Global Synthetic Paper Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Manufacturing Process (Fiber Synthetic Paper, Film Synthetic Paper), By End-User Industry (Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetic, Food & Beverage, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The global synthetic paper market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.76% to reach US$701.912 million in 2027 from US$365.727 million in 2020. The synthetic paper has a wide range of applications in printed and laminated materials, tags and labels, laminated cards and key tags, secure credentials and identity cards, e-passports, certificates, and others. Its market is expected to grow at a decent rate in the next five years owing to the increasing demand for synthetic papers in use for the identification and marketing of different products. The high rate of adoption of printed synthetic papers for labelling in the beverage industry, a rising trend in online shopping, and the packaging industry will boost the market’s growth in the coming years.

The market is divided into two segments based on manufacturing process type: film synthetic paper (which includes internal paper manufacturing methods, surface coating methods, and surface treatment methods) and fibre synthetic paper (which includes synthetic pulp paper, spun-bond paper, and film laminated synthetic paper).

The use of synthetic paper in packaging and labeling, retail, transportation, and manufacturing is resulting in a more robust growth of the synthetic paper market around the globe. People's awareness of the use of synthetic paper and its applications has resulted in a high rate of adoption, attracting many private players into this market and causing it to become highly competitive in the coming years. The cost of raw materials used in the development of synthetic paper products has been variable and fluctuating, affecting the margins of synthetic paper manufacturers.

Geographically, the synthetic paper market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific currently dominates the market owing to the rising demand for synthetic paper products. Changing lifestyle, and an increasing population is expected to further augment the market growth in this region at a decent pace in the next five years.

COSMETIC AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS DRIVING THE MARKET GROWTH

Increasing investment in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors is leading to the growing adoption of synthetic paper in the healthcare sector during the forecast period. For instance, according to Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence Analysis, global healthcare spending is projected to grow by an approx. CAGR of 5% till 2027. Simultaneously, there has been a growing emphasis on improving patient data accuracy by reducing errors on patient wristbands. Furthermore, hospitals and medical institutions are putting greater emphasis on optimizing staff operations. The ability of wristbands to improve the accuracy of patient data while optimizing daily healthcare operations is driving its demand, which in turn, is providing high revenue generation opportunities for synthetic paper manufacturers.

The European region has witnessed a slight increase in the epidemiology of infectious diseases over the last couple of years. In Germany, the number of new cases in hospitals increased from 16,539,398 in 2005 to 19,442,810 in 2017, which is further anticipated to increase to 21,142,433 in 2023 (source: Destatis, Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence Analysis) on account of a growing proportion of the adult population, which in turn, is anticipated to support the growth of the market during the forecast period. In the United Kingdom, the average hospital bed efficiency rate has increased from 84.3% in 2010 to 88% in 2019% (source: NHS England). Simultaneously, the total number of finished admitted episodes has grown at a CAGR of 3.05% between 2002/03 – 2018/19 while episodes related to influenza and pneumonia have increased at a CAGR of 10.18% during the same period. Thus, the growing number of hospital visits has been instrumental in driving the demand for wristbands within the healthcare domain.

Moreover, its ability to offer durable solutions makes it ideal for the cosmetic industry, primarily for printing, packaging, and labeling applications. The global cosmetic packaging industry is expected to grow during the forecast period due to the thriving beauty industry. The growth in the adoption of cosmetic products is mainly attributed to the increasing interest in cosmetics among many young women worldwide. According to a new UN report, approximately 2.5 billion more people will live in cities by 2050. According to a new United Nations report, two out of every three people will likely be living in cities or other urban centres by 2050, emphasising the need for more sustainable urban planning and public services. The migration of people from rural areas to urban areas has resulted in an increase in disposable income, which in turn has led to the adoption of modern living conditions as well. As a result, this has had a positive impact on cosmetic consumption levels, creating a market demand for cosmetic packaging in the forecast period and in the coming years. Furthermore, with rapid urbanisation, people are able to obtain a better education and are paid well. This has further led to people paying attention to their health, personal hygiene, and appearance, fueling the growth of the global cosmetic packaging market in the forecast period and in the upcoming years.

