Matting Agents Market Size & Share [2033]

Matting Agents Market Overview

The Matting Agents Market size was valued at USD 450.66 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 614.27 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The matting agent market is witnessing strong momentum driven by increased demand in paints, coatings, and industrial applications. In 2023, the global consumption of matting agents surpassed 640,000 metric tons, with coatings alone accounting for more than 430,000 metric tons. Matting agents are used to reduce surface gloss, improve scratch resistance, and enhance tactile properties in architectural, automotive, wood, and industrial coatings. Over 2,300 companies worldwide are actively involved in the matting agents supply chain, ranging from raw material producers to specialty additive manufacturers.

Asia-Pacific led in consumption with over 270,000 metric tons used in 2023, followed by Europe with 180,000 metric tons. The adoption of waterborne and UV-curable coatings, especially in environmentally regulated markets, has increased demand for silica-based and organic matting agents. In 2023, silica-based matting agents contributed to over 58% of total market volume. The use of surface-treated matting agents grew by 14% in the same year due to better dispersion in solvent-borne coatings. Wood coatings accounted for over 95,000 metric tons of matting agent use globally, showing strong demand in the furniture and flooring segments. Regulatory standards such as VOC compliance in Europe and North America continue to support growth in high-performance, low-gloss coating formulations incorporating matting agents.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Increased demand for low-gloss coatings in architectural and industrial applications.

Top Country/Region: China leads with over 135,000 metric tons of matting agents consumed in 2023.

Top Segment: Industrial coatings remain the largest segment, accounting for over 34% of global consumption.

Matting Agents Market Trends

A prominent trend in the matting agents market is the rising adoption of silica-based products due to their superior efficiency in gloss control and scratch resistance. In 2023, over 372,000 metric tons of silica-based matting agents were used globally, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. These agents are preferred in solvent borne and waterborne coatings across the furniture, leather, and automotive sectors.

Environmental sustainability is a key trend influencing material development. Waterborne coatings that comply with low-VOC regulations utilized over 110,000 metric tons of matting agents in 2023. In Europe, where eco-friendly coatings represent more than 72% of the decorative paint market, the demand for biodegradable and bio-based matting agents grew by 13%. Additionally, demand for matting agents compatible with powder coatings increased by 18%, particularly in high-durability exterior applications.

Another emerging trend is the integration of multifunctional matting agents. These products provide not only gloss reduction but also anti-blocking, anti-settling, and chemical resistance. In 2023, more than 45,000 metric tons of multifunctional matting agents were sold, with high usage in automotive and marine coatings.

Nano-silica matting agents are gaining traction due to their ability to deliver ultra-matte finishes with minimal impact on mechanical properties. Over 1,500 tons of nano-silica-based agents were deployed in high-end electronics and plastic applications in 2023. These products provide gloss levels below 5 units at 60° angles, meeting stringent design and aesthetic requirements.

Asia-Pacific witnessed a rapid rise in demand for high-performance matting agents used in wood and plastic coatings, with a recorded volume increase of 11% in 2023. Meanwhile, the Middle East is emerging as a strong adopter of UV-curable coatings, using over 2,800 metric tons of compatible matting agents in 2023 for flooring, panels, and packaging applications.

3D printing and digital printing applications are also creating new niches. Inks containing matting agents totaled 9,400 metric tons in 2023, led by packaging and commercial printing sectors in the U.S., Germany, and South Korea. These segments require matting agents for controlling print gloss, improving adhesion, and enhancing abrasion resistance on synthetic substrates.

With ongoing innovation in coating technologies and rising demand for non-reflective surfaces, the matting agents market is poised for diversification across both conventional and novel applications in coming years.

Matting Agents Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Increased demand for low-gloss coatings in architectural and industrial applications

The demand for low-gloss and matte finishes in architectural and industrial coatings is the primary driver of the matting agents market. In 2023, architectural coatings used over 152,000 metric tons of matting agents, particularly in exterior paints and interior wall finishes. Gloss reduction is a critical aesthetic feature, especially in Europe and North America, where matte and eggshell finishes dominate over 70% of residential paint preferences. Industrial metal coatings for machinery and infrastructure consumed over 104,000 metric tons of matting agents in 2023, favoring silica and wax-based agents for anti-glare and wear-resistance functionality.

RESTRAINT

High production cost of surface-treated and nano-structured matting agents

The production of surface-modified and nano-structured matting agents involves multi-step processes including chemical etching, silanization, and fine particle classification. In 2023, the average price of surface-treated silica matting agents was 28–35% higher than untreated variants. This cost differential limits their adoption in price-sensitive markets such as Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America. Additionally, equipment-intensive production methods limit scalability. Over 41% of small and medium paint manufacturers in emerging economies reported cost constraints as a barrier to switching to advanced matting systems in 2023.

