Geotextiles Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Material (Synthetic [Polypropylene, Polyester, and Polyethylene] and Natural [Jute and Coir]), By Product (Woven, Non-Woven, and Knitted), By Application (Road Construction, Erosion Control, Pavement Repair, Drainage, Railroad, Agriculture, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2022-2029

The global geotextiles market size was valued at USD 8.04 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 8.47 billion in 2022 to USD 12.92 billion in 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a decline of 1.44% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

The increasing demand for high-performance and functional textiles in road construction, erosion control, and agriculture applications, coupled with growing development in the construction industry, is a primary factor driving the market growth. These are extensively used to improve the soil over which pipelines, roads, earth retaining structures, and embankments are built.

Countries are vulnerable to climatic change that has resulted in several disasters that frequently occur worldwide. Thus, these textiles protect roads, soil, and bridges from natural disasters by retaining walls and embankments. Moreover, they have gained popularity due to their superior benefits, such as mechanical strength and liquid repellency. Due to rapid industrialization, the growing government investments in the construction sector shall augment the industry growth.

COVID-19 IMPACT

The decline in Export and Cancellation of Orders Affected Coir Industry Amid COVID-19

The coronavirus outbreak has halted most of the coir industry businesses due to nationwide lockdown, closure of the factories, and cancellation of export orders. According to industry experts, India’s coir and coir product exports have been disrupted, as manufacturers in Tamil Nadu export around 90% of their products, mainly in China. Coir products have piled up at units due to a large-scale decline in exports and order cancelations in most of the European and North American countries.

Coir exporters and manufacturers from Tamil Nadu, India have insisted the government to support the companies in generating value-added coir products to help them during the pandemic.

LATEST TRENDS

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Deploying Coir in Rural Road Construction to Propel Geotextiles Market Growth  

Geosynthetic materials stabilize soil during the construction of roads and perform functions such as separation, drainage, and reinforcement. However, strict environmental protection and the high cost of geosynthetic materials make it vital to opt for alternate products that are eco-friendly and cost-effective. Natural fibers such as jute and coir are good alternatives to geosynthetic as they are eco-friendly, easily available, and low cost.

Under various programs, substantial planned road construction projects in India require construction on poor quality soils. The road performance depends on the subgrade soil properties. To improve or recover road performances, coir textile is used as reinforcement. For example, in May 2020, the Central Government of India announced using coir geotextiles for rural roads constructed under the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III). This is likely to boost the coir industry in these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the PMGSY’s new technology guidelines for rural road construction, about 15% road length in each batch will be constructed using the new technology.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Investment in Construction Projects to Drive Market Growth

The increasing infrastructure spending in different construction projects shall boost the demand for these textiles. State, local, and federal governments are the key contributors to highway construction funding. Moreover, the increasing number of public-private partnerships (P3s), as they receive money and the government’s approval to build roads and highways is likely to boost the product’s demand.

For instance, according to the U.S. Highway Trust Fund, in 2018, the public sector in the U.S. spent around USD 92.5 billion on highway construction, wherein the road and highway construction sector is likely to grow around USD 103 billion by 2022. Similarly, the Indian government has allocated USD 13.14 billion under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for FY 2019-25. The road sector is expected to account for 18% of capital expenditure during FY 2019-25. Also, the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA), the National Jute Board (NJB), and the Bihar government’s rural work department have endorsed geotextile use in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), which will be beneficial and cost-effective in road construction. Therefore, increasing investment in construction projects is expected to boost the global market growth during the forecast period. 

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Fluctuating Prices of Raw Material to Hinder Market Growth

Geotextiles are manufactured using natural fibers such as coir and jute and synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Change in the supply & demand of these raw materials may negatively impact the overall industry outlook. Synthetic fiber materials are extracted from crude oil. Thus, the rise in crude oil prices results in a hike in the price of the raw materials. Also, polypropylene resin and other plastic resins costs have skyrocketed recently. Therefore, significant fluctuations in the cost of raw materials can be a restraint for the market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Material Analysis

Natural Material Segment to Dominate Due to Favorable Government Regulations Toward Carbon Emission

Based on material, this market is segmented into synthetic and natural.

