US Plastic Film Market

• Publication date: January 2013
• Report size: 370 pages

US demand to rise 1.9% annually through 2016 US demand for plastic film is expected to grow 1.9 percent annually to 16 billion pounds in 2016, with a market value of $19 billion. Expansion of the market will be fostered by an acceleration in economic growth and an increase in consumer spending, which will drive demand for film used in diverse applications such as retail sales, manufacturing, and construction. Advances will als...

US demand to rise 1.9% annually through 2016

US demand for plastic film is expected to grow 1.9 percent annually to 16 billion pounds in 2016, with a market value of $19 billion. Expansion of the market will be fostered by an acceleration in economic growth and an increase in consumer spending, which will drive demand for film used in diverse applications such as retail sales, manufacturing, and construction.
Advances will also be helped by an increase in the use of film in packaging, where it offers advantages in cost, performance, and source reduction over other packaging materials. The versatility of plastic film increasingly allows for the downgauging of packaging, reducing the amount of material needed and lowering production and shipping costs, while maintaining desired characteristics.
Although this expands the presence of plastic film in the market, it also reduces the volume of film needed, limiting growth.



LLDPE will remain most widely used plastic film

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) will remain the most widely used film, representing almost 50 percent of demand in 2016. Demand for LLDPE film is forecast to register strong advances through 2016. Due to its relatively low cost and versatility, LLDPE will see gains in diverse markets such as packaging for snack foods and produce, medical and pharmaceutical products, and stretch and shrink wraps. Conventional low density polyethylene (LDPE) will grow at a slower pace as it is supplanted by better performing LLDPE in many applications.
High density polyethylene (HDPE) is expected to grow at an above average pace through 2016. Although constrained by slow growth in applications such as retail bags, HDPE film will exhibit gains in packaging for snack foods, baked goods, and grain mill products.
Demand for polypropylene film will also be above average through the forecast period, with packaging for snack foods, baked goods, and grain mill products the leading applications. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film demand will remain essentially unchanged, with increases in packaging demand for snack foods, dairy products, and frozen food offset by the continued decline in demand for photographic and magnetic film.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film demand is expected to grow at a below average rate through 2016, primarily due to packaging for medical products and shrink wrap applications. Degradable plastic film will experience the fastest growth at more than 10 percent per annum through 2016, driven by efforts to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly products.



Nonfood packaging to be fastest growing market

Plastic film demand in nonfood packaging is forecast to grow at the fastest rate of all film markets, driven by packaging for medical products and pharmaceuticals needed to care for an aging population. Solid growth is also expected for food packaging with the fastest gains in weight saving pouches for beverages, packaging for frozen foods and confections, and packages designed to extend the shelf life of produce and dairy. Nonpackaging applications will expand at a slightly below average rate, limited by slow growth in trash bags and other applications such as disposable diapers. Growth in secondary packaging will also be below average, constrained by efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic retail bags.



Study coverage

This upcoming Freedonia industry study, Plastic Film, is available for $5100. It presents historical demand data for 2001, 2006 and 2011, plus forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by plastic film resin and market. The study also considers market environment factors, assesses industry structure, evaluates company market share, and profiles 37 competitors in the US industry.

Plastic Industry in the United States

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION xii

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4

General 4
Macroeconomic Environment 4
Demographic Trends 8
Consumer Income & Spending Trends 12
Retail Sales Outlook 15
Manufacturing Outlook 18
Building Construction Outlook 21
Plastic Resin Industry Outlook 24
Packaging Industry Overview 28
Performance 30
Aesthetics 32
Technological Developments 33
Regulatory & Environmental Considerations 36
Pricing Trends 39
Historical Market Trends 41
International Activity & Foreign Trade 44

