The geotextiles and geogrids market in the UAE and GCC is expected to grow at an average CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11.6 per cent until 2019 and be worth $182.5 million by then, says a report on the sector.

According to Transparency Market Research’s report titled “Geotextiles and Geogrids Market in UAE and GCC – Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013–2019”, the demand from this region, in terms of volume, is estimated to grow at an average CAGR of 7.7 per cent and reach 41.5 million sq m during the forecast period.

The report sheds light on the anticipated market development activities in the region.

The geogrids market in the UAE particularly is anticipated to reach a market-value worth $32.9 million, experiencing growth at an average annual CAGR of 11.8 per cent during the forecast period, says the report.

In terms of demand, the market in this region is estimated to reach seven million sq m by 2019, by experiencing growth at an average CAGR of 7.5 per cent during the forecast period, it adds.

The leading companies in the geotextiles and geogrids industry in the GCC include Alyaf Industrial, Bonar Natpet, Al Latifia Factory for Plastic Mesh, BMC Gulf, and Exeed Industries.

Geotextiles and geogrids find applications in a variety of civil construction activities. In such cases, these materials eliminate the need for the traditional aggregate construction materials and provide various economic and environmental benefits.

Geotextiles and geogrids are especially important for difficult terrains (construction-wise) that are characterised by weak soil, soft subgrades or the ones that have sloping grounds. Such areas require stabilisation, reinforcement, draining, and isolation of grounds during construction. These products provide stability and the desired aesthetics to such plots of land and make them fit for any construction activity and also help in extending their performance life, the report says.

In the GCC, the geotextiles and geogrids market is driven by their wide application in engineering such as roadway construction and landscaping. The market is also driven by the use of these geotextiles for soil reinforcement, drainage, erosion control and protection, filtration, and separation. While geotextiles and geogrids are used separately in other parts of the world, the sandy geography of the GCC render these materials suitable for soil reinforcement in various applications such as residential and non-residential construction and rail road construction.

According to the report, the implementation of the 2,177-km-long regional GCC railway mega-project will emerge as the single most promising factor driving the demand for geotextiles and geogrids in the GCC.

The demand is also estimated to significantly rise as a result of the many massive road development projects slated to start soon in these regions. Rise in consumer awareness about the advantages offered by these products is expected to impact the market positively over the next few years.

However, factors such as fluctuating costs of raw materials including polyester and polypropylene can hamper the growth of this market, the report adds.

Product-wise, nonwovens accounted for the highest market share – nearly 65 per cent – due to their extensive use in road construction and drainage systems. This segment is estimated to experience the fastest growth rate in the forecast period too, owing to a rise in infrastructural developmental activities in the GCC countries, adds the report.

The report estimates that application-wise, the segment of erosion control will observe the fastest growth rate during the forecast period, at an average annual growth rate of 7.9 per cent in the UAE. This is estimated to be a result of the rise in infrastructure development of roads, drainage systems and commercial and non-commercial projects.

Globally, the non-woven fabrics market size is projected to grow from $24.26 billion in 2017 to $34.85 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 7.51 per cent, due to an increase in the importance of geotextiles and proliferation of new technologies, says a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com.

The non-woven fabrics market is witnessing a considerable increase due to the growth of modern healthcare in developing markets and rise in awareness of environment-friendly fabrics, according to a spokesman for the firm.

Spunmelt technology is the most widely used for non-woven fabrics. However, the dry-laid segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022. The non-woven fabrics market, by application, is segmented into hygiene, wipes, construction, upholstery, filtration, automotive, and others.