OPPORTUNITY

Growth in eco-friendly coatings and UV-curable formulations

Stringent environmental regulations worldwide have increased demand for eco-friendly coatings, creating opportunities for water-based and UV-curable matting agents. In 2023, UV-curable coatings accounted for over 16,200 metric tons of matting agent consumption, especially in furniture and flooring applications in China, South Korea, and Germany. Waterborne coatings accounted for an additional 110,000 metric tons of matting agent use globally. The development of matting agents compatible with acrylic emulsions, alkyd dispersions, and polyurethane dispersions is opening new avenues for coatings in green buildings and automotive interiors.

CHALLENGE

Incompatibility issues with resin systems and dispersion difficulties

Matting agents, especially in waterborne and solvent-free systems, face challenges in achieving uniform dispersion and compatibility with a wide range of resin systems. In 2023, nearly 9% of coating batches using matting agents reported surface defects such as haze, sedimentation, and floating due to poor compatibility. The problem is more severe in multi-component and dual-cure systems. Compatibility testing and high-energy dispersion equipment are necessary to overcome these limitations, adding time and cost to formulation development. Additionally, achieving deep matte finishes without compromising film strength remains a formulation challenge.

Matting Agents Market Segmentation

The matting agents market is segmented by type and application, enabling targeted solutions for diverse end-user needs. By type, matting agents are categorized as Organic Matting Agents and Inorganic Matting Agents, based on their chemical composition and interaction with coatings. By application, the market spans Industrial, Architectural, Leather, Wood, Printing Inks, and Other uses. In 2023, Industrial and Architectural segments jointly accounted for over 62% of total consumption. Wood and Leather coatings together consumed over 92,000 metric tons. The printing inks sector used over 11,000 metric tons of matting agents, highlighting increased demand in packaging and commercial printing applications.

By Type

Organic Matting Agents: Organic matting agents include waxes such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and PTFE that are used for low gloss and soft touch finishes. In 2023, over 168,000 metric tons of organic matting agents were consumed globally. These are favored in wood, plastics, and leather coatings due to their excellent abrasion resistance and surface slip properties. The United States used more than 35,000 metric tons of organic matting agents in interior coatings, while India and Brazil saw double-digit usage growth in furniture applications. Surface-treated wax-based agents enhanced compatibility in waterborne systems by 21% year-over-year.
Inorganic Matting Agents: Inorganic agents, mainly silica-based, dominated the market with over 372,000 metric tons consumed in 2023. They are widely used in industrial and architectural coatings due to their superior transparency and gloss control. Fumed and precipitated silica accounted for 63% of total inorganic consumption. China led this category with over 118,000 metric tons, followed by Germany with 42,000 metric tons. Nano-structured silica variants saw an 11% increase in adoption in electronic coating applications. Surface-modified inorganic agents have improved wetting performance by over 30% in UV and solvent-borne systems.

By Application

Industrial: Industrial coatings used over 222,000 metric tons of matting agents in 2023. These are deployed in machinery, infrastructure, and general metal coatings. Silica agents dominated due to durability and corrosion resistance. The automotive refinish sector in Germany and South Korea alone consumed over 38,000 metric tons.
Architectural: Architectural coatings consumed approximately 152,000 metric tons of matting agents. Interior emulsions and exterior latex paints rely on silica and wax blends to achieve 5–25 gloss units at 60°. North America used 58,000 metric tons in residential paints.
Leather: Matting agents are widely used in synthetic and natural leather finishes, particularly for automotive interiors and footwear. In 2023, over 38,000 metric tons were used globally, with Italy and China accounting for 65% of this demand.
Wood: Wood coatings consumed over 54,000 metric tons, primarily in flooring and furniture. Polyethylene waxes and silica combinations are used in waterborne and UV systems. The Asia-Pacific region led consumption with 28,000 metric tons.
Printing Inks: Printing inks used 11,000 metric tons of matting agents, mostly in flexible and rigid packaging. Japan and the U.S. led this application with over 6,500 metric tons combined. Silica-based agents improved rub resistance by up to 40%.
Other: This includes plastics, electronics, and anti-glare optical applications. Total usage exceeded 28,000 metric tons in 2023, with nano-matting agents used in touchscreens and display coatings.

Matting Agents Market Regional Outlook

The matting agents market shows strong regional variation based on infrastructure development, coating industry maturity, and regulatory standards. Asia-Pacific leads the market in volume, while Europe dominates in innovation and regulation-driven usage. North America shows stable growth with high performance demand, and the Middle East & Africa present emerging opportunities.

