A number of factors, primarily the increasing consumption of polypropylene in the manufacturing of food packaging products, hinged caps, sweet & snack wrappers, pipes, microwave containers, banknotes, automotive parts, and nonwoven polypropylene fibers, are expected to drive the growth of the polypropylene market at a significant rate in the years to come. A key trend presently is polypropylene compounds, wherein the base material is mixed with impact modifiers, additives, fillers, pigments, and strength enhancers, such as glass fiber and mineral fillers.
One of the prime factors propelling the polypropylene market is the surging consumption of the chemical in the packaging industry. As polypropylene resin has a high tensile strength, it is widely used in plastics production, owing to the increasing demand for plastics in the packaging industry. For instance, according to PlasticsEurope, in 2018, the global production of plastics stood at 359 million tons. Moreover, retailers and brand owners are responding to the consumer need for more-sustainable packaging materials. Thus, the surging need for rigid, sustainable packaging is fueling the consumption of polypropylene.
Moreover, the growing nonwoven polypropylene fiber sector is another key driving factor that boosts the growth of the polypropylene market. The demand for polypropylene staple fibers is increasing in applications such as needle punch durables for geotextiles, vehicle components, upholstered furnishings, indoor & outdoor carpets, blankets, and bedding. As per an article in the International Fiber Journal, 14.9 million tons of nonwoven roll goods were consumed in 2018. The staple fiber represented around 59% of the total sales of nonwoven, out of which polypropylene staple fibers accounted for an around 11% share.
Geographically, the Asia-Pacific polypropylene market held the largest revenue share in the past, and it is also expected to witness the fastest growth in the years to come. This is attributed to the surging consumption of the chemical in the packaging, transportation, machinery, consumer & institutional, building & construction, furniture & furnishings, and electrical & electronics industries of the region. Furthermore, APAC is home to some of the key companies in the market, such as Exxon Mobil Corporation, Washington Penn, PolyOne Corporation, A. Schulman, and Ferro Corporation.
Thus, the rising consumption of polypropylene for the production of food packaging and the growing nonwoven polypropylene fiber sector are expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period.