III. RESINS 46

General 46
Linear Low Density Polyethylene 48
Food Packaging 51
Nonfood Packaging 55
Secondary Packaging 58
Nonpackaging 60
High Density Polyethylene 63
Food Packaging 66
Nonfood Packaging 68
Secondary Packaging 69
Nonpackaging 71
Low Density Polyethylene 72
Food Packaging 75
Nonfood Packaging 78
Secondary Packaging 81
Nonpackaging 83
Polypropylene 86
Food Packaging 89
Nonfood Packaging 93
Secondary Packaging 95
Polyvinyl Chloride 96
Food Packaging 99
Nonfood Packaging 101
Secondary Packaging 102
Polyethylene Terephthalate 104
Food Packaging 107
Nonfood & Secondary Packaging 110
Nonpackaging 112
Other Plastic Films 114
Polystyrene 115
Nylon 117
Polyvinylidene Chloride 120
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol 123
Degradable Plastics 125
Cellulosics 129
Cellophane 131
All Other 133

IV. MARKET OVERVIEW 135

V. FOOD PACKAGING 139

General 139
Food Industry Outlook 142
Consumer Preferences 145
Distribution Trends 147
Snacks 149
Snack Food Outlook 149
Plastic Film Demand 151
Meat, Poultry, & Seafood 155
Meat, Poultry, & Seafood Outlook 156
Plastic Film Demand 158
Baked Goods 162
Baked Goods Outlook 162
Plastic Film Demand 163
Produce 166
Produce Outlook 167
Plastic Film Demand 168
Grain Mill Products 172
Grain Mill Products Outlook 172
Plastic Film Demand 173
Confections 175
Confections Outlook 176
Plastic Film Demand 177
Frozen Foods 180
Frozen Foods Outlook 180
Plastic Film Demand 182
Dairy Products 185
Dairy Products Outlook 186
Plastic Film Demand 188
Beverages 191
Beverages Outlook 192
Plastic Film Demand 194
Other Foods 196

VI. NONFOOD PACKAGING 199

General 199
Drugs & Medical Products 201
Medical Products Outlook 202
Plastic Film Demand 204
Shipping Sacks 208
Rack & Counter 210
Textile & Paper Products 213
Textile & Paper Products Outlook 213
Plastic Film Demand 216
Other Nonfood Packaging 219

VII. SECONDARY PACKAGING 221

General 221
Retail Bags 222
Stretch Wrap 225
Industrial Liners 229
Shrink Wrap 232
Garment Bags 236
Other Secondary Packaging 237

VIII. NONPACKAGING 239

General 239
Trash Bags 240
Nonwoven Disposables 244
Household Foodwraps & Bags 247
Agricultural Film 249
Construction & Industrial Film 252
Other Nonpackaging Film 253

IX. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 256

General 256
Market Share 259
Mergers & Acquisitions 264
Marketing Strategies 269
Channels of Distribution 270
Research & Development 271
Competitive Strategies 273
Cooperative Agreements 274
Company Profiles 277
AEP Industries Incorporated 278
Amcor Limited 282
AmTopp, see Inteplast Group
Applied Extrusion Technologies, see Taghleef Industries
Bemis Company Incorporated 284
Berry Plastics Corporation 289
Carestream Health, see Onex
Cereplast Incorporated 293
Clopay Plastic Products, see Griffon
Clorox Company 294
Curwood, see Bemis
Dow Chemical Company 296
DuPont (EI) de Nemours 299
Eastman Chemical Company 303
Eastman Kodak Company 306
Evonik Industries AG 308
Exxon Mobil Corporation 309
FlexSol Packaging, see Sigma Plastics Group
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation 312
Glad Products, see Clorox
Griffon Corporation 314
Hilex Poly Company LLC 315
Honeywell International Incorporated 317
Hood Companies 319
Innovia Films Limited 321
Integrated Bagging Systems, see Inteplast Group
Inteplast Group Limited 323
Intertape Polymer Group Incorporated 326
ISO Poly Films, see Sigma Plastics Group
Klöckner Pentaplast Group 328
Kuraray Company Limited 331
MACtac, see Bemis
McNeely Plastic Products, see Sigma Plastics Group
Mercury Plastics, see Sigma Plastics Group
Milprint, see Bemis
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation 333
MonoSol, see Kuraray
Noltex, see Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings
Omega Plastics, see Sigma Plastics Group
OMNOVA Solutions Incorporated 335
Onex Corporation 336
Pactiv, see Reynolds Group Holdings
Perfecseal, see Bemis
Performance Packaging, see Sigma Plastics Group
Pinnacle Films, see Inteplast Group
Pitt Plastics, see Inteplast Group
Poly Plastic Products of North Carolina, see Sigma
Plastics Group
Pregis Corporation 338
Presto Products, see Reynolds Group Holdings
Printpack Incorporated 340
Republic Bag, see Sigma Plastics Group
Reynolds Group Holdings Limited 342
SABIC Innovative Plastics, see Saudi Basic Industries
Santa Fe Packaging, see Sigma Plastics Group
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation 345
Sealed Air Corporation 348
Shield Pack, see Bemis
Sigma Plastics Group 352
Solutia, see Eastman Chemical
Spartech Corporation 357
Taghleef Industries LLC 359
3M Company 361
Toray Industries Incorporated 365
Tredegar Corporation 367
Webster Industries, see AEP Industries
Western Plastics Limited 369
World-Pak, see Inteplast Group



