Our industry

Adhesives and sealants are a success story that make many everyday products possible. Our industry fosters sustainability, encourages innovation and offers stimulating careers for people with a wide range of skills.

Economic significance

Although adhesives and sealants play an essential role in a huge range of consumer, professional and industrial products, they are largely invisible once applied. However, they are everywhere.

The European adhesives and sealants (A&S) market totalled 4.7 million tonnes and had a value of €15.5 billion in 2020. The market declined by 5% in volume and value in 2020. However, the European A&S market is forecast to grow to €22.2 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% for 2021-26. By volume, the market will grow at a slower rate.

FEICA represents both large companies and SMEs. We estimate that there are around 800 companies manufacturing adhesives and sealants in Europe, of which around 90% are SMEs.

Markets
Making everyday products possible: Adhesives and sealants play an essential role in just about every product you can imagine
Technologies
An adhesive is a compound that adheres or bonds two or more substrates together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources.
About adhesives and sealants
The adhesive and sealant industry is a continuing success story that spans hundreds of years
PU foam (OCF)
One-component foam manufacturers representing more than 90% of the market in Europe are members of FEICA.