Coatings manufacturers and cosmetics formulators around the world continue to invest in increasingly sophisticated surface finishing technology as demand for premium matte finishes accelerates and sustainability requirements tighten. "According to a recent study by SNS Insider, the global Matting Agents Market, valued at USD 727 million in 2025, is projected to reach USD 1,179 million by 2035, registering a CAGR of 4.95% across the 2026-2035 forecast period."
This consistent growth is due to the synergies of two factors: increasing global demand for high-quality surface finishes in automotive, industrial, and architectural sectors, and innovations in formulating that go far beyond traditional silicon-containing formulations. Formulators are not content with the performance of additives that lower the gloss effect only but increasingly need organic or bio-organic solutions that will allow them to comply with stricter environmental standards while achieving ultra-deep matting effect. The industry is reacting to this trend by developing microplastic-free and cosmetic-grade formulations to go along with traditional silica-containing solutions.
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Premium Surface Finish Demand Fuels Sustained Demand
Increasing demand for premium surface finishes across automotive, industrial, and architectural applications continues to drive matting agent consumption across paints, coatings, plastics, and cosmetics worldwide. Rising cosmetics formulation sophistication further compounds this trend, as personal care manufacturers increasingly combine matting effects with soft-focus blurring and additional functional benefits.
Manufacturers are responding by prioritising investment in organic and bio-based matting technology ahead of legacy formulations, positioning themselves to serve customers seeking both proven matting performance and genuine environmental compliance.
Segment Findings Point to a Market in Transition
Silica dominated the market in the year 2025 due to its matting effectiveness and compatibility with formulating systems. Thermoplastics on the other hand are witnessing the fastest growth due to increasing demand for durable materials that can be used for coating purposes.
The water-borne technology retained the market leadership due to reduced emission of gases and increasing demand for eco-friendly coating materials. The powder technology has been witnessing rapid growth due to its efficient nature and reduced VOCs. The industrial application has been witnessing the highest demand due to increasing demand for durable matting applications, whereas architectural application has been registering the highest growth rate.
North America Leads, Asia Pacific Set to Grow Fastest
North America had the highest revenue share worldwide, amounting to 36.80% in 2025 due to the presence of a large number of manufacturers producing coatings in the region and the presence of many prominent silica producers in the region. The U.S., with many prominent matting agent manufacturers and silica manufacturing capacity near the tire industry, determines regional demand.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to have the fastest growth rate among all regions, growing at a CAGR of 6.90% through 2035, on account of investments in coatings, plastics, and cosmetic manufacturing capacity in China, Japan, South Korea, and India. Europe is also an important region due to chemical manufacturing capacity in Germany.
Organic Formulation Innovation Reshapes Competitive Dynamics
Competition within this market increasingly centers on which manufacturers can pair reliable matting performance with genuinely differentiated sustainability credentials, and on the degree to which companies can demonstrate validated organic and bio-based alternatives to conventional silica and polymeric systems. Companies pursuing deeper investment in cosmetics-grade technology and regional capacity expansion continue to position themselves favourably for the next phase of industry growth.
Some of the major companies operating in the global matting agents market include Evonik Industries AG, W.R. Grace & Co., Imerys S.A., Tokuyama Corporation, PPG Industries, Inc., AGC Chemicals, Arkema S.A., BYK Additives, Huber Engineered Materials, and PQ Corporation.
An SNS Insider Analysts Himanshu Sharma, commented, “This market continues to benefit from a genuine convergence of premium surface finish demand and maturing sustainable formulation technology. Manufacturers that can pair proven matting performance with genuinely differentiated organic and bio-based chemistry are best positioned to capture the next phase of demand, particularly across Asia Pacific's fast-growing coatings and cosmetics manufacturing investment.”
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