Low-Density Polyethylene Market Report 2026

The low-density polyethylene market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $60.79 billion in 2025 to $66.3 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of packaging industry demand, growth of agricultural plastic usage, rising consumption of consumer goods packaging, availability of ethylene feedstock, increasing adoption of flexible plastics.

The low-density polyethylene market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $93.37 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for recyclable plastic materials, expansion of bio-based polyethylene alternatives, rising adoption in sustainable packaging, growing focus on circular economy plastics, increasing investments in advanced polymer processing. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for flexible packaging materials, increasing use of ldpe in agricultural films, growing adoption in electrical insulation applications, expansion of lightweight plastic products, enhanced focus on recyclable polyethylene.

The rising demand for LDPE in the packaging industry is expected to boost the growth of the LDPE market. LDPE is being increasingly used for food packaging and non-food packaging. Use of LDPE in packaging decreases the cost of packaging. LDPE has the properties of having good tensile strength and being flexible, which makes the process of packaging easy. LDPE is commonly used in food packaging to manufacture coffee can lids, bread bags, and fruit and vegetable bags used in grocery stores. It is also used in non-food packaging such as shipping sacks, bubble packing, envelopes, overwrap, and rack and counter bags. For instance, in March 2024, according to the ChemPMC, a US-based boutique consulting firm, U.S. and Canadian LDPE consumption reached 2.5 million metric tons in 2023, with North American polyethylene operating rates increasing from 81% in 2022 to 85% the following year. The increase in demand for packaging accelerates the demand for LDPE used as a packaging material.

Major companies operating in the low-density polyethylene market are focusing on developing sustainable and high-performance polymer solutions to meet the rising demand for flexible packaging with high recycled content. Sustainable and high-performance polymer solutions refer to polymers that combine environmental advantages, such as recycled content or recyclability, with functional properties including strength, flexibility, and durability for demanding applications. For instance, in March 2025, Borealis, an Austria-based chemical company, introduced Borcycle M, a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) grade for flexible packaging that contains 85% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. This new grade supports high-quality, sustainable packaging solutions while promoting circular economy efforts and reducing dependence on virgin plastics.

In October 2024, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB), a Netherlands-based chemical company, acquired APK AG for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, LYB seeks to expand its advanced recycling capabilities, enhance its circular economy offerings, increase the availability of high-quality recycled polymers, and strengthen long-term sustainability and innovation initiatives. APK AG is a Germany-based plastics recycling company specializing in solvent-based technology for recovering high-value plastics.

Major companies operating in the low-density polyethylene market are China National Petroleum Corporation, PetroChina Company Limited, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Exxon Mobil Corporation, Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Company, Reliance Industries Limited, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., BASF SE, Repsol S.A., INEOS Group Holdings S.A., Dow Inc., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LG Chem Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, Braskem S.A., Sasol Limited, Westlake Chemical Corporation, Borealis AG, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Nova Chemicals Corporation, Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), National Petrochemical Company (NPC), Qatar Chemical Company Ltd. (Q-Chem), Versalis S.p.A.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the low-density polyethylene market in 2025. North America was the second-largest region in the global low-density polyethylene market. The regions covered in the low-density polyethylene market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the low-density polyethylene market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The low-density polyethylene (LDPE) market consists of the sales of rigid and soft low-density polyethylene. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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