CLEVELAND — Demand for specialty films in the US will grow 5.2 percent annually to reach $8 billion by 2017, buoyed by demand for high-performance barrier films, according to a new report.
The market for barrier films will be the largest specialty film market, worth $5.2 billion by 2017. The market for microporous films will be worth $1.02 billion and that for safety and security films $660 million.
"Gains will be driven by the increasing need for high-performance plastic films which offer barrier properties, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance in packaging applications," says the report from Cleveland-based Freedonia Group Inc. "Increasing use in small, but high-growth market areas, such as photovoltaic modules and biodegradable packaging, will also bolster advances, as will a rebound in the construction market."
The most rapid growth in specialty films, albeit from a small base, will occur in biodegradable and water soluble films, which will benefit as the technologies improve and new applications are developed.