Synthetic material type is further segmented into polypropylene, polyester, and polyethylene. The polypropylene (PP) segment is anticipated to remain dominant in the forthcoming years. PP woven textile features low elongation and high strength to allow erosion control, stabilization, and slope support. It is widely used in pavements, roads, dams, riverbanks, diversion irrigation, and railroad projects owing to its properties such as lightweight, smaller elongation, and stability withstand tough construction loading and strong tensile strength.

The natural material is further segmented into coir and jute. Jute is likely to lead the segmental growth during the forecast period. The rising environmental concerns and the increasing government regulations toward carbon emission have urged companies to formulate eco-friendly and natural products. Being an environment-friendly and biodegradable natural fabric, jute is an alternative to many synthetic materials. Moreover, it has great moisture retention capability, ease of installation, high tensile strength, biodegradability, and lower cost. It is used in road pavement construction, soil reinforcement, and the protection of riverbanks.

By Product Analysis

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Non-Woven Segment to Hold Largest Geotextiles Market Share Due to Large-scale Infrastructural Development

Based on product, this market is segmented into woven, knitted, and non-woven.

A non-woven segment is anticipated to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributable to the large-scale infrastructural development that has led to the growing demand for non-woven products in the road, railway, highway, and airport construction, soil separation, drainage systems, soil reinforcement, and filtrations. According to data from European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA), around 750 square kilometers of geotextile nonwovens are sold and manufactured every year, of which 60% is used on the road construction. If the new roads in the EU were made with nonwovens instead of gravel, it would save around 6.8 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Moreover, they offer both an environmental benefit and -saving to the users due to their lightweight properties, tolerance to temperature fluctuations, and puncture & tear resistance.

The woven product delivers high tensile strength, durability, improved performance, reduced long-term maintenance costs, and extended project life, thus effectively reducing the environmental impact. They resist UV degradation and are suitable for long-term applications. This enables them to be highly adopted in drainage, soil reinforcement, separation, filtration, embankment and building construction activities. This is likely to contribute to demand for the product during the forecast period.

By Application Analysis

Road Construction Segment to Hold Major Share Due to Huge Growth in Automotive Sales

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into road construction, erosion control, pavement repair, drainage, railroad, agriculture, and others.

Road construction accounted for the highest share in 2020 and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. This is attributable to the rise in per-capita spending on automobiles and the increasing government spending on road infrastructure, which is expected to augment market growth. In road construction applications, these textiles are mainly used to fill gaps between the roads to improve the overall soil structure and prevent the roads from deteriorating. It improves the stability and decreases water erosion chances, thus strengthening the road stability for a longer time.

In agriculture, the product is used for protection against wind, sun, and control against weeds, birds, and insects. Also, farmers have started using geotextiles to improve the crop yield. The breathable organic cover provided by the product is likely to inhibit soil erosion while ensuring weed control and proper irrigation. This is anticipated to favor the growth of the segment.

The product is mostly used in erosion control applications to create a grip to hold the soil tight. These are used for drainage, filtration, and reinforcement. In September 2016, a few researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur designed a durable and eco-friendly jute geotextile mainly for erosion control. This jute-based product is installed to prevent soil from cut slopes, embankments, and instigate vegetation and germination growth. Also, they are used in covering plants to protect them against frost. Therefore, such factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the erosion control segment in the forthcoming years.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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Asia Pacific Will Hold Largest Market Share Due to Rapid Urbanization

Asia Pacific stood at USD 2.67 billion in 2021 and is expected to dominate the global market during the forthcoming years. This is attributed to the growing construction industry and the ongoing infrastructure projects in India and China. Moreover, rapid urbanization, the availability of a skilled workforce, and the increasing government initiatives for infrastructure development and improvement will contribute to regional growth.

For instance, in August 2020, China State Railway Group announced to expand its railway network, which will reach 200,000 kilometers of railway tracks, and around 70,000 kilometers of high-speed railway network by 2035. In May 2020, coir manufacturers and exporters in Tamil Nadu, India, hoped for better rural roads after the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency stated that over 5% of the roads sanctioned by PMGSY-III must be constructed using coir geotextile procured from coir-producing states. Such developments are expected to favor regional growth in the forthcoming years.

The rising environmental and health concerns have increased the demand for green infrastructure solutions due to their low cost, sustainability, and environment friendly attributes in major European countries. The stringent EU policy directs the manufacturers to build green infrastructures that prevent the environment from pollution while protecting the ecosystem. Furthermore, the government focuses on enhancing and spending on road infrastructure projects due to the rising automotive sales, coupled with the ongoing road infrastructure development that will boost regional growth. 

