Polyester Film Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising demand for flexible packaging: Polyester films are widely used in flexible packaging due to their high strength, clarity, and resistance to moisture and gases. These properties make them ideal for extending the shelf life of products, protecting contents, and providing aesthetic appeal. As consumer demand for convenient and longer-lasting packaging solutions increases, the need for polyester films in flexible packaging applications is also growing. This trend is expected to continue driving polyester film market expansion. The rising demand for flexible packaging materials in FMCG products is driving revenue growth of the market. According to Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the flexible packaging industry had USD 41.5 billion in sales in the United States in 2022.

• Easier label printability: Polyester film labels are preferred for their longevity and water-repellency, conveniently bonding to all kinds of materials like coarse surfaces, oily metals, or even low surface energy plastics. They are even immune to extreme temperatures, allowing the product descriptions to be legible throughout the shelf-life of the product, and more. The polyester film label components are categorized into face material, liner, and adhesive, each providing a peculiar resistance property. The smudge-resistant labels find their applications in various industries, particularly in, chemical labels, freezer labels, equipment, labels, warning labels, etc. According to a consumer survey, 77% of consumers are influenced by the labeling of the packaging when deciding to buy a product. This underscores the importance of a fitting label quality that polyester film fulfills.

• Superior insulation properties: Polyester film provides multiple dielectric properties, temperature resistance, flame retardance, and thermal stability. It is used extensively in cables, transformers, membrane touch switches, and wires, available in different thicknesses. Polyester film is also chemically treated to amplify their surface tension, to facilitate better adherence, thereby, increasing electrical insulation. 

Challenges

• Competitive environment: Polyester film, majorly utilized in packaging, finds its corrivals in paper, polyethylene, and polypropylene-based packaging, slightly limiting its market opportunities. Many of the mentioned materials provided cost-effective options, with finer properties, that may become the purchaser’s preference.

• Regulatory challenges: A dynamic statutory regulation environment may pose a hurdle to the growth of the polyester film market. Adapting to the mercurial compliance requirements might prove to be expensive in the long run. The possibility of a retrenched economy and heightened focus on sustainability is also expected to hamper the prospects of this polyester film market.