LIST OF TABLES

SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Macroeconomic Indicators 7
2 Population & Households 11
3 Personal Consumption Expenditures 14
4 Retail Sales 18
5 Manufacturers’ Shipments 21
6 Building Construction Expenditures 24
7 Plastic Resin Supply & Demand 27
8 Packaging Shipments by Material 30
9 Plastic Film Pricing 41
10 Plastic Film Market, 2001-2011 43

SECTION III – RESINS

1 Plastic Film Demand by Resin 47
2 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Film Demand by Market 50
3 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Food Packaging Film
Demand by Application 54
4 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Nonfood Packaging Film
Demand by Application 57
5 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Secondary Packaging Film
Demand by Application 60
6 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Nonpackaging Film
Demand by Application 63
7 High Density Polyethylene Film Demand by Market 65
8 High Density Polyethylene Food Packaging Film Demand
by Application 67
9 High Density Polyethylene Nonfood Packaging Film Demand
by Application 69
10 High Density Polyethylene Secondary Packaging Film
Demand by Application 71
11 High Density Polyethylene Nonpackaging Film Demand
by Application 72
12 Low Density Polyethylene Film Demand by Market 74
13 Low Density Polyethylene Food Packaging Film Demand
by Application 78
14 Low Density Polyethylene Nonfood Packaging Film Demand
by Application 81
15 Low Density Polyethylene Secondary Packaging Film
Demand by Application 83
16 Low Density Polyethylene Nonpackaging Film Demand
by Application 85
17 Polypropylene Film Demand by Type & Market 88
18 Polypropylene Food Packaging Film Demand by Application 92
19 Polypropylene Nonfood Packaging Film Demand
by Application 95
20 Polypropylene Secondary Packaging Film Demand 96
21 Polyvinyl Chloride Film Demand by Market 98
22 Polyvinyl Chloride Food Packaging Film Demand
by Application 100
23 Polyvinyl Chloride Nonfood Packaging Film Demand
by Application 102
24 Polyvinyl Chloride Secondary Packaging Film Demand
by Application 104
25 Polyethylene Terephthalate Film Demand by Market 106
26 Polyethylene Terephthalate Food Packaging Film Demand
by Application 110
27 Polyethylene Terephthalate Nonfood & Secondary Packaging
Film Demand by Application 112
28 Polyethylene Terephthalate Nonpackaging Film Demand
by Application 114
29 Other Plastic Film Demand by Resin 115
30 Polystyrene Film Demand by Market 117
31 Nylon Film Resin Demand by Market 120
32 Polyvinylidene Chloride Film Demand by Market 122
33 Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Film Demand by Market 125
34 Degradable Plastic Resin Film Demand by Market 129
35 Cellulosics Film Demand by Market 130
36 Cellophane Film Demand by Market 132
37 All Other Plastic Film Demand by Market 134

