Abstract:

　　The global market for plastics additives and barrier coatings is set to grow at a compound　annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% to total $752m (€586.2) by 2014, according to a new　report from Pira International.

　　“There is a rapidly increasing demand for packaging materials that give even greater　protection to their contents,” says the report, titled The Future of Functional Additives　and Barrier Coatings to 23014. “These technologies not only optimise product shelf life,they also reduce the need for preservatives, provide transparency and gloss, and serve as a　printing substrate.”

　　Key drivers for the growth, which is predicted to outstrip growth in the overall packaging　market, are increasing consumer demand for convenience and product safety.

　　There is also a growing demand for smaller PET bottles, which have a higher surface area　per unit volume and therefore require better protection than larger bottles, says Pira.

　　The market for functional plastic packaging additives is set to have a CAGR of 3.9%, while　the barrier coatings market is set to grow 4.6% over the next four years. In the barrier　coatings area, PVdC coatings had 38.2% of all market value in 2009, the largest share,　followed by metallised coatings (31.1%) and EVOH (18.1%).

　　In terms of geographical area, growth rates in western Europe and North American are slower　than the global average. The highest growth rates are in China and India – more than 10%.

　　In 2009, Asia Pacific took the largest share of the additives and barrier market (42%),　followed by North America (24.5%), western Europe (19.9%), central and eastern Europe　(5.4%), South America (3.9%) and the rest of the world (4.3%).