Geosynthetics are artificial goods that are used to support the base or foundation. These are polymer materials designed to tackle civil engineering issues. The key product categories are geogrids, geonets, geofoam, geotextiles, geomembranes, and geosynthetic clay. Due to the polymeric structure of the products, these can be used in the ground where long-term durability is necessary. These can also be employed in public spaces.
Geosynthetics are available in a variety of shapes and materials. Among the many civil, geotechnical, transportation, geoenvironmental, hydraulic, and private development applications where these products are currently used are airfields, canals, dams, roads, railroads, barriers, and retaining structures, landfill liners, landfill covers, aquaculture, agriculture, and mining.
Geosynthetics strengthen, separate, and stabilize road and pavement foundations. Dewatering, road foundation, and structure drainage subsurface drainage systems employ these compounds. Industrial buildings, parking lots, and new roadways are reinforced with geotextiles. Adopting geosynthetics includes sustainable development, minor earthwork, a reduced carbon footprint, and a faster construction rate. During the forecast period, growth in the Asia-Pacific building industry is likely to be a key driver for the geosynthetics market growth.
Over the forecast period, the Asia-Pacific capital project and infrastructure sector are expected to grow at 7% to 8% per year, reaching USD 5.30 trillion by 2025, accounting for roughly 60% of the global market share. New structures and buildings built in Asia are likely to boost geosynthetics market growth.
Globally, rapid population expansion and urbanization contribute to rising liquid and solid waste levels. As environmental awareness increases, the demand for proper waste and water management initiatives increases. Geosynthetics are utilized as landfill covers to reduce or eliminate leachate production and associated treatment costs when a landfill is closed.
Geosynthetics are commonly used in multiple water and wastewater management activities due to increased public concern about serious and widespread water contamination. Waste treatment lagoons at wastewater treatment plants adopt geosynthetics liner systems to secure water resources such as ponds, reservoirs, aquifers, rivers, and lakes, which is expected to drive geosynthetics demand over the forecasted period.
One of the primary users of geosynthetics is the mining industry. The need for minerals and metals in Asia-Pacific fuels the mining sector. China produces rare-earth metals, gold, copper, coal, limestone, iron, and steel, whereas India's iron and steel industry have a significant investment. Similarly, major international mining corporations have identified South America as a good investment site.
For example, Chile, Brazil, and Peru have large mining capacities and have experienced a rise in international investment in the previous five years. The increasing implementation of sophisticated mining technologies is expected to drive the geosynthetics market over the forecast period.
As geosynthetics are the most common product used in civil engineering and construction, the introduction of COVID-19 had a negative impact on the market. Several governments have imposed lockdown measures, suspending most non-essential operations in their countries. Following the actions above, construction was paused, causing a delay in project completion and liquid damages and cost overruns for the contractors. As a result of this, new initiatives have been canceled or delayed.
Due to the labor-intensive nature of building activities, the construction sector in economies reliant on foreign immigrants has experienced acute labor shortages due to the shutdown of the global transportation system. As a result of the expected new-normal business climate, construction operations faced numerous challenges. Contractors in several countries have been permitted to begin building work as long as they observe specific health and safety regulations. Contractors have trouble carrying out activities while adhering to detailed rules, such as wearing personal protective equipment and maintaining social distance during construction work.
As a result, during the early phases of the pandemic, when the construction sector was still struggling, the global geosynthetics market was severely harmed.
For the global geosynthetics market, the post-pandemic period will be crucial. Supply chain disruptions could impede recovery, affecting market dynamics and product prices. Furthermore, distribution and transportation capacity constraints, unfavorable financial conditions, and rising costs would challenge the global market. Limited manufacturing, support operations, labor shortages, and limits for other end-user sectors, suppliers, and vendors may also prevent consumers from getting what they want. Overall, the global geosynthetics market's recovery will be difficult.
North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa make up the market's five regions. Asia-Pacific and North America are the two most essential geosynthetics markets. Fast pace urbanization in emerging economies like China and India is predicted to drive up demand for soil reinforcement in residential foundations. Government initiatives in India and China to boost infrastructure development are expected to increase geosynthetics demand even more over the forecast period.
North America is expected to be the second-largest market for geosynthetics, with an expected market value of USD 5 billion by 2030. Storms and hurricanes are natural disasters in North America. In this region, more geosynthetics applications to restore landscapes destroyed by natural disasters and manage erosion during storms are expected to drive up product demand. Furthermore, geosynthetics will most likely be used in maintenance projects like highways, dams, drainage systems, and landfills, increasing product demand.
Due to low mortgage rates, increased construction activity in the region is likely to drive growth for geosynthetic products in rehabilitation and new construction projects. The European Union required geosynthetics in infrastructure projects under the construction directive 89/106/EEC; M/107. As a result, geosynthetics demand in Europe is expected to increase over the forecast period.
Geomembranes, geogrids, and geotextiles are likely to increase in Central and South America as infrastructure projects develop. Due to the significant prevalence of the offshore oil and gas sector in Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina, water and waste management are expected to stay the most attractive application segments for geomembranes. Also, a solid mining base in Chile, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia is anticipated to boost wastewater treatment needs, boosting geomembranes demand over the forecast period.