Ceresana: Market study plastic films
Films are one of the most important sectors in the plastics industry. Due to their considerable importance for the most diverse industrial branches and the wide variety of possible applications, market analysts at Ceresana expect global demand for plastic films to increase to approx. 71 million tonnes until 2020.
In defining films, sheets, and boards, all products from wafer-thin films to thick, rigid boards can be found. The strategic focus of this study is on flexible films that are used for applications areas such as the packaging sector. This includes films used for foodstuffs, but also films for non-food applications, for example the packaging of textiles, stationary, and industrial goods. Additional analyses are provided of the applications areas Bags / Sacks and Shrink / Stretch Films. Besides packaging, films are important in other sectors as well. Particular attention has to be drawn to Agricultural Films as well as other applications such as construction, films used for office purposes and stationary, technical insulation films, and other industrial films. This study does not cover sheets and boards as used in the manufacturing of rigid packaging, e.g., boxes, cartons, and cases. Rigid sheets and boards utilized in construction and industrial applications are not included, either.
Film trends
There are is distinct regional differences in demand development for plastic films. A notable discrepancy between saturated industrial markets and emerging countries with dynamic development in Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East or parts of Eastern Europe exists. An enormous growth potential is offered by the two most populous countries of the world, China and India, which account for about a third of the global plastic films market when taken together.
In the upcoming years, demand for plastic films will continue to increase. Among others, this is due to advantages plastic films offer when compared to flexible packaging made from other materials (such as paper or aluminum foil). This effect is felt in the foodstuffs sector in particular, but can also be observed in non-food applications. Additionally, a change in consumption habits (convenience trend, packaged instead of unpackaged foodstuffs, shift towards flexible packaging) has positive effects on demand for films. We forecast the packaging sector to see demand increase at an AAGR of 3.7% until 2020. In the past, packaging made of several different materials and/or layers has increased in importance. The utilization of such films results in, e.g., an improve barrier effect of the film in question and an increased shelf-life of the packaged product.
Detailed market analysis for several types of films
Divergent development can also be observed in regard to the material the films are made of. Films based on polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE) accounted for 73% and thus by far largest share of the plastic films market. However, BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) and PET films have been gaining market shares due to their being used for high-quality packaging and are developing at high growth rates.
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