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Nonwoven Crop Cover Market size is expected to witness a major upsurge from 2023 to 2032, as a result of an increase in textile production and exports. Despite the headwinds from supply chain disruptions, high material costs, and labor shortages, the textile sector is observing commendable growth, especially in developed nations.
As per data from the National Council of Textile Organizations, in 2021, exports of fibers, apparel, and textiles reached USD 28.4 billion, a rise from USD 25.3 billion in 2020. The proliferation of textile production and exports will boost the application of nonwovens in products such as crop covers across the agriculture industry.
Nonwoven fabric is utilized during crop cultivation to optimize productivity. The adoption of nonwoven crop covers can increase yields and improve crop quality. In addition, the placement of these light, flexible sheets over seedbeds can create a microclimate through controlled heat and humidity, boosting plant growth while safeguarding them from adverse conditions.
The burgeoning investment in climate-smart farming techniques is among the prominent factors fostering global nonwoven crop cover market trends. For example, in September 2022, the USDA announced a USD 2.8 billion investment in 70 projects under the first round of the funding program, Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. Such investments, along with the growing popularity of greenhouse farming, will fuel nonwoven cloth adoption to optimize crop productivity.
Based on packaging, sheet-cut nonwoven covers will emerge as a lucrative packaging segment in the nonwoven crop cover industry by 2032. This is attributed to the rapid introduction of energy-efficient nonwoven fabric cutting machines with superior quality, high performance, and stability features. Given the semi-transparent and lightweight properties, these covers have also gained widespread adoption to improve crop protection and resistance against tear and stress, thereby contributing to their overall demand.
Based on the application, nonwoven crop cover market share from the fruit bags segment will exhibit a strong growth rate over the estimated timeline, due to the rise in fruit exports in developing nations. As per statistics from the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, in 2020-2021, fresh fruit exports registered USD 768.54 million, an increase from USD 516.26 million in 2014-2015. The prevalence of fruit fungal diseases has also increased. These factors will encourage farmers to develop quality fruit produce and escalate the use of nonwoven crop covers to aid in the prevention of fruit fungus spots.
From a regional perspective, the North American nonwoven crop cover industry value is set to rise appreciably over 2023-2032. The emergence of the greenhouse and nursery sector as the fast-growing agriculture segment will bolster the use of nonwoven nursery bags in the U.S. Due to supply chain disruptions caused by recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, countries such as the U.S. have pledged to support regional farmers and help reduce food prices. Furthermore, the growing awareness of the impacts of snow and hail on crops will increase nonwoven fabric demand from agricultural applications in the region.
First Quality Nonwovens Inc., Akitieselskabet Schouw & Co. Group, Mitsui Chemicals, Kimberly Clark Corp, and Berry Global are some of the major companies operating in the nonwoven crop cover market. Strategic mergers and acquisitions, business expansions, new product launches, and partnerships are among the key strategies being adopted by these market participants to gain a competitive edge and strengthen their market presence.
Inflation has created a profound impact on businesses, industries, and consumers worldwide. Based on the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics, between April 2021 and April 2022, the Consumer Price Index for food surged by 9.4% in the U.S. The acceleration of inflation is due to the increase in oil prices following the Russia-Ukraine war. The escalation of food prices may limit the demand for agricultural products and consequently assert a negative impact on the nonwoven crop cover market over the foreseeable future.