Global Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037
Radiation Curable Coatings Market size was USD 22 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 37.5 billion by the end of 2037, expanding at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of radiation curable coatings is assessed at USD 22.9 billion.
The radiation curable coatings market expansion is due to the increasing demand for eco-friendly, high-performance coatings across industries such as packaging, automotive, electronics, and healthcare. Growing restrictions on volatile organic compounds (VOC) high-performance coatings emissions are pushing industries to adopt radiation-curable coatings, which are solvent-free and environmentally friendly. For instance, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) reports that the overall VOC emissions of coatings in the UK have significantly decreased over time across all coatings industries. About 84% of decorative coatings are now water-based. There are numerous formulations for UV-curable coatings. VOCs are simpler to regulate under federal, state, or local laws. For example, some formulators refer to their goods as 100% solids, even though the coating may actually be much less non-volatile and only 100% convertible upon cure.
Radiation Curable Coatings Market: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Growing technological advancements: Improved photoinitiators and resins such as next-gen photoinitiators enable faster and more efficient curing, even under low-intensity UV light, improving energy efficiency. Bio-based and hybrid resins enhance adhesion, flexibility, and mechanical properties, making coatings more durable and versatile.
LED-UV curing is replacing traditional mercury-based UV lamps due to its energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and reduced heat generation, allowing coatings on heat-sensitive substrates. Electron Beam (EB) curing eliminates the need for photoinitiators and enhances cross-linking, improving chemical and scratch resistance. Additionally, the rise in 3D printing has increased the demand for radiation-curable coatings that offer rapid curing and enhanced durability for printed parts. Digital printing advancements in packaging and labeling require fast-drying, high-quality coatings that UV curing provides.
Further, smart and functional coatings such as self-healing, antimicrobial, and conductive coatings are developed for use in electronics, medical devices, and wearables. UV-curable coatings with anti-fingerprint and anti-smudge properties are gaining traction in automotive and touchscreen applications. AI-driven systems also optimize curing parameters, reducing waste and improving efficiency in industrial applications. Automated UV/EB curing systems enhance consistency and throughput in large-scale production environments. - Fast curing and high efficiency: Radiation curable coatings (UV/EB) cure in seconds compared to conventional coatings, which require minutes or even hours for drying and curing. Faster curing speeds enable high-throughput manufacturing in industries like automotive, packaging, electronics, and printing, reducing downtime and increasing output.
Rapid curing forms highly cross-linked coatings, improving scratch resistance, chemical resistance, and adhesion on various substrates. Unlike traditional solvent-based coatings, UV/EB coatings prevent issues like bubbling, sagging, or uneven curing, ensuring a flawless finish. In addition, UV-LED and EB curing require less energy compared to heat-based curing, reducing operational costs. Since radiation-curable coatings dry instantly, manufacturers can eliminate large drying ovens, freeing up factory space and reducing labor costs.
Challenges
- Limited substrate compatibility: Challenges with heat-sensitive materials such as UV curing generate heat, which can warp or damage thin plastics, wood, and certain composites, limiting applications in industries like flexible packaging and electronics. Even UV-LED systems, which produce less heat than traditional mercury UV lamps, may still pose compatibility issues with delicate substrates. Moreover, UV light penetration is limited, making it difficult to fully cure coatings applied to thick, highly pigmented, or opaque substrates such as metal, ceramics, and some plastics.
- Health and safety concerns: UV radiation can cause skin burns and eye damage, requiring strict safety measures like protective gear and shielding in workplaces. Some photoinitiators and oligomers used in UV-curable coatings release hazardous byproducts, such as VOCs and free radicals, which can pose health risks if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Radiation Curable Coatings Market: Key Insights
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Base Year |
2024 |
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Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
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CAGR |
4.2% |
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Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 22 billion |
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Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 37.5 billion |
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Regional Scope |
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Radiation Curable Coatings Segmentation
Formulation (Ultraviolet Curing and Electro Beam Curing)
Electro beam (EB) curing segment is set to capture radiation curable coatings market share of over 37.5% by 2037, owing to its advantages over traditional curing methods. EB curing enables instantaneous polymerization, reducing curing times significantly compared to thermal or UV curing. This leads to increased production efficiency and cost savings, making it attractive for industries such as packaging, automotive, and electronics.
Unlike UV-curable coatings, EB coatings do not require photoinitiators, which are often expensive and can cause yellowing over time. This makes EB formulations more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, boosting their adoption. Further, EB cured coatings exhibit higher crosslinking density, resulting in improved hardness, chemical resistance, and mechanical durability. This makes them ideal for demanding applications such as medical devices, aerospace, and high-end industrial coatings.