North America

over 142,000 metric tons of matting agents were consumed in 2023, with the United States accounting for 81% of the total. Waterborne decorative paints and industrial machinery coatings were major application areas. Over 35,000 metric tons were used in interior residential coatings alone. The adoption of VOC-compliant matting technologies grew by 12% year-on-year, supported by EPA and LEED mandates.

Europe

the region consumed over 180,000 metric tons of matting agents in 2023. Germany, France, and Italy led usage, accounting for more than 60% of regional demand. Strict environmental regulations drove the use of bio-based and low-emission coatings, with 34% of total matting agents being used in waterborne systems. The region saw a 9% increase in demand for UV-curable matting agents in wood and furniture applications.

Asia-Pacific

remained the largest regional market with more than 270,000 metric tons consumed in 2023. China accounted for over 135,000 metric tons, driven by industrial and architectural construction. India, South Korea, and Japan together used over 72,000 metric tons. UV-curable and high-performance plastic coatings saw 18% year-over-year growth. The region is also a leading exporter of matting agents, with over 95,000 metric tons shipped globally in 2023.

Middle East & Africa

the market reached 47,000 metric tons in 2023. Saudi Arabia and UAE led the region with over 24,000 metric tons, primarily in architectural and infrastructure coatings. Water scarcity and heat resistance need to be led to the high usage of inorganic matting agents. Africa’s market remains underdeveloped but grew by 13% in matting demand, especially in construction and decorative paints across Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

List of Top Matting Agents Companies

Evonik Industries
PPG Industries
Huntsman
IMERYS Minerals
W.R. Grace
JM Huber
BYK Additives & Instruments
Arkema
AkzoNobel
Lubrizol

Top Two Companies with Highest Share

Evonik Industries: Evonik led the global market with over 102,000 metric tons of matting agents sold in 2023. Its ACEMATT® and SIPERNAT® product lines are widely used in waterborne and solvent borne coatings, and serve over 65 countries. The company introduced six new surface-modified variants in 2023.

BYK Additives & Instruments: BYK ranked second, with over 86,000 metric tons in 2023. The company specializes in wax-based and silica matting agents with applications in wood, leather, and automotive coatings. In 2023, BYK added 18 new test labs globally to support formulation development.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the matting agents market are rising sharply, driven by environmental compliance, coatings industry expansion, and high-performance surface treatment demands. In 2023, over USD 2.4 billion was invested globally in matting agent production capacity upgrades, green chemistry R&D, and regional supply chain infrastructure. Asia-Pacific led in capital inflow, followed by Europe and North America.

China alone added 12 new production facilities for inorganic matting agents between 2021 and 2023, expanding its regional capacity by 150,000 metric tons annually. Major domestic players partnered with coating manufacturers to develop integrated supply hubs, with over USD 520 million allocated to backward integration and surface treatment technology. India attracted over USD 180 million in FDI for wax-based and specialty silica plant setups to serve regional architectural and wood coatings industries.

In Europe, regulatory trends supporting VOC-free and low-gloss coatings have created strong investment incentives. Germany and the Netherlands together spent over USD 480 million in 2023 to upgrade their silica processing and modification capabilities. Additionally, over 60 pilot projects received EU funding to develop biodegradable matting agents using starch, lignin, and recycled PET.

North America saw increased investment in automation and nano-technology. In 2023, over 75 companies across the U.S. and Canada adopted high-shear processing units for fine-particle dispersion, reducing energy consumption by 18%. Investments in R&D for high-transparency, low-haze matte coatings topped USD 210 million, with new lab facilities opened in Illinois, Texas, and Ontario.

Private equity interest in the coatings additive sector has also expanded. In 2023, five mid-sized matting agent producers were acquired by larger coating solution firms looking to integrate matting capability into their core portfolios. The average deal size exceeded USD 60 million, with expansion plans across Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the GCC.

Emerging opportunities lie in advanced plastics, electronics, and 3D printing sectors. Demand for non-glare, tactile finishes on smartphone screens and tablet enclosures has driven interest in nano-matting agents. Japan and South Korea together invested over USD 85 million into silica nanoparticle synthesis labs targeting this application.

The Middle East is another region drawing investor interest due to rising demand for decorative and industrial paints. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, for example, includes infrastructure plans requiring over 55,000 metric tons of coatings annually, opening up demand for regional matting agent supply partnerships.

New Product Development

The matting agents market has seen a surge in new product development (NPD), especially in high-performance, multi-functional, and eco-friendly formulations. In 2023 alone, over 115 new matting agent products and technology variants were introduced globally across industrial, architectural, and specialty applications.

