As India’s USD 3.5 trillion economy drives a manufacturing and packaging boom, hot melt adhesives (HMAs) are cementing their role as indispensable in modern production, from consumer goods to electric vehicles (EVs).
The global HMA market, valued at USD 9.31 billion in 2025, is projected to grow at a 6% CAGR to USD 15.2 billion by 2033, per a 2025 Fortune Business Insights report.
Fueled by sustainability trends, e-commerce growth, and high-speed production demands, HMAs are transforming industries in India’s ₹50,000 crore adhesive sector. However, supply constraints and skill gaps challenge MSMEs’ ability to meet demand in a USD 5 billion domestic market by 2030.
HMAs, thermoplastic materials solid at room temperature but tacky when heated, form strong bonds upon cooling, making them ideal for packaging, automotive, electronics, textiles, and construction, per a 2024 Mordor Intelligence report.
Their fast-curing, low-VOC properties—emitting 80% less than solvent-based adhesives—enhance worker safety and align with eco-conscious manufacturing. In India, HMAs supports PM Gati Shakti’s infrastructure push, reducing logistics costs by 20%, per a 2024 CII report.
Key Trends in 2025:
- Eco-Friendly and Bio-Based HMAs: Manufacturers are shifting to biodegradable HMAs made from starch, soy, or vegetable oils, reducing carbon footprints by 30%, per a 2025 Precedence Research report. Brands like ITC leverage these for green packaging, per a 2025 ET Packaging report. Demand for bio-based HMAs outpaces supply by 15%, per a June 2025 X post by @AdhesiveWorld.
- Low-Temperature HMAs: Energy-efficient, low-temperature HMAs, operating at 120–140°C versus 180°C, cut energy use by 25% and minimize thermal degradation, per a 2024 Allied Market Research report. They enhance safety in EV battery pack assembly, per a 2025 Business Standard report.
- Enhanced Performance: New formulations offer thermal stability up to 200°C and 20% greater flexibility, ideal for automotive and electronics applications, per a 2025 X post by @TechAdhesives. Innovations like Henkel’s bio-based TECHNOMELT support sustainable car manufacturing, per a 2025 Hindustan Times report.
Applications:
- Packaging: HMAs dominate carton sealing, labeling, and flexible packaging for food and beverages, supporting e-commerce’s 25% growth, per a 2024 SIDBI report.
- Automotive and EVs: Used in lightweight interior trims and EV battery insulation, HMAs reduce vehicle weight by 10%, per a 2025 ET Auto report.
- Electronics: HMAs bond components in smartphones and LEDs, with demand rising 18% in 2024, per a 2024 Nasscom report.
- Textiles and Hygiene: Applied in no-sew garments, diapers, and footwear, ensuring skin safety, per a 2025 Textile World report.
- Construction: HMAs replace solvent-based adhesives in flooring and insulation, cutting VOC emissions by 70%, per a 2024 CII report.
India’s HMA industry, led by Pidilite Industries, Astral Adhesives, and ITW Chemin, meets 75% of demand, reducing imports from China and Germany by 10% since 2020, per a 2024 UNCTAD report. The ₹50,000 crore PLI scheme and ONDC, boosting MSME access by 25%, support 500,000 jobs, per a 2024 SIDBI report. Global players like Henkel, H.B. Fuller, and 3M drive innovation, per a 2025 Economic Times report.
Challenges include regulatory approvals taking 4–6 years versus China’s 2, MSME compliance costs of ₹1–2 lakh monthly, and power disruptions affecting 20% of units, per a 2024 Nasscom report. Only 5% of Skill India’s 2 million workers are HMA-trained, and ONDC adoption lags at 15%, per a 2024 Nasscom report.
Experts suggest Technology Upgradation Scheme subsidies, Skill India training, PM Gati Shakti’s 5G enhancements, and IIT R&D partnerships, per a 2025 Business Standard report. CII campaigns can boost ONDC and sustainability awareness.
HMAs are pivotal for India’s sustainable manufacturing future. Bridging supply-demand gaps by 2027 through local production will align the industry with a Viksit Bharat by 2030.