Top 10 Companies in the Shoe Adhesive Industry (2025): Market Leaders Powering Footwear Manufacturing

In Business Insights
August 07, 2025

The Global Shoe Adhesive Market was valued at USD 1.4 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period (2023–2030). This growth is being driven by increasing footwear production, demand for sustainable bonding solutions, and technological advancements in adhesive formulations.

As the footwear industry evolves with new materials and production methods, the spotlight is on adhesive suppliers who are driving innovation in bonding performance and environmental sustainability. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Shoe Adhesive Industry—market leaders developing specialized formulations for athletic shoes, fashion footwear, and industrial work boots.


🔟 1. Henkel Corporation

Headquarters: Düsseldorf, Germany
Key Offering: Loctite and Technomelt adhesive systems

Henkel is a global leader in industrial adhesives, offering specialized formulations for footwear assembly. Their solutions are used by major brands for bonding uppers, soles, and components across multiple shoe types.

Innovation Focus:

  • Water-based adhesive technologies
  • Low-VOC formulations compliant with EU regulations
  • High-performance bonding for lightweight materials

Download FREE Sample Report: Shoe Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Sika AG

Headquarters: Baar, Switzerland
Key Offering: SikaBond and SikaMelt adhesives

Sika provides innovative bonding solutions for footwear manufacturers, specializing in both conventional and automated production processes. Their adhesives are used in sports shoes, safety footwear, and fashion applications.

Innovation Focus:

  • High-temperature resistant formulations
  • Reactive hot melt technologies
  • Solutions for sustainable materials bonding

8️⃣ 3. Arkema (Bostik)

Headquarters: Colombes, France
Key Offering: Bostik and Novacote adhesive systems

Arkema’s Bostik division is a pioneer in footwear adhesives with solutions for all assembly methods. The company operates dedicated R&D centers for shoe bonding technology across Europe and Asia.

Innovation Focus:

  • Bio-based adhesive formulations
  • Automated application systems
  • Elastic bonding technologies

7️⃣ 4. H.B. Fuller

Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Fulastic and SwiftTack adhesives

H.B. Fuller provides a complete range of adhesive solutions covering manual shoemaking to high-volume production. Their adhesives are used by leading athletic and outdoor footwear brands.

Innovation Focus:

  • High strength bonding for performance footwear
  • Solutions for new material combinations
  • Low-temperature application technologies

Download FREE Sample Report: Shoe Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. 3M Company

Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Scotch-Weld structural adhesives

3M develops high-performance adhesives for specialized footwear applications including performance athletic shoes and industrial safety footwear. Their solutions enable new design possibilities for shoe manufacturers.

Innovation Focus:

  • Structural bonding without stitching
  • Flexible epoxy systems
  • Lightweight construction solutions

5️⃣ 6. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Dispersions and polyurethane adhesives

BASF offers raw materials and formulated adhesive systems for footwear assembly. Their water-based dispersion adhesives are widely used in eco-friendly shoe production.

Innovation Focus:

  • Sustainable adhesive chemistries
  • Solutions for recycled materials
  • Low-emission production technologies

4️⃣ 7. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: EVOQUE and other adhesive technologies

Dow provides raw material solutions for footwear adhesive formulators. Their innovations enable next-generation bonding performance while addressing sustainability requirements.

Innovation Focus:

  • Advanced polymer platforms
  • Enhanced wetting and adhesion properties
  • Bio-based material solutions

3️⃣ 8. Mapei Corporation

Headquarters: Milan, Italy
Key Offering: Mapeiflex adhesives for footwear

Mapei develops specialized adhesives for Italian luxury footwear brands as well as global manufacturers. Their solutions combine traditional craftsmanship with modern bonding technology.

Innovation Focus:

  • Premium bonding for leather goods
  • Environmentally compatible formulations
  • Custom solutions for specialized applications

2️⃣ 9. Asian Paints

Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Key Offering: APCO and Adura adhesives

Asian Paints is a leading adhesive supplier for India’s growing footwear industry. Their products serve both mass production and artisanal shoemaking across South Asia.

Innovation Focus:

  • Cost-effective bonding solutions
  • Localized product development
  • Adaptation to tropical climates

1️⃣ 10. Great Eastern Resins Industrial

Headquarters: Taichung, Taiwan
Key Offering: Shoe adhesive systems

Great Eastern Resins is a key supplier to Asia’s footwear manufacturing hubs, providing adhesives for major export-oriented shoe factories. Their products support high-volume production of athletic and casual footwear.

Innovation Focus:

  • High-speed bonding solutions
  • Durable formulations for tropical conditions
  • Value-engineered adhesive systems

Get Full Report Here: Shoe Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


👞 Outlook: The Future of Shoe Adhesives Is Sustainable and High-Performance

The shoe adhesive market is undergoing transformation as manufacturers demand solutions that meet both performance and environmental requirements. While traditional solvents maintain market share, new technologies are gaining rapid adoption across the industry.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Transition to water-based and reactive adhesive systems
  • New formulations for bonding recycled and bio-based materials
  • Adhesives enabling automated footwear production
  • Growing importance of eco-certifications and compliance

Get Full Report Here: Shoe Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not just supplying adhesives—they’re enabling the footwear industry’s evolution toward more sustainable and innovative production methods.