One major area of innovation is the development of ultra-fine silica matting agents with particle sizes below 5 microns, enhancing surface uniformity while maintaining clarity. Evonik launched four new grades in 2023 with a gloss reduction below 3 GU at 60°, targeting premium wood and plastic coatings. These agents demonstrated improved scratch resistance and enhanced surface smoothness, with less than 1% haze increase.

Hybrid organic-inorganic matting agents also gained market traction. BYK introduced a silica-polyethylene wax composite matting additive compatible with both solventborne and waterborne systems. Over 4,200 metric tons of this hybrid variant were sold globally in 2023, mostly to furniture and industrial metal coating manufacturers seeking deeper matte effects with fewer formulation changes.

Biodegradable matting agents entered the commercial stage in 2023, with launches by two European producers. These starch-derived agents are fully compostable and showed gloss reduction efficiency of 60–75% in alkyd and acrylic emulsions. More than 1,800 metric tons were sold in test markets including the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria.

Nano-structured matting agents are being adopted for high-tech applications. Over 1,300 metric tons of silica nanoparticles were incorporated into anti-glare screen coatings in 2023. These agents offer ultra-matte finishes with a 15–20% improvement in light scattering uniformity over traditional additives. Applications include smartphone displays, touchscreen kiosks, and OLED TV frames.

Smart functional matting agents are another breakthrough. In 2023, R&D teams in Germany and South Korea developed reactive matting agents that change texture or gloss when exposed to UV or heat. These are being tested in thermochromic paints and security printing. The first commercial trials started in Q4 2023, with more than 60 coating companies evaluating performance metrics.

Furthermore, matting agents for 3D printing applications made their debut in 2023. Over 600 metric tons were used in post-processing formulations for 3D-printed plastic and resin parts to achieve fingerprint resistance and visual softness. These products saw usage spikes in medical devices and custom tooling components across Europe and Japan.

New product development is increasingly focused on multifunctionality, regulatory compliance, and digital aesthetics—aligning with next-gen coating trends globally.

Five Recent Developments

Evonik Industries launched four new ultra-fine silica-based matting agents in April 2023 for high-performance wood and plastic coatings with gloss levels below 3 GU.
BYK Additives & Instruments opened two global innovation centers in Germany and China in September 2023, expanding R&D capacity by 40% for hybrid matting technologies.
Arkema introduced a renewable-based organic matting agent in February 2024, using plant oils to meet green building criteria. Early sales exceeded 900 metric tons in the first quarter.
PPG Industries deployed silica matting agents in its new industrial coatings line in August 2023, achieving 22% longer gloss retention in outdoor applications.
JM Huber expanded its Alabama facility in July 2023 to add 22,000 metric tons/year capacity for treated silica agents used in automotive and architectural coatings.

Report Coverage of the Matting Agents Market

This report provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of the global matting agents market from 2021 through 2024, focusing on key market segments, regional performance, major players, investment trends, and product innovations. It tracks usage volumes across 60 countries, covering over 300 application-specific statistics including total consumption in metric tons, new product launches, production capacity expansions, and regional demand drivers.

The report covers two primary matting agent categories—organic and inorganic—highlighting their performance, compatibility, and usage across end-user industries. Applications assessed include architectural coatings, industrial coatings, leather finishes, wood coatings, printing inks, and emerging sectors like electronics and 3D printing. In 2023, over 640,000 metric tons of matting agents were consumed globally, with silica-based agents accounting for 58% of the market by volume.

Regional breakdowns for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa are included, with over 40 country-level insights. Asia-Pacific led consumption with more than 270,000 metric tons in 2023, while Europe saw strong growth in eco-friendly variants. The report provides annual data on production, exports, imports, and consumption, as well as analysis of key infrastructure projects and environmental regulations driving demand.

Company profiling includes data on 10 leading manufacturers such as Evonik, BYK, Arkema, and JM Huber. Each profile outlines market share, product lines, regional coverage, innovation index, and expansion plans. For instance, Evonik accounted for 102,000 metric tons of product sales in 2023 across 65 global markets. Innovation benchmarks include nano-silica technology, biodegradable agents, and hybrid material developments.

Investment analysis covers over 80 deals, partnerships, and capacity expansions between 2021 and 2024, detailing capital allocation by product category and geographic region. The report outlines over USD 2.4 billion in recent global investment in R&D, manufacturing, and sustainability initiatives related to matting agents.

The scope also includes future outlook sections covering regulatory forecasts, raw material trends, and technological shifts such as smart coatings, digital printing, and adaptive surface design. Over 100 graphs and charts illustrate usage trends, market dynamics, pricing fluctuations, and formulation behavior across key coating systems.

This comprehensive study serves as a strategic resource for manufacturers, formulators, raw material suppliers, investors, and R&D organizations aiming to understand or enter the matting agents market with detailed, verified, and actionable insights