Plastic film demand in the US is forecast to grow by 1.8% annually to 7.2m t in 2016 from 6.5m t in 2011. In its recent study, “Plastic film”, market researcher Freedonia (Cleveland, Ohio / USA; www.freedoniagroup.com) says that advances in demand will reflect the material performance and source reduction advantages of plastic film over other packaging materials. These will be supplemented by opportunities in film products, such as pouches for drugs and medical products, as well as in modified atmosphere packaging for food. Demand will also benefit from film’s use in manufacturing, shipping and building construction, the researcher said.

LLDPE will remain the leading film, accounting for almost 50% of the total in 2016. Among low volume films, degradable plastics will show the fastest growth, followed by cellophane and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Increasing raw material and energy costs led to rises in average film prices between 2001 and 2011; however, Freedonia forecasts that price increases will be more moderate going forward due to the availability of natural gas for feedstocks and energy. Demand for LLDPE film is forecast to rise by 2.1% annually to 3.4m t in 2016 (2011: 3.1m t), with increases resulting from the film’s versatility and from opportunities in areas such as produce and snack packaging, stretch and shrink wrap, and rubbish bags.

Consumption of LDPE film will rebound from the declines between 2001 and 2011, benefiting from opportunities in shrink wrap, shipping sacks and nonwoven disposables. HDPE film demand will grow at a below average rate as a result of slow retail bag advances. PP film demand will grow by 2.2% annually to 725,000 t in 2016, driven by produce, grain mill, dairy product and other food packaging applications.

PET film demand will increase at a below average rate, the study says, with good opportunities anticipated in food packaging applications such as snack foods as well as confectionary and frozen food, due to the need for higher barrier properties. However, this will be offset as remaining applications in photographic film and magnetic tape are lost to digital technologies. Finally, the researcher said that PVC film demand will decline, with losses caused by a small fall in red meat consumption, consumer health and environmental concerns regarding PVC and plasticiser migration, and competition from PE and PP films.