Freedonia Reports on Packaging Films

Published: August 23, 2017

CLEVELAND, OH | In a new study the Freedonia Group reports that PET film demand in the packaging market is forecast to expand 2.4% annually to 322 million pounds in 2021, faster than any of the major packaging film resins. The study, Packaging Films Market in the US, says growth will be driven by rising barrier requirements, particularly in food packaging. PET’s moderate barrier properties can better address these requirements than other commodity resins at a comparable cost, notes the report.

Demand for PET film in food packaging is expected to grow 2.5%/yr to 219 million lbs in 2021. Meat/poultry/seafood and snack food were the two leading outlets for PET film packaging in 2016, together accounting for 40% of demand. In both markets, growth will be stimulated by higher barrier demands. Opportunities in the meat, poultry, and seafood market include heat-and-eat packaging and retort pouches and growth areas in snack food include high barrier, transparent pouches for snack nuts, and high-end chip and popcorn bags.

However, according to analyst Ellen Kriz, “Growth will be restrained by competition from high-barrier resins such as nylon and PVDC that are well-established in the meat, poultry, and seafood market, as well as limited applications in snack food packaging. Most demand for film in snack food packaging derives from polypropylene bags.”

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