The global market for Polylactic Acid (PLA) was estimated to be worth US$ 896 million in 2024 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 1374 million by 2031 with a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2025-2031.
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of recent tariff adjustments and international strategic countermeasures on Polylactic Acid (PLA) cross-border industrial footprints, capital allocation patterns, regional economic interdependencies, and supply chain reconfigurations.
PLA, or polylactic acid, can be produced from any fermentable sugar. Most PLA is made from corn because corn is one of the cheapest and most available sugars globally. However, sugarcane, tapioca root, cassava, and sugar beet pulp are other options.
The increasing global focus on sustainability, environmental regulations, and consumer preferences for eco-friendly products is a major driver for PLA demand. PLA is biodegradable, compostable, and derived from renewable sources (like corn starch or sugarcane), positioning it as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Many governments are introducing stringent regulations to reduce plastic waste, promoting the use of biodegradable materials like PLA. For instance, bans on single-use plastics and incentives for using bio-based materials help fuel PLA market growth.
The packaging industry is one of the largest consumers of PLA due to its biodegradability and compostability. Food packaging, in particular, benefits from PLA's properties, aligning with increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging in retail and food service sectors.
Advancements in production technologies are lowering the costs and improving the mechanical properties of PLA, making it competitive with conventional plastics in various applications. Continuous R&D into enhanced PLA blends and composites is expanding its use in more demanding applications.
Currently, the biggest technical barrier for the polylactic acid industry is the production of lactide. Impacted by the supply of lactide, Chinese polylactic acid manufacturers can't release production capacity quickly.
This report aims to provide a comprehensive presentation of the global market for Polylactic Acid (PLA), focusing on the total sales volume, sales revenue, price, key companies market share and ranking, together with an analysis of Polylactic Acid (PLA) by region & country, by Type, and by Application.
The Polylactic Acid (PLA) market size, estimations, and forecasts are provided in terms of sales volume (K MT) and sales revenue ($ millions), considering 2024 as the base year, with history and forecast data for the period from 2020 to 2031. With both quantitative and qualitative analysis, to help readers develop business/growth strategies, assess the market competitive situation, analyze their position in the current marketplace, and make informed business decisions regarding Polylactic Acid (PLA).
Market Segmentation
By Company
- NatureWorks
- TotalEnergies Corbion
- BEWiSynbra
- Toray
- Futerro
- Unitika
- Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials
- Anhui BBCA Biochemical
- Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang
- PLIITH Biotechnology
Segment by Type
- Injection Molding Grade
- Extrusion and Thermoforming Grade
- Film Grade
- Fiber Grade
- 3D Printing Grade
- Paper Coating Grade
Segment by Application
- Tableware and Utensils
- Food and Beverage Packaging
- Electronics and Electrical Appliances
- Medical Care
- 3D Printing Consumables
- Other
By Region
- North America
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- Southeast Asia
- India
- Australia
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- U.K.
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Nordic Countries
- Rest of Europe
- Latin America
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- Turkey
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Rest of MEA
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Introduces the report scope of the report, global total market size (value, volume and price). This chapter also provides the market dynamics, latest developments of the market, the driving factors and restrictive factors of the market, the challenges and risks faced by manufacturers in the industry, and the analysis of relevant policies in the industry.
Chapter 2: Detailed analysis of Polylactic Acid (PLA) manufacturers competitive landscape, price, sales and revenue market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 3: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Type, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 4: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 5: Sales, revenue of Polylactic Acid (PLA) in regional level. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and market size of each country in the world.
Chapter 6: Sales, revenue of Polylactic Acid (PLA) in country level. It provides sigmate data by Type, and by Application for each country/region.
Chapter 7: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product sales, revenue, price, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 8: Analysis of industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry.
Chapter 9: Conclusion.
