Specialty Film Demand to Approach $7.3 Billion in 2010
- Published: April 12, 2007, By pffc-online.com
PRESS RELEASE
CLEVELAND, OH—Demand for specialty films is forecast to advance 4.8% per year to $7.3 billion in 2010. Gains will be driven by increasing performance requirements in a number of markets, necessitating the use of higher-value specialty materials in films. Additionally, the rapid adoption of technologies such as modified atmosphere packaging and case-ready packaging will fuel advances, as will improve processing methods in film coating and metallization. Demand will also benefit from emerging products and markets for specialty films, such as biodegradable trash bags and soluble oral delivery products. However, further gains will be inhibited by market maturity or weak demand for end-use products in a number of specialty film applications, including PVC decorative films, breathable films for personal care products, and interlayer films for motor vehicle windows. These and other trends are presented in "Specialty Films," a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Barrier films will remain the largest segment of the specialty film industry, accounting for over half of total demand in 2010. Growth will be driven by the rapid rise of case-ready technology in meat packaging, which requires barrier films to maintain an optimum atmosphere inside the package. These opportunities will spur advances for plastic films such as ethylene vinyl alcohol, nylon and polyvinylidene chloride, which are used in the construction of barrier films. Demand for conductive films will rise at a strong pace through 2010, fueled by a resurgent US electronics industry. In particular, the market for flexible printed circuit boards is expected to rebound from declines posted during the 2000-2005 period, which will benefit demand for polyimide and polyester films used in their manufacture.
The most rapid growth in specialty films will occur in biodegradable and water-soluble films, which will see double-digit gains from a small base. Demand for biodegradable films, which are used to produce compostable kitchen and lawn bags, will benefit from environmental concerns and increased commercialization of bio-based polymers. Water-soluble film demand will receive a boost from the introduction of medicinal and health products in dissolvable thin film form.
"Specialty Films" is available for $4,400 from The Freedonia Group. See freedoniagroup.com.
