Release Liners Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Release Liners Market Overview

Release Liners market size is forecast to reach US$23.2 billion by 2026, after growing at a CAGR of 6.4% during 2021-2026. The Release Liners are plastic or paper-based film sheet that is used to prevent sticky surfaces from adhering prematurely. They are typically coated on both sides, and their job is to carry the adhesive such as Polyvinyle Alcohol substrate until it is ready to be released. PET(polyethylene terephthalate) release liner is made of PET film coated with silicone release agent in a clean room coater. LDPE(low density polyethylene) is the oldest and most mature of the polyethylenes (PE). It is characterized by its short and long chain branching which gives it good clarity and process ability. Release liners are available in different colors, with or without printing under the low surface energy coating. Rising demand for industrial labels is expected to accelerate the Release liners market. Labels account for a substantial share in the overall packaging industry. Thus the Release Liners Market is expected to substantially grow during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

Due to COVID-19, country wide Lockdown, cross-border import-export restrictions, supply chain disruption, many Release Liner materials manufacturing enterprises have shut down until further instructions from the governments of various economies. There has been a significant undersupply of Release Liners globally to match the demand. Also, due to supply chain disruptions such as raw material delays or non-arrival, disrupted financial flows, and rising absenteeism among production line staff, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) have been forced to function at zero or partial capacity, resulting in lower demand and consumption of release liners. But due to constant demand in food and beverage labeling, medical and pharmaceutical labeling irrespective of the covid-19 pandemic across the globe, the release liners market significantly growing in spite of the small economic disruption.

Release Liners Market Report Coverage

The report: “Release Liners Market – Forecast (2021-2026)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Release Liners Market.

By Type: Polycoated Release Liners, Glassine Release Liners, Supercalendered Kraft Liners, Clay Coated Kraft Liners, Film Based Release Liners, Others.
By Application: Tapes and Label, Graphic Arts, Construction(Roofing, Shingles, Waterproofing and Insulation),Medical and Hygiene, Fiber Composite and Others.
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East, and Africa)

Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominates the Release Liners Market, owing to the increased use of tapes and labeling, in medical and pharmaceutical sector in the region.
• PolyVinyl Alcohol backed packaging tapes are quite popular in Europe. The vinyl backing is commonly manufactured using a calendering process. Printability and smooth unwind of the tape rolls are amongst the desirable features of these tapes.
• Release Liners are considered very important material and a key component for the delivery and application performance, they ultimately get disposed of and are therefore sometimes perceived as a low-value process component.
• The pressure-sensitive industry places an additional list of requirements on the liner, to ensure compatibility with adhesives, further processing, like slitting, die-cutting and matrix stripping and consistency of the final release properties for hand applied or automatic dispensing. 

Figure: Asia-Pacific Release Liners Market Revenue, 2020-2026 (US$ Billion)

Release Liners Market Segment Analysis – By Type

Supercalendered Kraft (SCK) Liners segment held the largest share of 34% in the Release Liners market in 2020. There are two major products that fall into this category: SCK and Glassine.SCK liners are the most popular choice for liners in North America. An SCK liner is calendered for the purpose of making it very smooth and allowing for precise thickness, with various application in medical, fibre composites, printing, specialty tapes and label. Glassine has a higher grade of calendering which results in slightly less strength since more of the long paper fibers are destroyed during the calendering process. On the other hand the higher compression makes it a harder paper which gives better slitting results, especially important for those who want to use it in die cutting. The higher compression further results in a smoother and glossier surface finish beneficial to lower silicone penetration and better coverage when using the same amount of silicone compared to SCK´s. In general Glassine & SCK Liners are relatively stiff and provide high mechanical strength and high density. Thus the Release Liners can substantially grow due to vast use of Supercalendered Kraft Liners due to its sustainability in the forecast period.

