
North America is also estimated to generate a sizeable demand for hollow microspheres in the coming years. The USA maintains its supremacy in the market not only in the region, but also in the world; backed by the presence of a large number of raw material suppliers, hollow microsphere manufacturers, tier players, distributors, and end-users.

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Key Players
The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, hollow microsphere manufacturers, distributors, and end-users.
Some of the key players in the market are:
- Chase Corporation
- Dennert Poraver GmbH
- Kureha Corporation
- Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
- Nouryon, Omya AG
- PQ Corporation
- Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Sinosteel Maanshan New Material Technology Co., Ltd
- The 3M Company.
Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.
Are you the leading player in this market? We would love to include your name. Write to us at sales@stratviewresearch.com

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Research Methodology
- This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects hollow microspheres market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period.
- The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.
- The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
- This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
- More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
- We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.
Report Features
This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:
- Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
- Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
- Market trend and forecast analysis.
- Market segment trend and forecast.
- Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
- COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
- Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
- Emerging trends.
- Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
- Key success factors.
Market Segmentation
This report studies the market, covering a period of 12 years of trend and forecast. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.
The hollow microspheres market is segmented into the following categories:
By Material Type
- Hollow Glass Microspheres
- Foam Glass Granulates
- Cenosphere
- Perlite Microspheres
- Expanded Polymer Microspheres
By Application Type
- Paints & Coatings
- Plastics & Rubber
- Construction Materials
- Others
By Region
- North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
- Europe (Country Analysis: France, Germany, the UK, Spain, and the Rest of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, India, Japan, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America, the Middle East, and Others)

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Report Customization Options
With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:
Company Profiling
- Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to 3 players)
- SWOT analysis of key players (up to 3 players)
Market Segmentation
- Current market segmentation of any one of the application types by material type.
Competitive Benchmarking
- Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances.
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