Textile Films Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Textile Films Market Overview

The textile films market size is forecast to reach US$7.2 billion by 2027 after growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Textile films are polymer-based films that impart properties to textiles such as corrosion, chemical, and weathering resistance, flexibility, resistance to wear and tear, hydrophobic nature, and high strength. Typical polymers used in textile films include polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane. These films are cost-effective and provide moisture control in a wide range of hygiene, medical applications, sportswear, and protective apparel. The high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), surgical gowns and masks due to the pandemic drives the textile films market during the forecast period. In addition, the increased usage of hygiene products is also anticipated to boost the textile films market.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled global economies. The textile industry is no exception. Due to lockdown and stay-at-home mandates, all kinds of textile-related factories were shut. Travel bans and border closures led to supply chain disruptions and delays in procuring raw material. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), imports by major buying countries from garment-exporting countries in Asia dropped by up to 70% in the first half of 2020 due to the collapsing consumer demand, government lockdown measures, and disruptions to raw material imports. However, to mitigate losses to some extent, many textile companies contributed to reducing the pandemic’s impact by shifting their productions to masks and protective gowns providing immediate help for many medical professionals and civilians. According to the president of l’Union des industries textiles, France, the textile sector was only surviving thanks to the fabrication of masks. Throughout France, the manufacturing of masks safeguards more than 10,000 jobs in the textile industry. Hence, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the textile film industry.

Report Coverage

The report: “Textile Films Market Report – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the textile films industry.

By Type: Breathable and Non-Breathable Films.
By Material: Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane, and Others.
By Application: Hygiene (Diapers, Sanitary Napkins, Incontinence Pads, and Others), Medical (Hospital Gowns, Surgical Drapes, PPE Kits, Face Masks, Gloves, and Others), Sportswear (Activewear, Skiwear, Mountaineering Garments, and Others), Protective Apparel (Firefighters Clothing, Military Clothing, Functional Workwear, and Others), Leisure and Outdoor (Tents, Sleeping Bags, Sail Cloth, Parachute Materials, Foul Weather Clothing, and Others), and Home Textiles (Shower Curtains, Mattress Protectors, Carpets, 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 textile films market on account of the healthcare industry in the region. India’s healthcare sector is expected to reach $372 billion in 2022, according to NITI Aayog.
• Polymeric films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyurethane are used as textile films as they provide resistance to wear and tear, chemicals, etc. and are hydrophobic.
• Textile films are used in medical clothing, hygiene products, protective apparel, sportswear, and home textiles among other applications.
• The major opportunity for this market is high research spending to utilize bio-based polymers that give the added benefit of biodegradable.

Figure: Asia-Pacific Textile Films Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

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Textile Films Market Segment Analysis – By Type

The breathable segment held the largest share of more than 60% in the textile films market in 2021. Breathable films allow sweat and water vapor to pass through and facilitate evaporative cooling but do not allow water and other liquids to penetrate into the fabric. Non-porous breathable films are widely used in the textile industry and microporous breathable films are preferred in medical applications such as surgical face masks and other disposable products. Breathable films are used in diapers, female hygiene products, and incontinence products as a back sheet as it prevents the liquid from leaking out and also keeps the skin dry. According to New Kids Health, newborn babies can go through 10 to 12 diapers per day during their first month. Diaper dermatitis is the most common skin disorder diagnosed during infancy which can be prevented by frequently changing diapers. Thus, diapers for babies containing a breathable back sheet have a positive effect on the skin and help prevent rash and other skin conditions. Hence, the breathable segment is expected to dominate the textile films market.

Textile Films Market Segment Analysis – By Application

The medical segment held the largest share in the textile films market in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Polymeric films are used in a variety of medical applications. These include disposable surgical gowns, mattress covers, hospital sheets, surgical drapes, etc. For instance, polyurethane film exhibits properties such as biocompatibility, excellent wear and abrasion resistance, breathability, and elasticity that make it an excellent material for medical applications. These films act as both liquid and viral barriers, shielding patients and staff from potentially harmful bloodborne pathogens. According to the OECD, in the United Kingdom, average spending on healthcare increased from 10.2% of the GDP in 2019 to 12.8% of the GDP in 2020. According to the Health Foundation, core day-to-day spending on the NHS would rise by?3.8% between?2021/22 and 2024/25, reaching a total of £152 billion in 2024/25. Thus, with the growing healthcare sector, the demand for medical textiles is also set to increase and thereby, dominate the textile films market.