Table of Contents
1 Market Overview
- 1.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Introduction
- 1.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Size Forecast
- 1.2.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value (2020-2031)
- 1.2.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume (2020-2031)
- 1.2.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Price (2020-2031)
- 1.3 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Trends & Drivers
- 1.3.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Industry Trends
- 1.3.2 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Drivers & Opportunity
- 1.3.3 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Challenges
- 1.3.4 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Restraints
- 1.4 Assumptions and Limitations
- 1.5 Study Objectives
- 1.6 Years Considered
2 Competitive Analysis by Company
- 2.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Players Revenue Ranking (2024)
- 2.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Revenue by Company (2020-2025)
- 2.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Players Sales Volume Ranking (2024)
- 2.4 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Company Players (2020-2025)
- 2.5 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Average Price by Company (2020-2025)
- 2.6 Key Manufacturers Polylactic Acid (PLA) Manufacturing Base and Headquarters
- 2.7 Key Manufacturers Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offered
- 2.8 Key Manufacturers Time to Begin Mass Production of Polylactic Acid (PLA)
- 2.9 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Competitive Analysis
- 2.9.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market Concentration Rate (2020-2025)
- 2.9.2 Global 5 and 10 Largest Manufacturers by Polylactic Acid (PLA) Revenue in 2024
- 2.9.3 Global Top Manufacturers by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) & (based on the Revenue in Polylactic Acid (PLA) as of 2024)
- 2.10 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion
3 Segmentation by Type
- 3.1 Introduction by Type
- 3.1.1 Injection Molding Grade
- 3.1.2 Extrusion and Thermoforming Grade
- 3.1.3 Film Grade
- 3.1.4 Fiber Grade
- 3.1.5 3D Printing Grade
- 3.1.6 Paper Coating Grade
- 3.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type
- 3.2.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 3.2.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, by Type (2020-2031)
- 3.2.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, by Type (%) (2020-2031)
- 3.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Type
- 3.3.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Type (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 3.3.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume, by Type (2020-2031)
- 3.3.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume, by Type (%) (2020-2031)
- 3.4 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Average Price by Type (2020-2031)
4 Segmentation by Application
- 4.1 Introduction by Application
- 4.1.1 Tableware and Utensils
- 4.1.2 Food and Beverage Packaging
- 4.1.3 Electronics and Electrical Appliances
- 4.1.4 Medical Care
- 4.1.5 3D Printing Consumables
- 4.1.6 Other
- 4.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application
- 4.2.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 4.2.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, by Application (2020-2031)
- 4.2.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, by Application (%) (2020-2031)
- 4.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Application
- 4.3.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Application (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 4.3.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume, by Application (2020-2031)
- 4.3.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume, by Application (%) (2020-2031)
- 4.4 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Average Price by Application (2020-2031)
5 Segmentation by Region
- 5.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region
- 5.1.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region: 2020 VS 2024 VS 2031
- 5.1.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region (2020-2025)
- 5.1.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region (2026-2031)
- 5.1.4 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region (%), (2020-2031)
- 5.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Region
- 5.2.1 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Region: 2020 VS 2024 VS 2031
- 5.2.2 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Region (2020-2025)
- 5.2.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Region (2026-2031)
- 5.2.4 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume by Region (%), (2020-2031)
- 5.3 Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Average Price by Region (2020-2031)
- 5.4 North America
- 5.4.1 North America Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.4.2 North America Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.5 Europe
- 5.5.1 Europe Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.5.2 Europe Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.6 Asia Pacific
- 5.6.1 Asia Pacific Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.6.2 Asia Pacific Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Region (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.7 South America
- 5.7.1 South America Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.7.2 South America Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.8 Middle East & Africa
- 5.8.1 Middle East & Africa Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.8.2 Middle East & Africa Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
6 Segmentation by Key Countries/Regions
- 6.1 Key Countries/Regions Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value Growth Trends, 2020 VS 2024 VS 2031
