Agricultural Films Market By Material (Biodegradable {Cellulose-Based Films, Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, Others} Non-Biodegradable {Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polyamide, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, Others), By Film Type (Mulch Films, Greenhouse Films, Silage Films, Others), By Application (Weed Control, Moisture Retention, Temperature Regulation, Crop Protection, Protection from Environmental Stress, Others), By End-User (Farming, Horticulture, Livestock, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The Agricultural Films Market accounted for USD 13.85 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 31.0 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 7.6% between 2025 and 2035. Agricultural films are plastic films, especially in agriculture to boost crop yields and protect different crops from various destructive factors. Some of the main applications of these include mulch coverings of greenhouses and silage usages designed to undertake soil temperature regulation, moisture conservation, weed suppression, and protection against pests and harsh weather conditions.

Agricultural films are generally made from materials like polyethylene and polypropylene. Some of the farming films are compounded with EVA or ethylene-vinyl acetate. The growing need for enhanced agricultural productivity, environmentally friendly farming processes, and newer requirements to tackle issues like global warming and food security have contributed significantly to the growth of the market of these agricultural films. Advanced agricultural technologies are soon turning out to be the norm in farming sectors across the globe.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

• Rising Demand for Biodegradable and Sustainable Agricultural Films Driven by Eco-Friendly Farming Practices

The growth in agricultural films is substantially assigned to the rising demand for farming involving non-harmful and environmentally friendly solutions. Environmental issues awareness is on the rise, compelling farmers to seek biodegradable films, either directly or indirectly, made of renewable materials like starch, PLA, and other bio-based polymers. These films retain moisture and protect crops from pests but decompose like organic matter and thus reduce long-term waste.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report indicates that more than 4 million tons of agricultural film are consumed worldwide every year, with a rapidly increasing share shifting to biodegradable alternatives. Governments around the world are also tightening regulations on plastic waste, and the increasing pressure for greener approaches to agriculture is supporting the push for more sustainable farming. That will further accelerate the growth of the biodegradable agricultural films market due to converging regulatory pressure and market demand.

• Advancements in Material Technologies Fuel Growth in Agricultural Films Market

Growth in the market of agricultural films is driven by advances in material technologies. An important advance here has been biodegradable agricultural films, UV-resistant coatings, and multi-functional films that reduce the level of external impact on crops, protect plants, and minimize negative environmental effects created during the use of agricultural films.

Biodegradable EVA films, PLA films, and PHA films are increasingly used, considering their biodegradability and great sustainability, to provide an effective alternative to traditional plastic films. The use of biodegradable agricultural films has reduced plastic waste from farming by approximately 30%. Adoption has been on the increase, as part of sustainable farming initiatives.

The governments have come up with initiatives that aim at promoting crop husbandry practices that bring about the reduction of pollution linked to agricultural activities. In this regard, the U.S. Within its recent updates, the researchers were awarded $744,000 by USDA on biodegradable mulch films under development for application in enhancing soil health as well as reducing plastic pollution within the agricultural sector. The farm film industry expansion is attributed mainly to material innovation in this regard.

• Environmental Concerns Due to Improper Disposal of Non-Biodegradable Agricultural Films

Inappropriate waste disposal of non-biodegradable agricultural films PE and PVC, has remained a significant environmental issue, acting as a key restraint in the agricultural film market. These products are widely used in agriculture for mulching purposes and coverings in greenhouses, but they do not easily decompose and are therefore landfills or the environment, hence remaining a key contributor to plastic pollution.

The Ocean Conservancy estimated that around 11 million metric tons of plastic invade the ocean yearly, aside from the 200 million metric tons already collected in the marine environment. And all this has come to raise concerns over the sustainability of traditional plastic films for agriculture. This would push the industry to fulfill a demand for alternatives that are not only effective but also environmentally responsible. It further derailed this trend of the adoption of non-biodegradable agricultural films.

• Growing Demand for Controlled-Environment Agriculture Drives Opportunities for Advanced Agricultural Films

The opportunity for agricultural films is enormous in controlled-environment agriculture, primarily across those climates that are either unprofitable for conventional farming or limited arable land. Such films with advanced properties like temperature control, light diffusion, and UV protection can remarkably play in optimizing crop yields in those regions. Films that assist in managing the internal climate of greenhouses and tunnels help in year-round production with better resource efficiency.

As per the FAO, the region's Middle East greenhouse vegetable production has been 18% higher over the last five years, given the pressure from a demand for efficient agriculture methods in arid regions. The high-performance agricultural films are further boosted by the increasing adoption of greenhouse farming. This trend has underlined the growing requirement for light-quality film, temperature-controlling films, and weather-proof crop coverings that provide an immense opportunity for growth in the agricultural film market.

• Opportunity for Precision Irrigation Films in Enhancing Water Efficiency in Arid Regions

As water becomes more of a challenge in regions, this presents a great opportunity in the agricultural film market, especially in precision irrigation films. According to the USDA, precision irrigation methods such as irrigation films reduce water by as much as 50% compared with traditional irrigation methods.

