Agricultural Textiles Market Expected to Reach $18.8 Billion by 2031—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Agricultural Textiles Market," The agricultural textiles market was valued at $11.8 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $18.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2022 to 2031.

The agriculture industry is of the most important industries in the world as major the population across the world is dependent on the agriculture industry. Conventional agricultural techniques are insufficient or incapable of meeting the demands of a population that is constantly expanding.

Land acquisition for housing has started developing along with the population, which has led to a loss in agricultural land. Since then, numerous methods have been used to increase the productivity of land through the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which have indirectly impacted human health. As a result, the government has implemented numerous rules and regulations to reduce the negative effects on human health.

On the other hand, the technical textile sector has aided agriculture in many ways, both directly through the production of bird nets, mulch mats, and other products, and indirectly through the use of geotextiles to stop soil erosion. Also, vertical farming techniques helped produce greater results with higher productivity in less space, by employing vertical space rather than horizontal space. Although successful, soilless farming methods like hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics are rarely used outside laboratories and for space research because of their exorbitant costs.

There are many agro-textile products available in the market. These include sunscreen, bird protection nets, fruit covers, ground covers, and root ball nets:

• Sunscreen is used to shield greenhouses and crops from excessive sun radiation that could hurt plants and reduce their ability to produce. It was also utilized to regulate the necessary quantity of shade.
• A bird protection net is used to protect seeds, crops, and fruits against damage caused by birds, and similar nets are used to prevent damage from hailstorms.
• Fruit cover is used to keep the fruit from decaying by the action of insects and bugs.
• Ground cover – Weed in the field of plants creates problems for the growth of plants and also the quality of the fruit or grain so to avoid the growth of weeds mulch mats are used they cover the ground and the only area open is for the plant.
• Root ball net is important for the safe and speedy growth of young plants.

One of the key factors boosting the growth of the agro-textile market is the expanding agricultural activities around the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2020, the agriculture and food-related businesses in the U.S. contributed 5.2% of the nation's total GDP. According to UK national statistics, the production of plant protection products increased by 10%, while the production of seeds increased by 17% in 2020. This is projected to further boost the growth of the agro-textiles market.

The transition to a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and meat has been accelerated by income growth, driving the demand for natural resources in both developed and emerging countries, including the U.S., Germany, India, China, and Mexico. A significant growth in the use of water, land, and other resources for agriculture supports the rise in consumer demand for food. Furthermore, changes in consumer lifestyle drive the need for natural, dietetic, and organic food.

The demand for high-quality food and improved crop yields has increased the usage of agricultural textiles. Urbanization and climatic change have an impact on crop growth, prompting farmers to adopt new textile technology to boost yield and satisfy consumer demand for food. Governments are focusing on increasing agricultural output, improving integration, and supporting innovation in supply chains to create a sustainable global food balance.

Woven materials are durable and are commonly utilized to create goods that are intended to be worn frequently. Woven materials retain their shape effectively. Moreover, woven textiles can withstand multiple washings. The way the threads are woven together prevents it from cracking and makes it less likely to snag and tear. These factors are driving the demand for woven agro textiles. The process of making woven fabrics is still time-consuming due to the precise and occasionally complicated weaving techniques. Several factors make woven fabrics more expensive than other materials.

There is an increase in the demand for food, particularly in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, and Asia, owing to population growth in these regions. There is an increased need for food along with the world population, placing pressure on agricultural production. This sharp rise in demand for agricultural products can be partially met by controlled agriculture and the use of technology like greenhouses.

Agricultural textiles enhance crop quality and agricultural productivity through a variety of mechanisms, including lowering soil erosion, delivering nutrients, increasing soil temperature, thwarting weed growth, and others. Thus, the need to boost agricultural production is the main factor driving the growth of the agricultural textiles market.

The fluctuating price of raw materials hampers the demand for agricultural textiles. The factors impacting the prices are shifts in consumer needs, high energy prices, and global trade patterns. The majority of agricultural textile enterprises are struggling to sustain profit margins as raw material costs continue to vary, impacting their financial performance. Regional oil prices have a big impact on the price trends of polypropylene as the Middle East controls the production of crude oil.

The focus is shifting to R&D projects to produce a variety of textiles with various features, such as UV protection, NIR blocking, fluorescent, and ultra-thermal capabilities, as the area under protected cultivation increases. Plants that have UV-blocking coats are guarded against disease and pests. These coatings stop pests and diseases from growing inside the greenhouse by preventing UV rays from penetrating the interior.

NIR-blocking materials prevent radiation while promoting plant growth owing to the fluorescent coatings on the materials, only light with a wavelength range of 300–700 nm can enter the greenhouse. Thus, the market is expected to benefit from technological developments such as soil fumigation, drip farming, and crop ventilation.

The agricultural textile market is segmented into material, type, product type, application, and region. By type, it is categorized into woven, knitted non-woven, and others. By product type, it is classified into mulch mats, fishing nets, anti-hail & anti-bird nets, crop covers, shade nets, and others. Region-wise, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

On the basis of material, the agricultural textile market is categorized into nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, and others. The polyethylene segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment.

On the basis of application, the agricultural textile market is categorized into agriculture, horticulture, forestry, aquaculture, and others. Agriculture is projected to be the fastest-growing segment and aquaculture has garnered the highest share of the agricultural textile market.

The major players operating in the global agricultural textile market are Hy-Tex (UK) Limited, Diatex, Helios Group S.r.l., Belton industries,  Siang May Pte Ltd, Meyabond Industry & Trading (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Tencate geosynthetics, Garware Technical Fibres Ltd., Aduno SRL, and Beaulieu Technical Textiles.

Key findings of the study:

• On the of material, the polyesters segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0%, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period.
• Depending on the application, the aquaculture segment is expected to grow at high CAGR in terms of revenue, during the forecast period.
• Region-wise, Asia-Pacific garnered highest share in 2021 in terms of revenue.