Reflective Material Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Application, By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Central & South America), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global reflective material market size was estimated at 17,084.9 kilo tons in 2015. The products are predominately utilized to manufacture a broad range of coatings and fabrics which have multiple end-use applications. Rising importance of workplace and traffic safety management are expected to increase the production and consumption in the coming years.

Reflective Materials are made up of a large number of optically qualified glass beads which are about the three-fourth size of a human hair, encapsulated lenses or micro prisms. These glass beads or micro prisms are tightly packed together and coated with a thin aluminum film from the backside. Thus, they act as a convex mirror and reflects the light back, precisely towards the source of the light. The concept helps illuminate an object in the darkness.

U.S. reflective material market revenue by product, 2014 - 2025 (USD Million)

Due to the unique physical and chemical properties offered by these materials, they are extensively used in manufacturing a broad range of products including sheeting, tapes, films, inks, paints, adhesives and other specialty goods. They are primarily consumed to make heat transfer logos to provide efficient and flexible solutions to garments manufacturers. Heat transfer resources are supplied to distributors as raw materials for printing or branding processes.

The fluctuations in the inflation rate and volatile commodities prices including reflective aluminum, copper, glass beads, and micro prisms are considered to be major factors restraining the growth of the industry. Moreover, due to unstable supply-demand market position coupled with constant alteration of stringent environmental regulatory laws focusing on using low-impact material and recycling of the products are expected to remain a major setback for the industry growth.

The U.S. reflective materials market is driven by high domestic demand, a rich pipeline of innovation, exports, and productivity growth. New technologies are increasing the importance of resource efficiency, scale variations, and information in manufacturing processes to support growing needs, further augmenting the industry growth in the future. North American companies are engaged in expanding its R&D footprints to build new production and supply networks.

Companies are focusing on implementing usage of bio-based raw materials such as printing inks & paints and transformed into green solutions to offer tailored products to customers. Regulatory bodies including ASTM, EUROPA, and EPA have developed policies and guidelines that govern the disposal of chemicals solvents, quantity, and quality. In addition, rising standard of living and purchasing power in the emerging economies such as China and India is anticipated to influence the industry over the forecast period positively.

Product Insights

Reflective coatings dominated the product segment while accounting for over 22% of total market in 2015. These material are coated microspheres used at the surface of either solvent-based paints (fluorochemicals) or water (silane coatings). It supports the maximization of transmission of light through the glass beads and reflects the light to generate enhanced retro-reflectivity. Such advanced coating helps to increase the product efficiency to improve visibility on decorative & safety inks, road lining & guard rail paints and retroreflective power coatings.

Fabric segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate in the coming years, due to a wide range of applications in the sector. These materials are extensively used to manufacture life jackets, safety clothing, gloves, and reflective work wears including hats, tents, belts, backpacks. Such fabrics act as high visibility apparels and play a significant role in the worker’s safety while working in hazardous workplaces with low light and poor visibility.

Application Insights

Construction and roads application dominated the reflective material market in 2015 and accounted for over 32% of the overall industry, owing to increased demand to control light intensity in various strategic applications including lighting lenses, reflectors, decorative trims, display panels, and energy management. Companies are involved in the production of superior quality of shining tapes and films to implement in vehicle and transport management to increase visibility, particular during nights, harsh weather conditions and emergency circumstances.

Global reflective material market revenue share by application, 2015, (%)

Reflective materials demand in textile sector is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2025. Typical applications include production of standard, high, silver, colored, stretch, and flame retardant reflective apparels. These garments are made of base cloth, adhesives, and micro glass beads, along with processing technologies including coatings, composites, and hot pressing. Such accessories assist in control and management of incidents, emergencies, and evacuations.

Regional Insight

Asia Pacific reflective materials market accounted for 30.8% of total volume in 2015 and is to dominate the global demand during the forecast period. Rising demand in countries such as India, Japan, and China is anticipated to drive the consumption in the regional market. Increasing production of glass beads and microspheres which are used as primary raw materials for the manufacture of any reflective materials products is expected to promote market penetration dramatically.

Moreover, application growth in the automotive and textile sectors is anticipated to have a positive impact on the market growth in the coming years. Key global reflective material manufacturers are dedicated on inventing unique products with higher quality and efficiency levels. China emerged as the dominant country accounting for over 45% of the regional demand in 2015. It is projected to grow exponentially due to rapid urbanization coupled with industrialization in the country.

The Middle East and Africa is expected to witness average growth in the coming years. Rising domestic production capacities to maintain steady supply chain especially in countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia is estimated to steer demand. The region is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.3%, in terms of demand, from 2016 to 2027.

Reflective Material Market Share Insights

Key participants including 3M, Denki Kagaku, Avery Dennison, ORAFOL, and DM Reflective Material dominated the global industry in 2015. Furthermore, a significant number of regional players such as Changzhou Hua R Sheng, Yeshili Reflective Materials, and Jisung Corporation are also active participants in this industry, making it a highly competitive industry. Global competition is affected by demand shifts and changes in the availability of various supply factors and costs.

Acquisitions and expansions are the business strategies implemented by the multinational companies to increase its production capacities and acquire a strong customer base. Technological advancements and innovation of unique products are key approached adopted by global players to grow market share and attain sustainability.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue growth and provides an analysis of the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this report, Grand View Research has segmented the reflective material market on the basis of product, application and region:

• Product, Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Fabrics

  • Sheet

  • Paints & Inks

  • Tape & Films

  • Coatings

  • Specialty Products

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Textiles

  • Construction & Roads

  • Automotive

  • Electronics & Semiconductors

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Egypt