Recent developments and expansion

• Agfa announced the market launch of its SYNAPS Xerographic Matt (XM) synthetic paper in November 2021, which includes an agent that inhibits the settlement and growth of bacteria and viruses on its surface. This new SYNAPS XM product line completely replaces the existing XM product line while retaining its excellent print quality, antistatic process behaviour, and universal printer compatibility.
• Cosmo Films introduced non-tearable synthetic paper in May 2021. A non-tearable, co-extruded, white opaque, and matte coated film on both sides that resembles paper in appearance is best suited for outdoor applications where printing is done on both sides and 100 percent opacity is required. The matte finish on both sides of the product gives it the appearance of paper and provides print quality and true colour output.
• Arjobex SAS purchased 100% of the MDV Group in 2020, a speciality manufacturer and coater of speciality papers and films for the print, packaging, medical, sign/display, and building industries. MDV is the European market leader in fluorescent papers under the Fluolux brand, as well as a major player in the films and synthetic paper markets under the Robuskin and Satinex brands. Arjobex's European footprint has grown significantly as a result of this acquisition, making it the leading European speciality coatings solutions provider for paper and films.

COVID-19 Impact on Synthetic Paper Market:

COVID-19 has had a mixed and industry-specific impact. For example, in developing regions, there has been a noticeable shift towards the organised sector, which has resulted in increased demand for food packaging products, driving the synthetic paper market growth in 2020. Simultaneously, the advent of COVID-19 has also led to an increased demand for table tents that aid in displaying and conveying procedural, promotional, and educational information. Similarly, the personal hygiene category has witnessed an exponential increase in demand with the need for sanitizers picking up strongly in 2020, thus providing a high revenue generation avenue for labelling applications. Also, the growing demand for convenience products, rapid urbanization and modernization in developing countries like India and China, and the rising need for germ protection are further triggering the demand for hand sanitizer in the next five years. Furthermore, the global expansion of e-commerce coupled with increased investment propels market growth opportunities for the hand sanitizer business, thereby propelling the synthetic paper market growth.

REGIONAL SNAPSHOT

Food packaging over the years has undergone various revolutionary changes in terms of shape, end-user and even material used. Increasing disposable income and rising household spending in developing economies like China, India, and Brazil are expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. According to the CEIC, China's Annual Household Expenditure per Capita reached 4,698.876 USD in December 2021, up from 3,914.175 USD in December 2020. In addition, rising health awareness among consumers is expected to increase the demand for nutritious food packed in the advanced form of packaging technology is anticipated to propel the market growth opportunities in the coming years. Expanding the pharmaceutical industry and increasing the manufacturing of medicines in China owing to the rise in diseases is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. In addition, expanding the manufacturing and food industry is anticipated to boost the adoption of blister packaging on account of its characteristics like product integrity and extended shelf life which account for great importance in both the pharmaceutical and processed food industries. Furthermore, the rising number of supermarket companies in the country is also supporting the growing demand for packed food products which, in turn, is driving the market demand. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently passed a regulation requiring all the prescribed pharmaceuticals dispensed in hospitals and nursing homes to be packaged in the unit dose format with barcodes in order to reduce dispensing errors, which is expected to significantly benefit the synthetic paper market in the country. The market demand in the South American region is expected to witness a rise in region owing mainly to the rising demand for OTC and prescribed drugs. Furthermore, the favourable government policies and initiatives to boost manufacturing and production activities in the region are estimated to further amplify the market growth during the forecast period. Brazil is estimated to dominate the market in South America owing to the growing manufacturing activities in the country and the country’s being one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world. Argentina will also hold a considerable share. However, it is projected to witness slower growth compared to the other segments in this region.

Global Synthetic Paper Market Scope:

SEGMENTATION

• By Manufacturing Process
  • Fiber Synthetic Paper
  • Film Synthetic Paper
• By End-User Industry
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetic
  • Food & Beverage
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • The United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • The United Kingdom
    • France
    • Spain
    • Italy
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • The United Arab Emirates
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Australia
    • Others