BOPP Films - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The BOPP Films Market size is estimated at USD 29.74 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 38.69 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.40% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

BOPP film is commonly used for applications that require moisture resistance, optical clarity, and increased tensile strength, such as medical packaging, food and beverage packaging, and personal care product packaging. Several factors contribute to the growth of BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) films, including their versatility, durability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. The increasing need for flexible packaging solutions in diverse industries, such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, further drives the market's growth.

Key Highlights

• BOPP has become a high-growth film material due to its extreme versatility. BOPP is an essential polypropylene film. It is an effective alternative to waxed paper and aluminum foil. One of the primary factors that has led to BOPP film use and application growth is their relatively low carbon footprint compared to other plastic films. Because of their low melting point, BOPP films require less energy to convert from one form to another.
• At-home food consumption and snacking may remain higher than in the pre-COVID period as more people permanently join the home-office trend. Owing to this, food packaging is expected to continue to be the critical end-use sector for BOPP films. The demand for fine commodity film, usually used in food, pharmaceutical, and other market, is expected to drive future demand. In recent years, the electrical and electronics market has also increased the use of BOPP films in packaging, which are also available in glossy and matte formats.
• In September 2023, Tredegar Corporation sold its flexible packaging films "Terphane" business to Oben Group with a net transaction of USD 116 million. The manufacturing sites are in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and exports to 29 countries. With the completion of this transaction, Oben strengthened its place as a global player in the highly competitive flexible films market by increasing the production capacity of BOPET films and offering an opportunity to enlarge the production capacity for other films, especially BOPP, in the United States and Brazil.
• The bags and pouches made of BOPP films are becoming increasingly popular since they are environmentally friendly, reasonably priced, and 100% recyclable. The visual appeal of BOPP bags and pouches adds an extra layer of advertising to the goods used for packaging. The expansion of food and beverage, e-commerce, the improving economy, and increased disposable income contributed to increased consumption of packaged goods (including packaged food), which need packaging to protect the commodities from contamination and damage. This tendency will likely increase the vendor's manufacturing capacity and boost the growth of the market studied over the years.
• In April 2024, Toppan and India-based Toppan Speciality Films (TSF) developed GL-SP, a barrier film that uses biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) as the substrate. GL-SP is a recent addition to the range of products for sustainable packaging in the Toppan Group's GL BARRIER1 series of transparent vapor-deposited barrier films, which enjoy a significant share of the global market, according to the company. Toppan and TSF will launch sales of GL-SP for packaging dry content, focusing on markets in the Americas, Europe, India, and the ASEAN region.
• The BOPP films market faces several significant challenges that could impact its growth and profitability in the future. These challenges include the availability of substitute packaging materials and the adoption of alternative packaging materials, such as bio-based plastics, compostable materials, and other flexible films, which threaten BOPP films. They could compete for market share if these alternatives offer comparable or superior properties while being more environmentally friendly. In addition, changing consumer preferences and behaviors can influence packaging trends. If consumers demand alternative packaging formats or materials due to health concerns, convenience, or sustainability, the market for BOPP films might be affected.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the biaxially oriented polypropylene film market. The pandemic caused supply chain disruptions in the market studied due to international trade restrictions, lockdown measures, and transportation challenges. Production facility closures and logistical restrictions caused delays in raw material procurement and finished product delivery, impacting the overall production and distribution of BOPP films. The rapid growth of the country's economy and increasing disposable income lead to a rise in consumer spending. This has propelled the demand for packaged goods, especially in urban areas, where convenience and aesthetics play essential roles. BOPP films offer better printability and visual appeal, making packaging ideal.
• Over the last five years, India's capacity has around doubled, owing to the opening up of its retail sector, an increase in the middle classes, and accompanying consumer spending on packaged food and other commodities. Recent BOPP investments have been substantially high, with a yearly nameplate capacity of more than 45,000 tons. Furthermore, according to the US Department of Agriculture, in 2023, over 549 million metric tons of cow's milk was produced worldwide among various dairy products. In comparison, the production volume of cheese and butter was over 22 and 11 million metric tons in the same year. Such developments in the food sector may create more opportunities in the market studied.