SECTION IV -- MARKET OVERVIEW

1 Plastic Film Demand by Market 137

SECTION V -- FOOD PACKAGING

1 Food Packaging Film Demand by Application 141
2 Food & Beverage Product Shipments 145
3 Snack Food Shipments 151
4 Snack Food Film Demand by Resin 155
5 Meat, Poultry, & Seafood Consumption 158
6 Meat, Poultry, & Seafood Film Demand by Resin 161
7 Baked Goods Shipments 163
8 Baked Goods Film Demand by Resin 166
9 Fresh Produce Consumption 168
10 Produce Film Demand by Resin 171
11 Grain Mill Product Shipments 173
12 Grain Mill Product Film Demand by Resin 175
13 Confections Shipments 177
14 Confections Film Demand by Resin 179
15 Frozen Food Shipments 182
16 Frozen Food Film Demand by Resin 185
17 Dairy Products Shipments 188
18 Dairy Product Film Demand by Resin 191
19 Beverage Shipments 194
20 Beverage Film Demand by Resin 196
21 Other Foods Film Demand by Resin 198

SECTION VI -- NONFOOD PACKAGING

1 Nonfood Packaging Film Demand by Application 200
2 Drug & Medical Product Shipments 204
3 Drugs & Medical Product Film Demand by Resin 207
4 Shipping Sack Film Demand by Resin 210
5 Rack & Counter Film Demand by Resin 212
6 Textile & Paper Products Shipments 215
7 Textile & Paper Film Demand by Resin 218
8 Other Nonfood Packaging Film Demand by Resin 220

SECTION VII -- SECONDARY PACKAGING

1 Secondary Packaging Film Demand by Application 222
2 Retail Bag Film Demand by Resin 225
3 Stretch Wrap Film Demand by Resin 229
4 Industrial Liner Film Demand by Resin 231
5 Shrink Wrap Film Demand by Resin 235
6 Garment Bag Film Demand by Resin 237
7 Other Secondary Packaging Film Demand 238

SECTION VIII – NONPACKAGING

1 Nonpackaging Film Demand by Application 240
2 Trash Bag Film Demand by Resin 244
3 Nonwoven Disposable Film Demand by Resin 247
4 Household Foodwraps & Bags Film Demand by Resin 249
5 Agricultural Film Demand by Resin 251
6 Construction & Industrial Film Demand by Resin 253
7 Other Nonpackaging Film Demand by Market & Resin 255

SECTION IX -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 Plastic Film Sales by Company, 2011 258
2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures 267
3 Selected Cooperative Agreements 276



LIST OF CHARTS

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Plastic Resin Demand, 2011 28
2 Plastic Film Market, 2001-2011 44

SECTION III – RESINS

1 Plastic Film Demand by Resin, 2011 48
2 Linear Low Density Polyethylene Film Demand
by Market, 2011 51
3 High Density Polyethylene Film Demand by Market, 2011 66
4 Low Density Polyethylene Film Demand by Market, 2011 75
5 Polypropylene Film Demand by Market, 2011 89
6 PVC Film Demand by Market, 2011 99
7 PET Film Demand by Market, 2011 107

SECTION IV -- MARKET OVERVIEW

1 Plastic Film Demand by Market, 2011 138

SECTION V -- FOOD PACKAGING

1 Food Packaging Film Demand by Application, 2011 142

SECTION VI -- NONFOOD PACKAGING

1 Nonfood Packaging Film Demand by Application, 2011 201

SECTION IX -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 US Plastic Film Market Share, 2011 260

Thermoplastic in United States

United States Polystyrene Production, `000 Tonnes

• $ 250
• Industry data
• February 2013

Yearly, From 2011 To 2019
By Business Monitor International
Source: "Oil &

• Industries : Plastic
• Countries : United States

United States Pvc Production, `000 Tonnes

• $ 250
• Industry data
• February 2013

Yearly, From 2010 To 2019
By Business Monitor International
Source: "Oil &

• Industries : Plastic
• Countries : United States