Mulch Films Market Size, Share, Industry Growth, Trends Report by Type (Clear/Transparent, Black Mulch, Colored Mulch, Photo-selective Mulch, Degradable Mulch), Application (Agricultural and Horticulture), Element (LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, EVA, PLA, PHA) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028
The global mulch films market is estimated at US$7.8 billion in the year 2023, is projected to reach a revised size of US$10.6 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% over the analysis period 2023-2028 Mulch films are thin sheets of plastic or other materials that are placed on the surface of the soil to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and improve crop yields. They are available in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and materials, and can be used in a wide range of agricultural and horticultural applications.
Mulch films can be made from a variety of materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and biodegradable materials such as paper and cornstarch. Mulch films work by creating a barrier between the soil surface and the atmosphere. This barrier prevents sunlight from reaching weed seeds, which inhibits their germination and growth. It also helps to retain moisture in the soil, which can reduce the need for irrigation. Additionally, mulch films can help to improve soil temperature by trapping heat from the sun. This can be beneficial for crops that require warmer temperatures for optimal growth.
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Mulch Films Market Dynamics
Drivers:Rising demand for greenhouse applications coupled with rising environmental concerns
The mulch film market is experiencing a significant surge in demand due to the growing interest in greenhouse applications, which is closely tied to rising environmental concerns. Greenhouses are increasingly used in agriculture to create controlled environments for cultivating various crops. They offer protection from adverse weather conditions, pests, and diseases, allowing for year-round cultivation. This rising demand for greenhouse applications is primarily driven by the need for increased food production to feed the growing global population and the desire to reduce the environmental impact of traditional open-field farming.
As the demand for greenhouse applications continues to rise in response to these environmental concerns and the need for efficient and sustainable agriculture, the mulch film market is set to expand further. This trend aligns with broader efforts to promote eco-friendly farming practices and reduce the ecological footprint of the agricultural industry, making mulch films an essential component of modern, environmentally conscious agriculture.
Restraints in the Mulch Films Market: Implementation of additional pest and disease management measures for farmers
Mulch films are widely used in agriculture to improve crop yields, conserve soil moisture, and control weed growth, but the requirement for farmers to adopt additional pest and disease management measures can hinder their adoption. For instance, in some regions, pests like nematodes can become a major problem for crops, and farmers need to implement strategies such as crop rotation, use of chemical pesticides, or biological control methods to combat these pests effectively. In such cases, the use of mulch films may be less appealing because they can create a conducive environment for pest proliferation, trapping heat and moisture beneath the film. This, in turn, may require farmers to invest more time and resources in monitoring and managing pest issues, potentially increasing their operational costs.
Opportunities: Increasing demand for environmentally friendly and biodegradable mulch films
The increasing demand for environmentally friendly and biodegradable mulch films presents a significant opportunity in the agricultural industry, particularly in developed regions like North America and Europe. As governments in these regions actively discourage traditional plastics due to environmental concerns, stringent regulations are being set to restrict their usage. For instance, according to the news release by Agriland Media Ltd., in July 2022, maize plastic was banned from the EU market under the EU directive. This shift towards sustainability and eco-conscious agriculture is driving the biodegradable mulch films market, which are poised for substantial growth during the forecast period.
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Several key companies in the mulch films market, including industry leaders like BASF SE (Germany), Armando Alvarez Group (Spain), and Novamont S.p.A. (Italy), have recognized the importance of environmental considerations in the agricultural sector. For example, BAS SE (Germany) has recently revealed in April 2023, to establish compounding capacities of Ecovio, a biodegradable mulch film, in Asia-Pacific as of mid-2023. They are proactively manufacturing biodegradable films that align with these principles, along with expanding the market around the globe thereby fostering the growth of this innovative market segment.
Challenges: Installation and maintenance of mulch films
The challenges related to installation and maintenance have a significant impact on the mulch film market. Farmers may be discouraged from adopting mulch films due to the labor-intensive and technical nature of installation. Moreover, the ongoing maintenance requirements can add to the overall cost, affecting the cost-benefit analysis for farmers. In regions where skilled labor is scarce or expensive, these challenges can be a major deterrent to the adoption of mulch films, ultimately impacting their market growth.