BOPP Films Market Trends

Industrial Vertical Expected to Drive Growth

• BOPP films play a crucial role in the industrial sector due to their versatile properties and applications. They are required in the industrial sector for several things, such as packaging, lamination, labeling, adhesives, and capacitors. These films are used as a lamination material to enhance the appearance, strength, and durability of printed materials such as posters, catalogs, brochures, and packaging boxes.
• In January 2024, Cosmo Films, an international leader in specialty films for packaging, synthetic paper, and labeling, in addition to lamination applications, launched metalized electrical evaluation BOPP films for capacitor application. These films are mainly used to produce numerous types of AC and DC capacitors. These capacitors have varied industrial applications, ranging from automobiles, electric vehicles, electronics, power electronics, and renewable power systems.
• BOPP film is a fragment of the broader polyolefin chemical family. It denotes that it can be laminated with polyethylene film and still be extensively accepted in the reprocessing waste stream. In numerous applications, the consumption of BOPP film has furthered from the sustainability boost at the expense of other polymers. When organoclay and nanocomposite materials are combined with BOPP, their barrier properties are improved. PVA (poly(vinyl alcohol)) and MA (maleic anhydride) are the most appropriate materials for minimizing the oxygen penetrability of the films.
• Continuous innovations in manufacturing processes have led to the development of advanced BOPP films with enhanced properties, such as improved seal strength, higher barrier performance, and better clarity, expanding their applicability in industrial settings. According to MOSPI, the industrial production index for the manufacturing sector across India in the financial year of 2023 stood at 137.1. This was a growth of 4.7% as compared to the previous financial year.
• Because of the high development rate in India's economy, the country's BOPP market is observing a high development rate because of the increasing development of the retail, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic businesses apart from the food and beverage industries. The e-commerce sector has one of the significant applications of BOPP self-adhesive tapes in the country, as it offers superior mechanical and optical features.
• In India, on account of the small cost of production, the players are increasing their production volumes to meet the snowballing demand for BOPP. For instance, Cosmo Films has announced an upsurge in its production capacity of BOPP to 0.035 million megatons, which is anticipated to be commercialized. Similarly, Jindal Polyfilms is anticipated to increase its production capacity to 0.044 million megatons.

North America Accounts for Significant Market Share

• Many vendors of BOPP films in North America are changing their product portfolios to handle the increasing requirement for packaging solutions in the region. BOPP films that provide transparency in product packaging help customers quickly examine the product and have been an important factor in driving its adoption and aiding the market's growth in the area.
• The rising demand for packaged food in the region has driven the market's growth, owing to the need for the increased shelf-life of food products, non-toxicity during sealing, and the need to maintain product quality and sustainability during packaging processes. According to the Organic Trade Association, the US consumption of organic packaged food amounted to USD 23.20 billion in 2023, and it is forecasted to reach over USD 25 billion by 2025.
• Retail outlets are North America's most significant revenue-generating medium for food products. Flexible packaging products, such as BOPP films, offer consumers a convenient shopping experience, as they are lightweight and minimize the effort required to carry the products. They emerged as the preferred form of packaging in the region due to their versatility, custom qualities, efficiency in conserving resources, and sustainability. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2023, sales of food and beverage stores in the United States amounted to approximately USD 985 billion. Sales of food services and drinking places were slightly higher, at around USD 1.1 trillion.
• The region is also a significant exporter and consumer of meat products. The vast availability of pork and meat products across the nation's widespread and intense retail chains bolstered the market. With the demand for a more considerable stable-shelf time, the demand for BOPP films is expected to increase. BOPP films are instrumental in improving the packaging films' thermal resistance and barrier properties, like oxygen transmission and water vapor transmission rates.
• In the United States, increasing awareness among consumers and favorable government regulations are anticipated to drive the demand for sustainable, biodegradable packaging during the forecast period. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States generates almost 80 million metric tons of packaging waste annually. About half of the packaging waste comes from food and beverage products. The agency mentioned that food corporations like Nestle and Unilever generate most plastic waste.
• The biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films market trend strongly highlights sustainable packaging solutions. With increasing consumer awareness and regulatory pressure, there is a shift toward recyclable and eco-friendly. Brands focus on transparent labeling to convey product information, catering to environmentally conscious consumers.

BOPP Films Industry Overview

The BOPP film market is moving toward fragmentation. Players such as Taghleef Industries, Uflex Limited, SRF Limited, Oben Holding Group, Toray Industries Inc., and more are operating in the market. Packaging comprises several global and regional players vying for attention in a contested market.

• March 2024: TOPPAN Inc., a TOPPAN Group company and a wholly owned subsidiary of TOPPAN Holdings Inc., and India-based TOPPAN Speciality Films Private Limited (TSF) developed GL-SP, a barrier film that uses biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) as the substrate and will soon launch production and sales. GL-SP is a unique addition to the range of products for sustainable packaging in the TOPPAN Group's GL BARRIER1 series of transparent vapor-deposited barrier films, which enjoy a significant share of the global market.
• February 2024: Innovia Films announced the extension of its product range for floatable polyolefin shrink films. The new film is a low-density white film made from polyolefin (WAPO) that maintains floatability when printed. The opaque film contributes to the shrink sleeves' light-blocking properties that can later be applied to containers for light-sensitive industries such as dairy, nutritional products, food supplements, and cosmetics. The film will be produced at the European Innovia site in Plock, Poland.

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