Release Liners - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2024 - 2029

The Release Liners Market size is estimated at USD 16.10 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 21.96 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.41% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the release liners sector. Global lockdowns and severe rules enforced by governments resulted in a catastrophic setback as most production hubs were shut down. Nonetheless, the business has been recovering since 2021 and is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
• Over the short term, increasing demand for clean labels from the food and beverage industry and rising demand for premium hygiene products, and adoption of film-based liners in the medical sector are some of the factors driving the growth of the market studied.
• On the flip side, issues related to the disposal of release liner waste are expected to hinder the market's growth.
• However, expanding the packaging sector in emerging economies is anticipated to provide numerous opportunities over the forecast period.
• Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the market and will also witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Release Liners Market Trends

Labels Segment to Dominate the Market

• Labels are applied to packaging to indicate the contents, product specifications, contact details, health and safety warnings and guidelines, and any additional marketing, branding, or pricing information that applies to a product.
• The labels segment is expected to dominate the market majorly due to the increased demand from the packaged foods sector in emerging economies. In supermarkets/hypermarkets, frozen-food meals are available in a wide range with a variety of ingredients and flavors in different packaging styles. This further attracts consumers to supermarkets and hypermarkets, driving the net sale in the market, in turn, is expected to create an upside demand for release liners.
• Moreover, according to the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) annual report, in 2022, the annual revenue of the packaging corporation of America was approximately USD 8.5 billion, which shows an increase of 9.69% compared with 2021. Therefore, an increase in the revenue of packaging is expected to create demand for labels, which is expected to augment the demand for release liners from the labels segment.
• Additionally, the expanding retail sector in several countries across the world has increased the demand for release liners in labeling applications. For instance, according to StatCan, in Jan 2022, the gross domestic product for the retail trade industry in Canada amounted to CAD 106.5 billion (USD 81.87 billion), which showed an increase of 7.44% compared to Jan 2021.
• Moreover, the focus on sustainable packaging, the expansion of large retail chains, consumer demand for convenience foods (packaged foods), and lifestyle changes have driven the demand for release liners in labeling applications, in turn, boosting the growth of release liners market.

Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market

• Asia-Pacific holds a significant share of the release liners market, and it is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.
• Release liners are found in many components of vehicle production, from pressure-sensitive tapes for brakes lights, carpets, upholstery, and door trim, to the wide variety of gaskets used for vibration reduction and sound dampening and the emerging production of batteries for EV vehicles. The demand for release liners majorly arises from the automotive and medical sectors in China. With the increasing investments in the country's automotive, medical, and packaging sectors, the demand for release liners is expected to increase during the forecast period.
• For instance, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), in 2022, automobile production in the country amounted to 2,70,20,615 units, which showed an increase of 3% compared to 2021. Therefore, the release liners market in the country is likely to expand as a result of the rise in overall automobile manufacturing.
• Additionally, release liners are also required in sanitary pads for female hygiene. The increasing awareness about intimate hygiene and increasing preference for menstrual products, such as sanitary pads, tampons, and panty liners, are boosting the demand for release liners. The Government of India has launched several awareness programs across the country about women's menstrual hygiene. For instance, in January 2022, the Rajasthan government started "I am Udaan," a women-friendly project. This plan, which will cost INR 200 crore (USD 25.4 million), will provide free sanitary napkins to every girl and woman in the state. Such government initiatives are expected the increase the demand for release liners.
• Moreover, release liners are a critical component in the overall development and performance of medical products such as transdermal drug delivery systems, medical devices, advanced wound care dressings, and other pharmaceutical packaging products. Release liners provide several benefits in medical device manufacturing and pharmaceutical packaging as they help package and protect a wide range of products.
• The significant growth in the medical products and devices industry is expected to propel the growth of the release liners market. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the export of medical devices from India stood at USD 2.90 billion in FY22 and is expected to rise to USD 10 billion by 2025. Therefore, an increase in the exports of medical devices from the country is expected to create an upside demand for the release liners market.
• Furthermore, the government of India has commenced various initiatives to strengthen the medical devices sector, with emphasis on research and development (R&D) and 100% FDI for medical devices to boost the market. For instance, according to IBEF, in August 2022, the Department of Pharmaceuticals greenlit the "Promotion of Medical Devices Parks" program from FY21-25 with a total financial investment of USD 48.97 million, with a maximum support under the program of USD 12.24 million for each Medical Device Park.
• Hence, further growth in these industries, owing to the government's support, is likely to increase the demand for release liners during the forecast period, thus, boosting the market growth in developing nations such as China and India.

Release Liners Industry Overview

The release liners market is consolidated in nature. The major players in this market (not in a particular order) include Mondi, Dow, 3M, Loparex, and Ahlstrom, among others.

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