The US market for synthetic plastic barrier resins is expected to grow by an overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 2% over the next five years, according to a newly published report by BCC Research (Wellesley, Massachusetts / USA; www.bccresearch.com). The total US market, estimated to be about 4 m t in 2014 (base year), should reach roughly 4.4 m t in 2019.

Continuing industry trends include the move towards more complex and sophisticated multilayer barrier structures, using more but often thinner layers. One ongoing development that is slowly gaining success is work to increase the barrier properties of PET to make it suitable for packaging beer. According to BCC, several new methods have been developed and tested with more success so far in Europe. This market could present a significant new opportunity for PET if it takes off in the US. One of the producers hoping to make inroads in this field is Sidel (Hünenberg / Switzerland; www.sidel.com), which last year launched a new 28 g PET beer bottle (see Plasteurope.com of 16.07.2014).

There are six primary barrier resins with a total US market in 2014 of around 3.6 m t, expected to reach 4 m t in 2019. They are EVOH copolymers, polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), nitrile resins, PA resins, thermoplastic polyesters (primarily PET) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC).

The largest application is food and beverage packaging which accounts for 95% of the US market. Other smaller but important packaging markets include chemical/industrial products (including automotive gasoline tanks) and healthcare products such as pharmaceutical blister packs.