This method will help save water by reducing evaporation, increasing the retention of moisture in the soil, and directing water more efficiently toward crops. They also help farmers use water more efficiently since irrigation becomes more effective and has cheaper water costs for the investment as a whole.

For regions like the Middle East and North Africa, implementation is an urgent concern since water is scanty. Such water-efficient technologies are set to be adopted in increasing numbers to meet the greater demand for sustainable farming. The search for effective and efficient use of every bit of available water will be reflected in agricultural films, resulting in better crop yields through optimal water usage.

Industry Experts Opinion

“Our goal is to create mulch films that will completely biodegrade while also slowly releasing fertilizer, such as urea, to the soil and plants,”

• Sobkowicz-Kline, co-principal investigator.

Segment Analysis

Based on the material, the agricultural films market is segmented into biodegradable and non-biodegradable films. Biodegradable films are gaining traction due to sustainability trends, while non-biodegradable films currently lead the market due to their cost-effectiveness, durability, and widespread use in traditional agricultural applications.

The agricultural films market is segmented by film type into mulch films, greenhouse films, silage films, and others. Mulch films improve soil moisture and crop yields, greenhouse films regulate temperature and light, and silage films preserve feed quality for livestock, each catering to specific agricultural needs. Mulch films are currently leading the market due to their widespread use in improving crop productivity and supporting sustainable farming practices.

The agricultural films market is segmented by application into weed control, moisture retention, temperature regulation, crop protection, and protection from environmental stress, all aimed at enhancing crop yield and sustainability. Moisture retention is currently leading the market due to its critical role in improving water efficiency and supporting sustainable farming practices in water-scarce regions.

Regional Analysis

North America is one of the prominent markets for agricultural films due to advanced farming technologies and a high rate of adoption of sustainable practices. The U.S. and Canada have substantial demand for greenhouse films and mulch films, which improve crop yields and optimize resource utilization. Government initiatives for sustainable agriculture and water conservation further augment the market size.

A biodegradable film trend, especially in the films used for crops such as fruits and vegetables grown in places like California and in the Midwest, also makes North America a more dominant area. Moreover, the region's adoption of precision irrigation and water-efficient films is fueling market growth even further.

Asia-Pacific is still growing at the fastest rate in the market for agricultural films, with rapid industrialization, growth in food demand, and a swing toward modern farming techniques. Countries like China and India are experiencing tremendous growth through both small and big-scale farming from mulch films and greenhouse films.

Increasing environmental challenges in the region, which include water scarcity, and extreme weather situations, among others, are increasing demand for water-conserving films and crop care. These further drives growth by governmental efforts to foster sustainable agriculture as well as developments in biodegradable agricultural films. Increased agricultural industry growth in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia in the future will further propel the expansion of the market.

Competitive Landscape

The market for agricultural films is highly competitive, with key players-innovators in these films-being Berry Global, RKW Group, BASF, Dow Inc., and Saint-Gobain. The recent news of BASF launching Tinuvin NOR 211 AR in July 2024 only illustrates the increasing interest in strengthening agricultural films' resilience towards UV radiation and thermal stress.

RKW Group showcased its innovative film and net products at Fruit Logistica 2024. The focus was on the sustainability of agriculture in these products. These are indeed consistent with trends in this sector towards eco-friendly, biodegradable solutions with higher demand for sustainable agriculture and reducing plastic waste. Competitive strategies will be to focus on high-performance films ensuring greater yields while at the same time not harming the crops.

Agricultural Films Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In November 2024, the USDA awarded a $744,000 grant to develop biodegradable mulch films that improve soil health and reduce plastic pollution, advancing sustainability in agriculture.
• In July 2024, BASF launched Tinuvin NOR 211 AR, a stabilizer designed to improve the durability of agricultural films exposed to UV radiation, thermal stress, and chemicals, supporting sustainable farming practices.
• In January 2024, RKW Group showcased its film and net solutions at the Fruit Logistica expo in Berlin, highlighting products for plant cultivation, including early harvesting films and greenhouse films.

Report Coverage:

By Material

• Biodegradable
  • Cellulose-Based Films
  • Polylactic Acid
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates
  • Others
• Non-Biodegradable
  • Polyethylene
  • Polyvinyl Chloride
  • Polypropylene
  • Polyamide
  • Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
  • Others

By Film Type

• Mulch Films
• Greenhouse Films
• Silage Films
• Others

By Application

• Weed Control
• Moisture Retention
• Temperature Regulation
• Crop Protection
• Protection from Environmental Stress
• Others

End-User

• Farming
• Horticulture
• Livestock
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Berry Global, Inc.
• RKW Group
• BASF SE
• Dow Inc.
• Saint-Gobain
• AEP Industries
• The Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Polytuf
• Kuraray Co., Ltd.
• Trioplast Industrier AB
• Armando Alvarez
• Plastika Kritis S.A.
• Uflex Ltd.
• SABIC
• Integra, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)