A new Freedonia Group analysis finds that demand for folding cartons in the beverage market will benefit from the popularity of smaller, regional runs of beverages.

Demand for folding cartons is expected to grow 1.8% per year through 2026 to $12.8 billion.

Global demand for I&I cleaning chemicals is projected to increase 3.9% annually to $53.7 billion in 2026.

Vehicle care products will also see above average gains, buoyed by increasing shipping and distribution activities, as well as increasing patronization of commercial car washes as average vehicle miles traveled returns to pre-pandemic levels.

While some companies are exploring ways to fulfill such pledges by making plastic more eco-friendly – such as by improving recyclability or increasing use of recycled content – others are looking to shift away from conventional plastics altogether.

The return of international tourism, which suffered significantly in 2020 and continued to be affected in 2021, will also spur cleaning chemical demand for hotels.

Demand for wipes is expected to advance 2.3% per year off a relatively high base to $4.3 billion in 2026.

The oil and gas market is expected to be the fastest growing pipe market, supported by a significant rebound in the number of wells drilled in the US as oil and natural gas prices increase from very low levels in 2020 and early 2021.

Although market growth will be restrained by the introduction of regulations limiting or outlawing the use of certain types of silicones in North America and Western Europe due to concerns about the safety of these products, opportunities exist.

In the industrial market, rental shop towels and rags are the primary products competing with wipes.