Release Liners Market Segment Analysis – By Application

Tapes and Label segment held the largest share in the Release Liners market in 2020 and is growing at a CAGR of 7.3% during 2021-2026. According to BOBST, the adhesive tapes market is projected to grow from US$60.4 billion in 2020 to US$79.9 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Automobile manufacturers are shifting their attention towards automotive adhesive tapes compared to conventional mechanical fasteners to cut down the automobile weight and production costs. The growing demand for light-weight and fuel-efficient vehicles is forcing manufacturers to lookout for extensive weight-saving options. In many components of an automotive, PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) is a good replacement for fasteners and can be used effectively where increased strength and flexibility are required.This continues to be a growth driver for the overall tape market and thus accelerate the growth of Release Liners Market.

Release Liners Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the Release Liners Market in 2020 up to 42%, owing to the increasing silicon production in the region. According to Afera, in 201953% of the over 45 bsm of tapes across all application segments is produced in the Asia Pacific region. 18% and 20% is produced in Europe and North America, respectively, and 5% and 4% in South America and Africa & the Middle East, respectively. With over half of tape production worldwide, Asia Pacific is the key drive driver for the total tape market. For the specialty tape market, which makes up 15% of total tape production. The rapid and steady development of China automotive industry provides a huge opportunity for the application of adhesive tape products. From laser label, to spray masking, exterior trimming parts fixing, interior parts bonding, a large quantity of adhesive tape products are used. In Western Europe, rebounding construction activity following a long period of decline will boost the use of masking and other tapes. In the U.S., modest gains in manufacturing output will support sales of tapes, which will significantly drive up the demand for release liners.

Release Liners Market Drivers

Growth in Packaging Industry:

Packaging tapes are typically self-wound pressure sensitive tapes, with a wide variety of materials used for carton sealing and other strapping and packaging applications. According to Afera ,the largest of the tape categories is packaging tapes, representing 67% of the volume. This totals 30.2 bsm of tapes produced worldwide. Many of the companies that said they are in packaging tapes are also in specialty tapes, and the combination is helping to drive growth in terms of industry dynamics. The packaging industry plays a crucial role, adding value to various manufacturing sectors including agriculture, pharmaceutical, retail, FMCG, to name a few. Basically the market has been growing due to solid demand from food and pharmaceutical industries. Packaging tapes rarely are a manufacturer's only product. In practical terms, this makes a difference in terms of the manufacturer's strategy. Many of the manufacturers said they are in packaging tapes and also in specialty tapes, and the combination is helping to drive growth in terms of industry dynamics. 

The shifting of the Release Liner industry to thinner materials:

Whether it’s for drinks bottles or the usage in the medical field, labels account for the largest share of the release liner market by a significant lead. The need of the medical field and high demand is driving the market to produce thinner, more easily disposed of labels. This means that instead of paper being the only substrate on the market, synthetic, film-based materials are starting to be used. Instead of relying on typical paper production methods, these release liners are produced from polypropylene, polyester and polyethylene and can be much thinner than more conventional options. These film-based synthetic materials can be up to 60% thinner and this has major environmental and commercial implications. In addition to producing a much smaller volume of waste and being more much efficient to produce, they’re also lighter and more efficient to store and transport, meaning that significant financial savings can be made in all stages of their use.

Release Liners Market Challenges

Undersupply and High cost of Raw Materials:

It seems challenging for many Release Liners Manufacturer to cope up with the paper and the silicone shortages. The shortages in the market have left both paper and silicone suppliers struggling to meet the demand and has seen market prices soar. In fact, in the Silicone market, due to rising prices and a precarious supply, many spent 2020 and now 2021 considering alternative materials. Yet it appears that the demand and supply for Release Liners has survived this challenge.

Release Liners Market Landscape

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Release Liners Market. Release Liners Market top companies are:

1. 3M Company
2. Mondi Group
3. Sappi Limited
4. Ahlstrom-Munksjo
5. LINTEC Corporation
6. Polyplex Corporation Ltd.
7. Eastman Chemical Company
8. Gascogne
9. UPM
10. Loparex
11. Zoltek Companies.

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

On 11th February 2021, Global Packaging and Paper Group Mondi expands release liner range with launch of two new paper-based sustainable EverLiner products such as EverLiner labelite and EverLiner M R.

Relevant Reports

Release Liners Market - Forecast 2019 - 2024

Report Code: CMR 36334

Digital Printing Market – Forecast(2021 - 2026)

Report Code: ESR 0665

For more Chemicals and Materials Market reports, please click here