- 6.2 Key Countries/Regions Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value and Sales Volume
- 6.2.1 Key Countries/Regions Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.2.2 Key Countries/Regions Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Volume, 2020-2031
- 6.3 United States
- 6.3.1 United States Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.3.2 United States Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.3.3 United States Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.4 Europe
- 6.4.1 Europe Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.4.2 Europe Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.4.3 Europe Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.5 China
- 6.5.1 China Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.5.2 China Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.5.3 China Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.6 Japan
- 6.6.1 Japan Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.6.2 Japan Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.6.3 Japan Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.7 South Korea
- 6.7.1 South Korea Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.7.2 South Korea Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.7.3 South Korea Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.8 Southeast Asia
- 6.8.1 Southeast Asia Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.8.2 Southeast Asia Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.8.3 Southeast Asia Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.9 India
- 6.9.1 India Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.9.2 India Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.9.3 India Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
7 Company Profiles
- 7.1 NatureWorks
- 7.1.1 NatureWorks Company Information
- 7.1.2 NatureWorks Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.1.3 NatureWorks Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.1.4 NatureWorks Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.1.5 NatureWorks Recent Development
- 7.2 TotalEnergies Corbion
- 7.2.1 TotalEnergies Corbion Company Information
- 7.2.2 TotalEnergies Corbion Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.2.3 TotalEnergies Corbion Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.2.4 TotalEnergies Corbion Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.2.5 TotalEnergies Corbion Recent Development
- 7.3 BEWiSynbra
- 7.3.1 BEWiSynbra Company Information
- 7.3.2 BEWiSynbra Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.3.3 BEWiSynbra Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.3.4 BEWiSynbra Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.3.5 BEWiSynbra Recent Development
- 7.4 Toray
- 7.4.1 Toray Company Information
- 7.4.2 Toray Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.4.3 Toray Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.4.4 Toray Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.4.5 Toray Recent Development
- 7.5 Futerro
- 7.5.1 Futerro Company Information
- 7.5.2 Futerro Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.5.3 Futerro Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.5.4 Futerro Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.5.5 Futerro Recent Development
- 7.6 Unitika
- 7.6.1 Unitika Company Information
- 7.6.2 Unitika Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.6.3 Unitika Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.6.4 Unitika Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.6.5 Unitika Recent Development
- 7.7 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials
- 7.7.1 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Company Information
- 7.7.2 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.7.3 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.7.4 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.7.5 Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Recent Development
- 7.8 Anhui BBCA Biochemical
- 7.8.1 Anhui BBCA Biochemical Company Information
- 7.8.2 Anhui BBCA Biochemical Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.8.3 Anhui BBCA Biochemical Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.8.4 Anhui BBCA Biochemical Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.8.5 Anhui BBCA Biochemical Recent Development
- 7.9 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang
- 7.9.1 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Company Information
- 7.9.2 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.9.3 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.9.4 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.9.5 Shanghai Tong-Jie-Liang Recent Development
- 7.10 PLIITH Biotechnology
- 7.10.1 PLIITH Biotechnology Company Information
- 7.10.2 PLIITH Biotechnology Introduction and Business Overview
- 7.10.3 PLIITH Biotechnology Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2020-2025)
- 7.10.4 PLIITH Biotechnology Polylactic Acid (PLA) Product Offerings
- 7.10.5 PLIITH Biotechnology Recent Development
8 Industry Chain Analysis
- 8.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Industrial Chain
- 8.2 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Upstream Analysis
- 8.2.1 Key Raw Materials
- 8.2.2 Raw Materials Key Suppliers
- 8.2.3 Manufacturing Cost Structure
- 8.3 Midstream Analysis
- 8.4 Downstream Analysis (Customers Analysis)
- 8.5 Sales Model and Sales Channels
- 8.5.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Sales Model
- 8.5.2 Sales Channel
- 8.5.3 Polylactic Acid (PLA) Distributors
9 Research Findings and Conclusion
10 Appendix
- 10.1 Research Methodology
- 10.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
- 10.1.1.1 Research Programs/Design
- 10.1.1.2 Market Size Estimation
- 10.1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation
- 10.1.2 Data Source
- 10.1.2.1 Secondary Sources
- 10.1.2.2 Primary Sources
- 10.2 Author Details
- 10.3 Disclaimer