EB formulations are typically 100% solid-based, they contain little to no VOCs. This aligns with stringent environmental regulations, driving demand in sectors seeking sustainable solutions. Moreover, the packaging industry, particularly food and pharmaceutical packaging, benefits from EB coatings due to their low migration properties and compliance with safety regulations. EB curing allows for high-speed production of flexible films, labels, and printed surfaces.
Raw Material (Oligomers, Monomers, Photo Initiators, and Additives)
The oligomers segment in radiation curable coatings market is poised to garner a significant share during the assessed period. Oligomers act as the primary film-forming component in radiation curable coatings. The type of oligomer used, such as epoxy acrylates, urethane acrylates, polyester acrylates, and polyether acrylates, dictates key properties. These include adhesion, flexibility, hardness, scratch resistance, and chemical and weather resistance.
Governments and industries are shifting toward sustainable, low VOC coatings to meet environmental regulations. Bio-based oligomers and waterborne UV curable oligomers are gaining popularity, driving innovation and radiation curable coatings market growth. Moreover, new oligomer formulations with faster cure rates, better surface properties, and enhanced processibility are developed. Hybrid oligomers combine benefits of multiple chemistries, increasing efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Our in-depth analysis of the global radiation curable coatings market includes the following segments:
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Raw Material |
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Formulation |
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Application |
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Customize this ReportRadiation Curable Coatings Industry - Regional Synopsis
Europe Market Forecast
Europe radiation curable coatings market is predicted to capture revenue share of around 36.7% by the end of 2037. The market in the region has been experiencing steady growth, driven by technological advancements and increasing demand across various industries. Innovations in radiation curing technology have enhanced the efficiency and performance of coatings, making them more appealing to industries seeking rapid curing processes and durable finishes.
In Germany, the automotive, electronics, and packaging industries are increasingly utilizing radiation curable coatings due to their superior properties, such as rapid curing times, durability, and resistance to chemicals and abrasion. Moreover, the positive trajectory of the country’s paints and coatings sector suggests a favorable environment for the growth of the radiation curable coatings market. as industries continue to seek sustainable and efficient coating solutions, the demand for radiation curable technologies is expected to rise, contributing to the overall expansion of the radiation curable coatings market. Further, the UK’s stringent environmental policies have accelerated the shift toward eco-friendly coatings with low VOC emissions. Radiation curable coatings align with these regulations, promoting their usage.
APAC Market Analysis
The Asia Pacific radiation curable coatings market is expected to grow at a significant rate during the projected period. The region’s robust industrial sector is increasingly adopting radiation curable coatings due to their rapid curing times and superior hardness, enhancing production efficiency.
In China, the construction and infrastructure boom fuels demand for radiation curable coatings in protective coatings, flooring, and metal finishes. Growth in 3D printing and additive manufacturing is also driving the need for radiation curable resins and coatings. Further, leading companies like AkzoNobel, BASF, and local manufacturers are investing in advanced formulations and sustainable coatings to gain a competitive edge.
In India, faster curing times and low energy consumption make radiation-curable coatings a cost-effective option for manufacturers. These coatings help improve production efficiency, particularly in high-volume industries like automotive, printing, and packaging. Moreover, the Make in India initiative is boosting local manufacturing, increasing demand for efficient, high-performance coatings in industrial applications. Growth in infrastructure and real estate is driving the need for radiation curable protective coatings for construction materials.
Companies Dominating the Radiation Curable Coatings Market
- Dow
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- Sherwin-Williams Company
- PPG Industries Inc
- Axalta Coating Systems Ltd
- Akzo Nobel NV
- ICA SpA
- Covestro AG
Major key players are engaging in mergers and acquisitions to expand their radiation curable coatings market presence and product portfolios. Several companies are investing in research and development to create advanced radiation curable coatings that offer improved performance characteristics, such as enhanced durability, faster curing times, and better environmental profiles.
In the News
- In January 2024, Beckers, a prominent paint and coatings supplier, collaborated with steel company ArcelorMittal to develop a new radiation curing method for pre-painted steels for building and construction. This is the first commercial paint mixture designed for electron beam (EB) curing in the coil coating business.
- In September 2023, Evonik is introducing the first product in its new line of next-generation TEGO RC solutions: TEGO RC 2000 LCF. The new release coating, made from recycled silicone feedstocks, can be cured using less energy-intensive UV LED or traditional UV Arc lamps, allowing label producers to reduce their carbon footprint and satisfy expanding sustainability goals.
Author Credits: Rajrani Baghel
- Report ID: 7318
- Published Date: Mar 10, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
