Geocells Market Assessment, By Raw Material [High-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Others], By Configuration Type [Perforated, Non-Perforated], By Application [Slope Construction, Soil Reinforcement, Erosion Control, Wall Retention, Rail Embankment, O

Geocells Market Assessment, By Raw Material [High-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Others], By Configuration Type [Perforated, Non-Perforated], By Application [Slope Construction, Soil Reinforcement, Erosion Control, Wall Retention, Rail Embankment, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global geocells market is projected to witness a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 551.2 million in 2023 to USD 919.11 million in 2031. Geocells are progressively benefitting areas like transportation, waste drainage systems, and road pathways, thereby driving market growth. According to the Association of American Railroads, freight rail has become an integrated network of trains and trucks across the United States that substantially transports around 61 tons of essential goods per American every year.

The rising demand for crude oil and gas across the United States is spurring the application of railroads, which is benefiting the market growth. In 2022, the United States transported around 650 barrels of crude oil using United States Class I railroads, as reported by the Association of American Railroads.

The geocells market is experiencing massive growth due to numerous civil engineering projects in constructing railway infrastructure, durable roads, water ports, etc. Geocells are usually comprised of 3-dimensional expandable cellular confinement systems (CCS) that are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are extensively used for essential confinement on slopes and channels. Geocells are progressively engineered for diversified applications, along with eco-friendly solutions. The problems associated with soil erosion and slope instability usually occur in road construction, parking lots, playgrounds, rail upliftment, etc. Geocells are considered an effective material for cellular confinement for benefiting projects like slope reinforcement, including plant root prevention from damage. A virtually invisible substance but still imparts enhanced durability and strength that counts its significance as an effective solution. Consequently, the growing demand to build extensive rail and road networks is propelling the growth of the geocells market.

Need For Efficient Development of Roads and Railways Facilitating Market Demand

The growth and economy of any country depend on its network connectivity within and outside the region. Expressways and highways are significantly bringing every remote location to the upfront and advancing cities, which requires massive road construction with enhanced durability. The lifespan of roads and pavements depends on various factors, such as traffic loads, subgrade soil conditions, etc. Geocell HDPE materials are ultrasonically welded in honeycomb configuration and possess high strength that successively provides solutions to road and rail construction. In road construction, geocells provide remarkable tensile strength that subsequently holds the soil together, ultimately enhancing the load-carrying capacity. Companies are progressively developing advanced geocells for reducing road construction costs, providing weak soil reinforcement, along soil retention on steep slopes involved in rail embankments. Geocells are specifically designed as lightweight flexible materials that also improve installation costs and specifications. Hence, the overall positive market factors like long-range road connectivity are contributing to the growth of the geocells market.

For instance, the Biden administration has implemented a USD 550 billion plan to substantially upgrade various infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, dams, etc. In addition, according to the data published by the International Transport Forum (ITF), over the last decade, the European Union government has spent over USD 318 billion every year on transportation networks. In 2020, around 87.2% of inland passenger transport across the European Union was carried by traveling cars, followed by buses, coaches, and trolleybuses, which account for 7.4%. Also, according to the Association of American Railroads, the United States has invested in freight railroads averaging over USD 23 billion every year for the past five years. The freight rail network across the United States is nearly 140,000 miles, covering the entire country comprising 49 states, where the short lines complete over 44,000 route miles and Class I railroads run over 92,000 route miles.

Progressive Infrastructure Development with Geocells

Civil engineering projects are an integral part of the development of a nation, where significant contributions can be recognized in enhancing the country’s GDP. The weak soil configuration successively leads to the deterioration of the surface, which affects the under-construction steep slopes on rail and highway embankments. Geocells are configured with HDPE cells that retain the soil-filled material, along with slope reinforcement, tree root protection, and concrete shuttering. The incorporated cell walls develop tensile strength, which acts as mini weirs that subsequently reduce runoff velocity and ultimately soil loss. Specific configurations of geocells in the horizontal layers can successfully provide earth retaining walls, developing significant structures for numerous constructions works. Perforated geocells provide a proper drainage system while restricting hydrostatic gradient development and ensuring a sufficient supply of water throughout the uniform distribution. Hence, the geocells market is anticipated to experience massive growth due to the increasing requirements of building wall strength for prominent construction projects.

