Global Pressure Sensitive Tapes Report

Report Overview

PSA Tape Manufacturers Taking the Lead in Sustainability

Key themes covered in this report:

• Growth in the e-commerce market and what competition from water activated tapes in this sector means
• Expanding opportunities in South and Southeast Asia in light of manufacturing investments going on
• Trends in adhesive technologies for pressure sensitive tape in light of expanding applications and sustainability trends

Featuring 167 Tables and 121 Figures

Global demand for pressure sensitive tapes is forecast to increase 2.8% per year to 63.6 billion square meters in 2029; market value is expected to rise 5.4% per year to $73.4 billion. Growth will be driven by rising demand for packaging and shipping materials as goods manufacturing (both durable and nondurable) expands globally.

Sustainability Focus Posing Both Opportunities & Challenges for Suppliers

Firms in key end-use markets are increasingly emphasizing sustainability. This trend is especially impactful in the packaging and shipping market, which generates large amounts of paper and plastic waste. Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape manufacturers are addressing this trend by investing in product development and improved manufacturing processes; sustainability is a key marketing emphasis in new product rollouts.

However, companies operating in packaging and shipping industries are also making changes that threaten PSA usage, including:

• expanded use of water-activated tapes, which are excluded from the scope of this study
• initiatives to avoid overpackaging and reduce overall packaging material use

These trends are particularly significant in the e-commerce market, which is typically a major growth market. However, the potential benefits for PSA tape suppliers are limited by large firms’ (e.g., Amazon) widespread adoption of water-activated tape.

Economic Development & Foreign Investment Drive South & Southeast Asian Sales Growth

The majority of global demand growth for pressure sensitive tapes through 2029 will occur in the Asia/Pacific region. China will continue to account for a large share of global demand gains, but its markets are approaching maturity. Consequently, the strongest growth opportunities will be found elsewhere in the region.

India recently overtook Japan to become the world’s third largest national market for PSA tapes; globally, it is expected to be the fastest growing market by a substantial margin. Growth will be fueled by strong advances in all underlying tape markets as the country’s economy rapidly develops. A number of Southeast Asian nations (e.g., Indonesia and Vietnam) are similarly forecast to post above average growth, benefiting from high levels of foreign investment in their manufacturing sectors.

Performance Advantages Boost Market Share for Tapes in Manufacturing Applications

Demand for double-sided tape and adhesive transfer tape is forecast to grow at a healthy rate, mainly due to noteworthy gains in manufacturing applications. Tapes are increasingly taking share from alternative joining technologies (e.g., mechanical fasteners), thereby reflecting their performance advantages and potential for streamlining manufacturing processes. In particular, use of tape for lightweighting purposes in transportation equipment is expected to continue expanding.

Report Details

Key Industry Participants Driving Trends

Report Scope

This study analyzes the global market for pressure sensitive tape. Pressure sensitive tape – also known as pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape, adhesive tape, self-stick tape, or sticky tape – sticks with the application of pressure and does not require a solvent (such as water) or heat for activation.

Pressure sensitive tape generally consists of an adhesive coated onto a backing material such as paper, plastic film, cloth, or foil. Some tape has a removable release liner that protects the adhesive until it is removed. Some tape may have layers of adhesives, primers, release agents, or other components designed for specific functions.

Included in the scope of this study is a variety of tape products, including:

• carton sealing tape
• masking tape
• double-sided tape
• adhesive transfer tape
• duct tape
• electrical tape 
• other niche or low volume tape products, such clean room tapes, foil tape, medical tape (including tapes used in sports medicine), personal hygiene tape, safety or reflective tapes, surface protection tapes, and strapping and bundling tape

Pressure sensitive tapes typically include three components – backing, pressure sensitive adhesive, and one or more release coatings. Among backing materials used are: 

• polypropylene
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• other plastic (e.g., cellulose acetate, fluoropolymer, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polyimide)
• paper
• other materials such as cloth, rubber, glass fabric, foam, foil, and nonwovens

Excluded from the scope of the study are water-activated/gummed, heat-activated, and other non-pressure sensitive tapes; related pressure sensitive items, such as adhesive bandages and medical patches, pipeline tapes, contact papers, and protective films; and PSA labels. Also excluded are electronic tapes used for “masking” functions in electronic components and production operations. 

This study analyzes demand for pressure sensitive tape in various markets, including:

• packaging and shipping
• manufacturing, such as:
  • appliance production 
  • electronics and electrical equipment manufacturing
  • medical device assembly
  • motor vehicles and other transportation equipment
  • packaging and printing production
  • personal care product manufacturing
• building and construction
• consumer and office
• healthcare and medical 
• other markets (e.g., automotive aftermarket, event setup, law enforcement, libraries, museums, picture framing, schools, signs and graphics, warehouses, movie sets and theater/concert venues)

By market, a given tape is included in the application in which it is used. For example, manufacturing tapes include PSA tapes that are used in joining, sealing, protecting, and mounting various components during the manufacturing process. When a manufactured product is packaged for sale (such as an appliance being placed in a box), this is considered to be the packaging and shipping market.

Tape Products Overview

The pressure sensitive tape industry can be segmented into two broad categories: 

• value-added technical, or specialty, tapes (e.g., double-sided, medical)
• commodity tapes (e.g., carton sealing, masking, transparent)

The latter types dominate the global market on a volume basis, although the former’s share of the market in value terms is much higher due to their significantly higher prices. 

Most tape products are application-specific, regardless of whether a given tape is classified as specialty or commodity. Masking tape would not be commonly used to seal boxes, for example, and medical tapes would not be used in motor vehicle assembly. As a result, demand for a given tape type depends heavily on trends in underlying markets.

In 2024, carton sealing tape comprised 64% of global demand volume, making it the most widely used tape. This sizable sales base results from the dominance of carton sealing tape in packaging and shipping, and is supported by growth in the global manufacturing, distribution, and logistics sectors. 

Global pressure sensitive tape demand is forecast to increase 2.8% per year to 63.6 billion square meters in 2029, valued at $73.4 billion:

• Carton sealing tape will continue to dominate global sales due to its integral role in packaging applications – particularly in the Asia/Pacific region.
• Solid growth is anticipated for double-sided tape and adhesive transfer tape, with gains supported by increasing utilization in industrial applications.