Image: adhesivesmag.com

Soaring demand for corrugated box packaging, along with an increasing preference for gummed tapes in the logistics and shipping sector, are expected to fuel growth in the global gummed tapes market, according to a new report by Future Market Insights (FMI). The market is projected to grow at 4.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in terms of volume through 2027. Sales of gummed tapes were projected to reach nearly 1 billion sq m in 2017; by the end of 2027, the market is expected to reach 1.6 billion sq m.

Sealing cartons with self-adhesive tapes can be harmful for the environment, due to their weak bonding strength, which results into excessive usage of tapes for secured packaging. This leads to a surge in plastic waste. In contrast, only one strip of gummed tape, which is stable and comprises paper and adhesives, is required to seal the carton, making it a more resource-efficient option. These factors are expected to sustain growth of the global gummed tapes market.

In contrast, market growth is expected to be restrained by the presence of substitutes including Bopp tapes, pressure-sensitive tapes, and self-adhesives for carton sealing. Pressure-sensitive tapes offer comparatively higher efficiency than gummed tapes in sealing cartons that carry light-duty products. The development of tamper-evident technology in pressure-sensitive tapes has led these products to gain higher end-user preferences.

Material Forecast

By material type, fiber-reinforced gummed tape is projected to retain its dominance in the market during the forecast period. The report estimates sales of fiber-reinforced gummed tapes to exceed 1 billion sq m by 2027, expanding at 5.4% CAGR. On the contrary, paper gummed tapes are estimated to witness a sluggish expansion through 2027. Based on product type, brown gummed tapes will remain preferred in the market throughout the forecast period. In terms of volume, sales of brown gummed tapes are estimated to expand at around 5% CAGR through 2027.

Starch-based adhesives are predicted to slightly increase in their market share during the forecast period. This adhesive type segment, which is estimated to be the most lucrative in the market, is projected to expand at 5% CAGR through 2027. Based on application type, box and carton sealing is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period, followed by splicing. Demand for gummed tapes in box and carton sealing is anticipated to reach nearly 1.5 billion sq m by 2027.

End-Use Sectors

Demand for gummed tapes from the shipping and logistics sector is expected to witness the fastest growth in volume, followed by general industrial and consumer goods sectors. However, in terms of volume, the general industrial sector is expected to be the largest end user in the market during the forecast period. Demand for gummed tapes from the general industrial sector is anticipated to exceed 200 million sq m by 2027.

Regional Demand

In terms of volume, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is projected to be the fastest-growing market for gummed tapes, followed by Latin America. This region is estimated to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period. Volume demand for gummed tapes in APEJ is estimated to reach around 600 million sq m by 2027. In addition, both North America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) regions are projected to witness parallel expansion at 4.9% CAGR through 2027.