US packaging barrier resin market to reach 9.8 bln lbs in 2019

02-Mar-15

The total US packaging barrier resin market was valued at 8.8 bln lbs in 2014 and should grow to about 9.8 bln lbs over the next five years, as per BCC Research. The largest segment is food and beverage packaging, which accounts for 95% of the U.S. market for the resins covered because of the large usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Other smaller but important markets include chemical/industrial products packaging (including automotive gasoline tanks) and healthcare products packaging, such as pharmaceutical blister packaging. Packaging has been around for centuries and was developed for a number of reasons. These include preservation and stability of products over time and the protection of products from damage, dirt, moisture, etc. Trends in the barrier plastic packaging market include the continuing tendency toward more complicated and sophisticated multilayer barrier structures, using more but often thinner layers. “One ongoing development that has been slow in gaining success is the multifaceted effort to increase the barrier properties of PET to make it a suitable material for packaging beer,” says BCC Research analyst Dr. J. Charles Forman. Several new methods have been developed and tested, with more success to date in Europe. This market could present a significant new opportunity for PET in barrier packaging .