The challenges in the installation and maintenance of mulch film in agricultural practices are often intertwined with the cost of labor considerations. Many farms face the decision of whether to use local labor or opt for H-2A labor, which consists of temporary agricultural workers. While some farms pay the same hourly rate to both machinery operators and manual laborers, others differentiate hourly rates by activity. The decision to employ H-2A workers can have significant cost implications. Even if the hourly wage rates are comparable between H-2A workers and local labor, additional expenses related to H-2A labor, such as housing, transportation, and agency fees, can substantially increase labor costs. When assessing the installation and maintenance of mulch films, it is essential to factor in all costs associated with H-2A workers to determine accurate hourly wage rates that encompass the complete spectrum of labor expenses.
Mulch Films Market Ecosystem
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Is One Of The Mulch Film Elements That Is Dominated With The Highest Mulch Films Market Share In 2022.
LLDPE mulch films are a type of plastic film that is used to cover the soil around plants. They are made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), which is a type of plastic that is known for its strength, durability, and flexibility. LLDPE mulch films are typically black or silver, and they come in a variety of thicknesses and widths. Additionally, LLDPE mulch films are a versatile and sustainable product that can help farmers improve their yields and reduce their environmental impact. As the demand for food continues to grow, LLDPE mulch films are likely to play an increasingly important role in agriculture.
India Is One Of The Fastest Growing Markets For Mulch Films In Asia Pacific.
The demand for mulch films in India is increasing rapidly, driven by a number of factors, including Growing awareness of the benefits of mulch films, such as improved crop yields, reduced water consumption, and weed suppression, expanding area under cultivation of high-value crops, such as fruits and vegetables, which are more likely to be mulched, and Increasing government support for the use of mulch films, in the form of subsidies and other incentives.
A few government agencies that develop awareness of mulch films include The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of agriculture in India. The Ministry's website provides a wealth of information on mulch films, including the demand for mulch films in India, the benefits of mulch films, and government schemes for the promotion of mulch films. NHB is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. NHB is responsible for the development and promotion of horticulture in India. The NHB's website provides information on the demand for mulch films in India, the benefits of mulch films for horticultural crops, and NHB schemes for the promotion of mulch films.
The adoption of mulch films in India is increasing, as farmers become more aware of the benefits offered. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. One challenge is the cost of mulch films. Mulch films can be expensive, especially for small-scale farmers. Another challenge is the availability of mulch films. Mulch films are not always readily available in rural areas. These are the challenges in the mulch films market.
Key Market Players in the Mulch Films Market
The key players in this market include Berry Global Inc. (US), BASF SE (Germany), Dow (US), Kuraray (Japan), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Plastika Kritis S.A. (Greece), RKW Group (Germany), Achilles Corporation (Japan), Armando Alvarez Group (Spain), and Novamont S.p.A (Italy).
Scope of the Mulch Films Market Report
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Report Metric |
Details |
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Market valuation in 2023 |
USD 7.8 billion |
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Revenue forecast in 2028 |
USD 10.6 billion |
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Progress rate |
CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 - 2028 |
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Market size estimation |
2023–2028 |
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Base year considered |
2022 |
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Segments Covered |
By Type, Application, Element, and Region |
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Regions covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and RoW |
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Companies studied |
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Target Audience of the Mulch Films Market
- Mulch films manufacturers, formulators, and blenders
- Mulch films traders, suppliers, distributors, importers, and exporters
- Government Agricultural Authorities
- Chemical Intermediate and Technology Providers
- Mulch films manufacturers
- Commercial research & development (R&D) organizations and financial institutions
- Government agricultural departments and regulatory bodies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Mulch Film Association (IMFA), National Agricultural Plastics Association (NAPA), Plastic Film Manufacturers Association (PFMA), and International Association for Agricultural, Environment, and Food Chemistry (IAAEFC).
Mulch Films Market Segmentation:
This research report categorizes the market, based on type, application, element, and region.
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Aspect |
Details |
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By Type |
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By Application |
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By Element |
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By Region |
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Recent Developments in Mulch Films Market
- In April 2023, BASF SE plans to make commercial quantities of Ecovio available to customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region starting in mid-2023. These initial offerings will include film grades designed for various applications, such as certified compostable shopping and organic waste bags, soil-biodegradable agricultural mulch films, and packaging materials. This development underscores the company’s commitment to driving positive change in the plastics industry in various applications and contributing to a more sustainable future in the Asia-Pacific market.
- In July 2022, Dow collaborated with Valoregen for the construction of the most extensive single hybrid recycling facility in Damazan, France. This facility is designed to have the capability to process a substantial 70 kilotons of plastic waste annually. Dow has been chosen as the primary recipient of post-consumer resins (PCR) from Valoregen's innovative new plant. In the future, this site is poised to offer a distinctive blend of advanced and mechanical recycling facilities, all within a single, integrated ecosystem.
