A new Freedonia Group analysis projects global demand for pressure sensitive (PSA) tapes to increase 3.8% per year to 58.4 million square meters in 2025, following declines in 2020 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand will be boosted by:
- post-pandemic growth in manufacturing and an ongoing shift away from mechanical fasteners toward tape in the manufacture of many durable goods, most notably transportation equipment and electronics
- increasing building construction activity
- rising personal incomes in low-income countries
Carton Sealing Tape Will Remain Widely Used, But Faces Competition from Alternatives
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:
- Carton sealing tape was the leading product type in 2020, accounting for nearly two-thirds of global volume demand, and will remain so through 2025 due to its integral role in packaging and shipping applications – particularly in the Asia/Pacific region.
- However, double-sided tapes will grow at a faster rate, supported by increasing utilization in industrial bonding applications due to numerous advantages, including the ability to join a broad range of materials (e.g., fabric, paint, wood, metals, plastics, ceramics, glass, cork, concrete).
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Global Pressure Sensitive Tapes is now available from the Freedonia Group. This study analyzes the global pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA, or self-adhesive) tape market. Historical data are provided for 2010, 2015, and 2020, with forecasts for 2025 and 2030. Demand is segmented by product:
- carton sealing tape
- masking tape (e.g., general purpose, high-temperature)
- double-sided tape
- adhesive transfer tape
- duct tape
- electrical tape
- other tape products (e.g., clean room tapes, medical tapes, electronic tapes, personal hygiene product tapes, drywall tape, gaffer tape, surface protection tape,etc.)
Pressure sensitive tapes typically include three components – backing, pressure sensitive adhesive, and one or more release coatings. Among backing materials discussed 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
Markets evaluated in the study include:
- packaging and shipping
- manufacturing (e.g., 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)