The paints and coatings segment remains the dominant application for VAE emulsions. In 2015, this segment was valued at approximately USD 1,419.57 million, growing to about USD 2,230.73 million by 2023. 
This robust growth reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 6.09% during the period 2018–2023. 

The strength of VAE emulsions in paints and coatings stems from their advantageous properties, including excellent film formation, adhesion, low-VOC formulation and suitability for both architectural and industrial coatings. Such qualities make them especially relevant in a global context where sustainable, water‑based coatings are increasingly preferred over solvent-based alternatives. 

Adhesives — A Strong Secondary Use Case

The adhesives segment also shows healthy growth: from about USD 691.82 million in 2015 to nearly USD 1,007.96 million in 2023. 

This growth reflects VAE’s strong bonding strength, flexibility, and environmentally friendly profile, which make it suitable for a wide variety of adhesives — such as woodworking, packaging, construction adhesives — especially in markets pushing for low-VOC, water‑based alternatives. 

Other Application Segments: Re-dispersible Powders; Caulks & Sealants; Textiles & Non‑woven; Others

Beyond paints/coatings and adhesives, VAE emulsions are used in re-dispersible powders, caulks and sealants, textile & non‑woven applications, as well as in various “other” segments. According to the data:

• Re‑dispersible powders increased from around USD 393.46 million in 2015 to USD 595.39 million in 2023. 

• Caulks & sealants rose from USD 327.07 million in 2015 to approximately USD 465.80 million in 2023. 

• Textiles & non‑woven applications climbed from about USD 258.93 million in 2015 to USD 354.91 million in 2023. 

• The “Others” category also observed growth: from USD 196.61 million in 2015 to about USD 261.36 million in 2023.

These increases demonstrate the versatile nature of VAE emulsions — beyond their traditional roles in coatings and adhesives, their appeal in dry-mix mortars, tile adhesives (via re‑dispersible powders), sealants, textile finishes, and other niche adhesion/coating segments is rising. This aligns with broader industry trends of shifting toward water-based, eco‑friendly, and high-performance materials across construction, textiles, and other industrial sectors. 

Market Drivers & Trends

Several factors are driving the global expansion of VAE emulsion demand across applications:

• Sustainability & Low-VOC Demand: With increasing environmental awareness and regulatory pressures, water‑based VAE emulsions are preferred over traditional solvent-based alternatives. This boosts adoption especially in paints/coatings and adhesives. 

• Versatility & Performance: VAE emulsions offer strong adhesion, flexibility, good film formation, water resistance (in re‑dispersible powders), and compatibility with multiple substrates — making them suitable across a broad set of applications. 

• Industrial & Construction Growth: Expanding construction activity globally (especially in emerging markets), rising demand for sustainable building materials, and growth in packaging/textile industries all contribute to higher usage of VAE emulsions in adhesives, powders, coatings, and textile applications.