Report Overview
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This study analyzes the global market for geosynthetics, including:
geotextiles
geomembranes
geogrids
geonets
others product, such as geocells, geofoams, geosynthetic clay liners, preformed geocomposites, erosion control blankets, fabric formed revetments, and turbidity curtains
Scope and Summary
Unless stated otherwise, “geotextiles” refers only to synthetic geotextiles, as natural fiber geotextiles are not included in the scope of this study. Plastic geopipes also are excluded.
Markets include:
transportation infrastructure (including paved – both asphalt and concrete – and unpaved roads, bridges, railways, and airport runways
building construction:
residential buildings (single-family, multifamily, manufactured homes)
nonresidential buildings (including offices, retail, and wholesale, lodging, education, healthcare, religious, industrial, and transportation buildings)
landfills (solid waste management)
liquid containment (including potable water reservoirs; decorative ponds; irrigation channels; canals; and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste ponds)
mining
other markets (including agriculture, coal combustion product containment, and oil and gas sites)
Historical data for 2009, 2014, and 2019 and forecasts for 2024 and 2029 are provided for demand in million square meters.
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Global demand for geosynthetics is forecast to rise 4.1% annually through 2024 to 8.2 billion square meters. Opportunities can be found it:
sustained investment in public infrastructure projects, particularly in China and other developing areas of the world
the willingness of higher-income construction markets to invest extra funds to create longer lasting and more stable projects
expanding paved road construction
enactment of more local building codes and other regulations mandating the use of geosynthetics
Geotextiles Lead Due to Variety of Applications & Low Cost
Geotextiles were the most used type of geosynthetics in area terms in 2019 and are expected to account for the majority of demand gains through 2024. These materials benefit from the ability to offer favorable performance at reasonable costs. Geotextiles are:
heavily used in a variety of markets – particularly building construction, transportation infrastructure, and landfills – because of their ability to provide soil stability, drainage efficiency, and erosion control
less expensive than other geosynthetics, which means they are more likely to be adopted in developing countries and in other applications where cost is of major consideration, such as government-funded infrastructure projects
Geomembranes Sales Boosted by Environmental Efforts
Geomembranes are expected to experience the fastest growth in demand through 2024, driven by the adoption of increasingly stringent environmental standards in more areas of the world. In high-income countries in North America and Western Europe where regulations already exist, increased spending on landfills and liquid containment projects will support demand growth. Even countries that are moving away from their dependence on landfills will use geomembranes as landfill caps to reduce odors and prevent leachate generation. In developing countries, government investment in public infrastructure will boost demand. For example, efforts to modernize and expand China’s landfills will boost demand for geomembranes liners.
Transportation Infrastructure & Building Construction to Remain Leading Markets
Transportation infrastructure and building construction account for the majority of geosynthetics demand. Through 2024, gains in the transportation infrastructure market will be supported by:
growth in paved road construction in many countries worldwide
the World Bank’s requirement that all road and highway projects it finances include geosynthetics