Flexible Foam Mold Release Agents Market for transportation Size, Share, Trends, Industry Analysis Report: By Vehicle Type [Automotive, Aerospace, Marine, Recreational Vehicles (RVs) & Specialty Vehicles, and Agricultural & Off-road Vehicles], Foam Type,

The global flexible foam mold release agents market size is expected to reach USD 499.7 million by 2034, according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report “Flexible Foam Mold Release Agents Market Size, Share, Trends, Industry Analysis Report: By Vehicle Type [Automotive, Aerospace, Marine, Recreational Vehicles (RVs) & Specialty Vehicles, and Agricultural & Off-road Vehicles], Foam Type, Mold Release Agent Type, and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America) – Market Forecast, 2025–2034” gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

The global flexible foam mold release agents market demand is expected to grow at a faster rate in the coming years due to rising preference for lightweight and comfortable seating in the transportation sector. Flexible polyurethane (PU) foam has become a material of choice due to its lightweight nature and superior cushioning properties. In automotive applications, flexible PU foam is extensively used in seats, headrests, armrests, and interior trims, contributing to overall vehicle weight reduction and improved fuel economy. In December 2024, Adient, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Dow collaboratively announced the production of car seat foam utilizing closed-loop recycled PU components. This initiative involves collecting PU foams from end-of-life vehicles, processing them into new polyols, and integrating them into Adient's seating solutions, comprising 20% recycled content. Such an initiative showcases the increasing adoption of PU foam usage. Therefore, based on the above reasoning, the global flexible foam mold release agents market is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period.

The advancement of silicone and semi-permanent mold release coatings is significantly driving the flexible foam mold release agents market growth. These innovative coatings enhance manufacturing efficiency by reducing the need for frequent reapplications, thereby extending mold life and minimizing production downtime. Slide Products offers the Urethane Mold Release aerosol, a silicone-based release agent specifically formulated for all types of polyurethanes, including flexible foams. This product provides a lightweight, dry coating that effectively prevents mold buildup, allowing for multiple releases per application and reducing the need for frequent reapplication. The efficiency and reliability of such silicone-based release agents drive the adoption in the flexible foam industry, contributing to flexible foam mold release agents market growth for transportation.

India's agricultural and off-road vehicle sectors are growing rapidly, contributing to the global flexible foam mold release agent market expansion. In October 2024, Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector reported total tractor sales of 65,453 units, a substantial increase from 50,460 units in October 2023. This surge in vehicle production demands the use of flexible foam mold release agents in manufacturing, thereby propelling the market growth.

Flexible Foam Mold Release Agents Market Report Highlights

Based on vehicle type, the automotive segment dominated the flexible foam mold release agents market in 2024, accounting for 44.3% of revenue share. The automotive sector includes passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and scooters, which rely heavily on flexible foam mold release agents to ensure high-quality foam components. These foams are used in seats, armrests, headrests, door panels, steering wheels, and acoustic insulation. The surge in automobile production has significantly contributed to the flexible foam mold release agents market expansion, as manufacturers increasingly adopt advanced release agents to ensure seamless and defect-free manufacturing.

The polyurethane (PU) segment, by foam type, dominated the flexible foam mold release agents market share in 2024, mainly due to its energy efficiency, lightweight nature, and adaptability to different formulations and densities. Polyurethane (PU) foam is a versatile material widely used in the transportation industry due to its lightweight, durability, and flexibility. PU foam is a polymer formed by reacting polyols with diisocyanates.

Asia Pacific dominated the flexible foam mold release agents market revenue share in 2024 due to rapid growth in the automotive and transportation sectors.

North America is expected to hold a substantial market share during the forecast period. In 2023, North American airports experienced a resurgence in passenger traffic. Overall passenger numbers increased by 11.9% compared to 2022, with international travel seeing a remarkable 27.9% rise and domestic travel growing by 9.5%. This expansion fuels the flexible foam mold release agents market demand, as airlines prioritize advanced seating solutions made of flexible foam to enhance passenger comfort on long-haul flights.

A few global key market players are DOW; Huntsman International LLC; Chem Trend L.P.; Henkel AG & Co. KGaA; Michelman, Inc.; McGee Industries, Inc.; Miller-Stephenson Chemical Company, Inc.; Concentrol; KEMI Srl; and Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Polaris Market Research has segmented the flexible foam mold release agents market report on the basis of vehicle type, foam type, mold release agent type, and region:

Flexible Foam Mold Release Agents Market Segmentation

By Vehicle Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020–2034)

Automotive

Aerospace

Marine

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) & Specialty Vehicles

Agricultural & Off-road Vehicles

By Foam Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020–2034)

Polyurethane (PU)

Polyethylene Foam (PE)

Viscoelastic Foam

Others

By Mold Release Agent Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020–2034)

Water-Based Release Agents

Silicone-Based Release Agents

Solvent-Based Release Agents

Wax-Based Release Agents

Others

By Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020–2034)

North America

• US
• Canada

• Germany
• France
• UK
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Rest of Asia Pacific

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America