- In May 2022, Berry Global Inc joined forces with Cleanfarms and Poly-Ag Recycling to spearhead an innovative, closed-loop strategy aimed at enhancing Canada's circular economy. This collaborative recycling initiative, launched in early 2022, is focused on retrieving used agricultural films, processing reclaimed grain bag materials, and utilizing recycled content to create new products.
- In January 2022, Exxon Mobil Corporation and SABIC have successfully commenced operations at the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures world-scale manufacturing facility in San Patricio County, Texas. The new facility is designed to meet the increasing demand for performance products and will produce materials utilized in various applications, including packaging, agricultural film, construction materials, clothing, and automotive coolants. The operation comprises a 1.8 million metric ton per year ethane steam cracker, two polyethylene units with a combined capacity of up to 1.3 million metric tons per year, and a monoethylene glycol unit capable of producing 1.1 million metric tons per year.
- In September 2021, BASF SE and WPO POLYMERS entered into a strategic partnership to further its biopolymers business and extend its reach into the rapidly evolving Spanish and Portuguese markets. As part of this collaboration, WPO Polymers, a prominent plastics solutions provider, will take on the role of distributor for BASF's Ecovio film product range. This range includes certified compostable shopping bags, organic waste bags, and fruit and vegetable bags. By leveraging their respective strengths and expertise, BASF and WPO Polymers are strategically positioned to expedite their business activities within these crucial markets.
- In August 2020, RKW Group is actively advancing its commitment to reducing plastic waste by incorporating recycled materials into its high-quality films. This progress includes the establishment of a new five-layer production line at RKW Group's facility in Pori, Finland, aimed at creating lawn and garden films with a substantial proportion of recycled content, including post-consumer recyclate (PCR). The company intends to further increase the use of recycled PCR material while maintaining the essential qualities of these films, such as exceptional printability, high opacity, and puncture resistance, among others. This expansion will allow the company to extend its sustainable practices to the production of films for food and beverage packaging, further aligning with its commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How big is the mulch films market?
The mulch films market is estimated at USD 7.8 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 10.6 Billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2028.
Which are the key players in the market, and how intense is the competition?
The key players in this market include Berry Global Inc. (US), BASF SE (Germany), Dow (US), Kuraray (Japan), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Plastika Kritis S.A. (Greece), RKW Group (Germany), Achilles Corporation (Japan), Armando Alvarez Group (Spain), and Novamont S.p.A (Italy).
The mulch films market witnesses increased scope for growth. The market is seeing an increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions and expansion. Moreover, the companies involved in the production of mulch films are investing a considerable proportion of their revenues in research and development activities.
Which region is projected to account for the largest share of the mulch films market?
The market is expected to grow in Asia Pacific and is expected to dominate during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is home to some of the world's most populous countries, including China and India. This large and diverse consumer base creates significance for mulch films to meet the increasing food demand.
Which are the major mulch films types considered in the study and which segments are projected to have promising growth rates in the future?
All the major types of mulch films include clear/transparent, black mulch, colored mulch, photo-selective mulch, degradable mulch, and other types. Biodegradable Mulch is anticipated to witness the highest growth rate with a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period.
Is there Oceania (New Zealand and Australia) specific information (market size, players, growth rate) for mulch films maket?
On request, We will provide details on market size, key players, and growth rate of this industry in the Oceania region. Also, you can let us know if there are any other countries of your interest.
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The study involved four major activities in estimating the current size of the mulch films market. Exhaustive secondary research was done to collect information on the market, peer, and parent markets. The next step was to validate these findings, assumptions, and sizing with industry experts across the value chain through primary research. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were employed to estimate the complete market size. After that, market breakdown and data triangulation were used to estimate the market size of segments and subsegments.
Secondary Research
This research study involved the extensive use of secondary sources—directories and databases such as Bloomberg Businessweek and Factiva—to identify and collect information useful for a technical, market-oriented, and commercial study of the market.
In the secondary research process, various sources such as annual reports, press releases & investor presentations of companies, white papers, food journals, certified publications, articles from recognized authors, gold & silver standard websites, directories, and databases, were referred to identify and collect information. This research study involved the extensive use of secondary sources—directories and databases such as Bloomberg Businessweek and Factiva—to identify and collect information useful for a technical, market-oriented, and commercial study of the mulch films market.
Secondary research was mainly used to obtain key information about the industry’s supply chain, the total pool of key players, and market classification and segmentation as per the industry trends to the bottom-most level, regional markets, and key developments from both market- and technology-oriented perspectives.