The market in North America is likely to experience significant growth during the forecast period. The drainage systems in the U.S. are highly developed and extensive, and the high utilization of drainage systems has resulted in regular and proper maintenance. The increasing R&D activities and technological advancements have led to the introduction of natural and synthetic materials that require less maintenance, thus positively impacting the geotextiles industry growth in the region.

With continuous R&D investments and increasing competitiveness levels, non-woven and woven products offer massive growth potential in Latin America. For instance, back in September 2013, Strata acquired 50% of the equity in Geo Solucões Ltd. of Brazil to strengthen the market position in the region.

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The growing product demand for reducing road damage risk and improving groundwater level may fuel the market growth in the Middle East & Africa region. In October 2020, the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) and South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) signed a memorandum of understanding for small road contractors in South Africa to execute road construction

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Companies are Focusing on Capacity Expansion and Strategic Partnership to Strengthen their Positions

The market is fragmented in nature with top five key players such as TenCate Geosynthetics Asia Sdn Bhd., GSE Environmental, NAUE GmbH & Co., KG, Officine Maccaferri, and Fibertex Nonwovens A/S. Most manufacturers focus on acquisition, strategic partnership, and capacity expansion to enhance their product portfolio and broaden their market reach. Also, the development of the product is based on international market requirements.

• In March 2020, Megaplast, an Indian-based polyethylene product manufacturer, used BASF’s light stabilizers from the Chimassorb to produce nonwoven geotextiles used to construct national highways.


• In December 2019, Thrace Group transferred its needlepunch line from Thrace-Linq, a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary in South Carolina, to the company’s Don & Low facility located in Forfar, Scotland, with the goal of consolidating and strengthening its presence in northwestern Europe and the U.K.


• In July 2018, Fibertex Nonwovens acquired DUCI, a Brazilian nonwovens manufacturer. This acquisition will further expand both the company’s nonwoven businesses.


• In October 2018, TenCate Geosynthetics Americas expanded its nonwoven production line at its Jefferson, GA facility. The production line is expected to manufacture advanced polyester and polypropylene products.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Maccaferri (Italy)


• TENAX (Lecco, Italy)


• TenCate Geosynthetics Asia Sdn Bhd. (Malaysia)


• GSE Environmental (U.S.)


• Terram Geosynthetics Pvt. Ltd. (India)


• HUESKER Synthetic GmbH (Germany)


• Global Synthetics (Australia)


• TYPAR Geosynthetics (U.S.)


• Fibertex Nonwovens A/S (Denmark)


• Belton Industries (U.S.)


• Thrace Group (Greece)


• NAUE GMBH & CO. KG (Germany)


• AGRU AMERICA, INC (U.S.)


• Gayatri Polymers & Geo – Synthetics (India)


• Suntech Geotextile Pvt. Ltd. (India)


• SKAPS Industries (Georgia, U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• June 2021 - Core & Main LP, a distributor of wastewater, water, fire protection products, and storm drainage, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of L&M Bag & Supply Co., Inc. L&M focuses on geotextiles and geosynthetics products and has a well-developed erosion control materials manufacturing operation. This acquisition will create opportunities and enhance Core & Main LP erosion control expertise globally.


• February 2021 - The BontexGeo Group, a European industry leader in the sale and production of geotextiles for civil engineering applications, acquired 100% of the shares of Stratex SA, the Swiss-based company specialized in the sale of geosynthetic and building products with a strong market position in Switzerland. This acquisition will create a market opportunity in the geosynthetic business.


• October 2020 - Geofabrics signed a partnership agreement with Visy to reduce the number of plastic bottles going into landfills. Visy uses food-grade Recycled PET (rPET) to manufacture its plastic bottles. In this partnership, the rPET that is not fit for Visy’s bottle-to-bottle recycling will be purchased by Geofabrics to make sustainable geotextiles for use in Australia’s rail, mining, and road industries.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The report offers an in-depth analysis of the key markets and emphasizes key aspects, including leading companies, materials, products, and applications. In addition, the report provides insights into market developments and major market trends. This report includes historical data & forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and analyzes the industry's latest market dynamics and opportunities. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, the study encompasses various factors contributing to the market growth rate in recent years.

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