Textile Films Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

The Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the textile films market in 2021 up to 41% owing to the growing healthcare industry. As per Austrade, over the past ten years, Australia’s health and medical industry has grown markedly in size and reputation on account of its world-leading technology, innovation, high professional skills, advanced research, development, and robust health system. According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry is the largest employing industry in Australia. In 2021 there were over 1.8 million people employed in this industry, which is projected to increase to more than 2.0 million by 2025. Healthcare is one of India’s largest sectors in terms of revenue as well as employment. Before the pandemic, India was one of the preferred destinations for surgeries due to its world-class doctors and cost of surgeries compared to the US and other western countries. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, the hospital industry in India is forecast to increase to US$ 132.84 billion by FY22 from US$ 61.79 billion in FY17 at a CAGR of 16–17%. Therefore, on account of the growing medical and healthcare industry, this region is set to dominate the textile films market.

Textile Films Market Drivers

High Demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to the Pandemic

In the fight against the pandemic, the healthcare professionals risking their lives in the frontline and fighting the virus are at a greater risk of infection owing to their direct contact with the patients. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the frontline healthcare staff mitigates the risk of hospital transmission of COVID-19. PPE kit generally includes gown, mask, headcover, shoe protector, face shield, gloves, and goggles. PPE kits are mostly made of polymers. Headcovers are made up of polyethylene or polypropylene film. 3-ply masks are made from non-woven polypropylene and nanofibers. Gloves can be made from natural rubber latex, nitrile rubber, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyurethane. Disposable gowns are made from polypropylene or polyethylene film. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 89 million medical masks are required for the COVID-19 response each month, along with 76 million examination gloves and 1.6 million medical goggles. The dramatic rise in demand for surgical masks, gloves, and gowns has depleted stockpiles which led to a significant price hike. To mitigate this to a certain extent many textile and other industries began manufacturing gloves, masks, and PPE kits. With cases still rising each day, there is a very high demand for such products.

Increased Usage of Hygiene Products

The pandemic has strengthened the importance of health with a growing awareness of the importance of hygiene. Polypropylene films are heavily used in hygiene products particularly in baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, and adult incontinence aids. According to the American Urological Association, a quarter to a third of men and women in the US suffer from urinary incontinence. About 33 million Americans have an overactive bladder representing symptoms of incontinence. Incontinence generally affects the geriatric population. But due to the pandemic, this has changed to include more people. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in certain patients, the coronavirus infection has been associated with an increase in urinary frequency resulting in the growing incidence rate of incontinence. Also, the increasing number of hospitalizations during the pandemic has contributed to the high demand for disposable incontinence products. Taking advantage of this, several companies have come up with business strategies to capitalize on the growing market. For instance, in June 2021, Nobel Hygiene, India’s largest private manufacturer of disposable hygiene products, has raised funds of about 450-500 crore from Quadria Capital. The brand is India’s first maker of adult diapers and at present has more than 50 % of the market share in the adult disposable hygiene space. Thus, the increased usage of hygiene products acts as a driver for the textile films market.

Textile Films Market Challenges

Concerns Regarding Waste Disposal

Polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyurethane films are widely used in applications such as medical textiles (surgical gowns, surgical masks, gloves, PPE kits), baby diapers, sanitary napkins, etc. All these products have been heavily used since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Polypropylene is widely used in manufacturing PPE kits but it is not biodegradable. This is adding to the already persisting plastic waste issue. According to a recent report in February 2022 by the WHO, tens of thousands of tons of medical waste generated in the two years since the coronavirus began spreading globally, is putting a huge strain on healthcare waste management systems. According to the report, a large share of the 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) ordered via a UN portal between March 2020 and November 2021 ended up as waste. Such concerns can prove to be challenging for the textile films market.

Textile Films Industry Outlook

Product launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the textile films market. Textile films top 10 companies include:

1. Covestro
2. Arkema SA
3. American Polyfilm
4. Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
5. Toray Industries Inc.
6. Nitto Denko Corporation
7. Trioplast Industrier AB
8. Celanese Corporation
9. Schweitzer-Mauduit International
10. Berry Global Inc.

Recent Developments

• In July 2021, Covestro developed solutions for wound dressings using the combination of a polypropylene liner with thermoplastic polyurethane films. 
• In April 2021, Schweitzer-Mauduit International finalized the acquisition of Scapa Group Plc, a UK-based innovation, design, and manufacturing solutions provider for healthcare and industrial markets.

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