Primary Research
Extensive primary research was conducted after obtaining information regarding the mulch films market scenario through secondary research. Several primary interviews were conducted with market experts from both the demand and supply sides across major countries of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Rest of the World. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, emails, and telephonic interviews. The primary sources from the supply side included various industry experts, such as Chief X Officers (CXOs), Vice Presidents (VPs), Directors, from business development, marketing, research, and development teams, and related key executives from distributors, and key opinion leaders. Primary interviews were conducted to gather insights such as market statistics, data on revenue collected from the products and services, market breakdowns, market size estimations, market forecasting, and data triangulation. Primary research also helped in understanding the various trends related to types of mulch films, application, element, and region. Stakeholders from the demand side, such as agricultural producers, mulch films distributing companies, and those who are using mulch films were interviewed to understand the buyer’s perspective on the suppliers, products, and their current usage of mulch films and outlook of their business which will affect the overall market.
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COMPANY NAME |
designation |
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BASF SE (Germany) |
General Manager |
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Berry Global Inc (US) |
Sales Manager |
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Dow (US) |
Manager |
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Plastika Kritis S.A. (Greece) |
Individual Industry Expert |
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RKW Group (Germany) |
Marketing Manager |
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Novamont S.p.A (Italy) |
Sales Executive |
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Armando Alvarez Group (Spain) |
Sales Manager |
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Kuraray (Japan) |
Individual Industry Expert |
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Exxon Mobil Corporation (US) |
Manager |
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Intergro, Inc. (US) |
Individual Industry Expert |
Mulch Films Market Size Estimation
Both the top-down and bottom-up approaches were used to estimate and validate the total size of the market. These approaches were also used extensively to determine the size of various subsegments in the market. The research methodology used to estimate the market size includes the following details:
- The key players in the industry and the overall markets were identified through extensive secondary research.
- The revenues of the major mulch films players were determined through primary and secondary research, which were used as the basis for market sizing and estimation.
- All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources.
- All macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting the growth of the market were considered while estimating the market size.
- All possible parameters that affect the market covered in this research study were accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to obtain final quantitative and qualitative data.
Global Mulch Films Market: Bottom-Up Approach
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Global Mulch films Market: Top-Down Approach
Data Triangulation
After arriving at the overall size from the market size estimation process explained above, the total market was split into several segments and subsegments. The data triangulation and market breakdown procedures explained below were implemented, wherever applicable, to complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for various market segments and subsegments. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from the demand and supply sides. Along with this, the market size was validated using both the top-down and bottom-up approaches.
Mulch Films Market Definition
According to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), mulch films are "thin sheets of plastic material that are spread over the soil to reduce weed growth, conserve moisture, and improve soil temperature."
Mulch films can be made from a variety of materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and biodegradable materials. They are typically applied to the soil before or after planting and can be left in place for the entire growing season.
Key Stakeholders
- Raw material suppliers
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End users, which include the following:
- Agricultural producers
- Companies (manufacturers/suppliers) involved in the mulch films sector.
- Research centers, laboratories, and scientific institutes
- Retailers
- Commercial research & development (R&D) institutions and financial institutions
- Importers and exporters of mulch films
- Traders, distributors, and suppliers
- Government and research organizations
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Trade associations and industry bodies
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Agriculture Plastic & Environment (APE Europe)
- American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS)
- International Mulch Film Association (IMFA)
Mulch Films Market Report Objectives
- To determine and project the size of the market with respect to the type, application, element, and region in terms of value and volume over five years, ranging from 2023 to 2028.
- To identify the attractive opportunities in the market by determining the largest and fastest-growing segments across regions
- To provide detailed information about the key factors influencing market growth (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges)
- To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leaders.
- To analyze the micro-markets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the total market.
- To identify and profile the key players in the market.
- To understand the competitive landscape and identify the major growth strategies adopted by players across the key regions.
- To provide insights on key product innovations and investments in the mulch films market.
Available Customizations
With the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to company-specific scientific needs.
The following customization options are available for the report:
Product Analysis
- Product Matrix, which gives a detailed comparison of the product portfolio of each company.
Geographic Analysis of the Mulch Films Market
With the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations according to company-specific scientific needs.
- Further breakdown of the Rest of Europe’s market for mulch films into Poland, Romania, and Turkey
- Further breakdown of the Rest of Asia Pacific market for mulch films into Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea.
- Further breakdown of the Rest of the South American market for mulch films into Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.
Company Information
- Detailed analyses and profiling of additional market players (up to five)
Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Mulch Films Market