The Federal Highway Administration estimated that the total United States freight movements will substantially increase from around 19.3 billion tons in 2020 to 25.1 billion tons in 2040, which is a massive 30% rise. In 2022, under Global Water Partnership (GPW), the management was strictly focused on incorporating 2020-2025 strategy plans where the investment is added around USD 368.86 million. In 2022, GPW encouraged the mobilization of USD 1.5 million for Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries under the GCP Project Preparation Facility. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will closely work with partnered countries under the five-year (2022-2027) plan to directly benefit 22 million people with sustainable sanitation services and significantly allot USD 1 billion for financing water security, resilient watersheds, etc.

Asia-Pacific is Progressively Contributing to the Market Growth

The population explosion of India and China has consequently led to a higher demand for transportation, which, in turn, has increased highway traffic that has led to the development of a long-range rail network across the county accounting for intra and inter-country levels. The growing infrastructure construction, including oil and thermal power plants, has increased the traffic of heavy trucks on roads, further basing the foundation of paved roads on soft and wet soils. Geocells contribute to building such highway roads for efficient transportation. Activities, such as paved roads, highway stabilization railway construction ballast stabilization, and roadside drainage systems work, are growing across the Asia region, which is accomplished by incorporating geocells for long-term stability, while simultaneously taking care of environmental concerns.

For instance, under the China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the investment for road projects in 2022 was USD 67.8 billion. China State Railway Group in August 2022, progressively commissioned huge investments to enhance the railway network across the country by 2035. Furthermore, China has always been involved in the list of water-scarce problems experiencing aggravated water scarcity situation. Jiangsu and Fujian provinces in China have commenced a “water-saving loan” service to encourage and implement water-saving renovation projects with an interest rate of 3.85%. Data released by Modern Railways 2023 in China states the prospects of the railway industry development across China. According to the 14th Five-year Plan (2021-2025), China will successively develop a total mileage of 165,000 km of railway lines to transport 4.1 billion passengers and 4 billion tons of freight every year by 2025. Therefore, with such a definite investment, the Asia-Pacific region is considered a prominent contributor to the growth of the geocells market.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

• Development of essential design consisting of geocells will subsequently lead to more advanced pavement construction.

• Road construction will be more environmentally friendly, as the geocell can be combined with locally available inferior infill, and such specific configurations can successfully provide earth retaining walls for developing significant structures.

• The rapid implementation of geocells will significantly affect the cost structure of construction materials in the future across different sectors.

• Middle East and Africa will witness faster implementation of geocells.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The rising geocells market has encouraged prominent companies to develop geocells that have extensive applications in developing massive road and rail networks, along with prominent constructions. The leading global companies in the geocells market are Maccaferri Spa, ABG Limited, Wrekin Products Ltd., Hanes Geo Components, Polyfabrics, TMP Geosynthetics, Geocell Systems, Inc., Berry Global Inc., PRS Geo-Technologies, and TenCate Geosynthetics Asia Sdn Bhd. These companies are progressively developing geocells for prominent sectors. For instance, ABG Limited’s ConcertinaWeb geocell is a prominent containment system that subsequently provides confinement and strength to infill materials for the reinforcement of roadside verges. It is a cost-effective solution to prevent verge failure and material loss in encountering the probability of vehicles over-running. ConcertinaWeb geocell is successively compatible with various civil engineering fill materials and can be used in topsoil conjunction to impart remarkable smoothness to the surface.

Furthermore, ABG Limited has different types of accreditations that provide them with certification to design and manufacture high-quality geocells to benefit a wide range of civil engineering solutions. Accreditations from institutions like the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), the Institutions of Civil Engineers, the British Geomembrane Association (BGA), etc. have been granted to ABG Limited, which provides a platform to enhance the company’s business on a global level. ABG Limited specializes in the design, supply, and incorporation of a wide range of green roofs, blue roofs, etc.