Strong, resilient and long-lasting civil infrastructure is crucial to meet the demands of a growing population. It is essential to adopt sustainable methods in civil engineering and construction, given the gravity of today’s environmental challenges and the depletion of natural resources. Many geotechnical and civil engineering projects, including those involving coastal engineering, dams, canals, retaining walls, railroads, reservoirs, embankments, airfields and roads, make extensive use of geosynthetics systems. The growth of the construction industry in India over the past few years has been a driver for the significant surge in the demand for geosynthetics. Additionally, the geosynthetics market is anticipated to grow at a faster rate due to factors such as rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.
Several types of geosynthetic materials are used in civil engineering and construction projects, such as geotextiles, geogrids, geonets and geomembranes. The durability and performance of these materials have improved, increasing the productivity of infrastructure assets. They have wide applications in the transportation industry, including roads, trains, airports and waterways.
Key market drivers and trends
Growing construction industry
Throughout the construction process, geosynthetic materials are used to mitigate erosion, strengthen infrastructure, control evaporation and improve drainage, all of which increase the longevity and safety of buildings. These materials are essential for stabilisation, reinforcement and subgrade separation. They also help in streamlining the construction process, which extends the life of the road and lowers the need for maintenance. Since they can withstand large lateral deformations and vertical differential settlements, geosynthetics also help prevent accidents. Using geotextiles or geogrids can make permanent roads thinner and enhance their performance. Moreover, to meet different infrastructure standards, high quality materials are needed for construction procedures and pavement designs. The increasing focus on infrastructure and construction in India is expected to drive the geosynthetics market and increase their demand.
Increasing investments in the waste management segment
Growing urbanisation and population are leading to an increase in the generation of solid and liquid waste. This makes it necessary to focus on both water and waste management efforts in the country. Using geotextiles as trash covers can help reduce or stop the creation of post-closure waste, keeping liquids out of landfills.
Due to escalating public concerns regarding severe and pervasive water pollution, geosynthetics are increasingly being utilised in various flood control measures. For instance, sewage treatment plants use geosynthetic lining solutions in septic tanks to guarantee water supply in reservoirs, aquifers, lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Growing usage for the development of road and rail infrastructure
The rapid economic growth in the country is driving an acceleration in the development of road and rail infrastructure. Given their widespread application in road development projects, this is anticipated to increase demand for geosynthetic materials.
The primary applications of geosynthetics are reinforcement, subgrade stabilisation and separation. Geosynthetics are used in construction for enhanced stress propagation and stability in drainage structures, railways and highways. Consequently, this will propel the expansion of the geosynthetic sector in India.
Increasing use of natural geotextiles
Agricultural materials such as jute, coconut coir, straw and rubber are used to make natural geotextiles. The government has promoted jute-based geotextiles to facilitate jute production. Certain state governments have also promoted the use of natural geotextiles in the building of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. These geotextiles are eco-friendly, which is an added bonus. However, in scenarios where resilience and durability are necessary, synthetic geotextiles are anticipated to offer more advantages than natural ones.
Natural geotextiles are one alternative that has become more popular due to their numerous benefits across a range of industries. Since natural geotextiles decompose naturally, their application is usually limited to short-term support until the soil can be supported by the growing natural vegetation. These natural geotextiles stabilise slopes and river embankments, assist subsurface drains and reduce soil erosion.
Key challenges
Lack of skilled labour
The use of geosynthetic materials requires highly skilled workers and specialised equipment. Contractors are discouraged from using geosynthetics in various construction projects due to the lack of both skilled labour and specialised equipment. The lack of awareness among construction companies and contractors about the long-term benefits of geosynthetics further impedes their utilisation in different construction activities.
Fluctuating raw material costs
The cost and availability of raw materials are the main determinants of pricing finished products. Several materials used in the manufacturing of geosynthetics, such as polyethylene, ethylene propylene diene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride polymers, are directly impacted by the price of crude oil in the market. Price fluctuations in petroleum products directly impact the cost of raw materials needed to meet geotechnical specifications. This, in turn, is expected to limit the expansion of the target industry.
Installation damage risks
Roads, railways, ponds, tunnels, dams and waste landfills are all built using geotextiles. Geotextiles may sustain damage during installation, which may result in inevitable changes to their mechanical, hydraulic and physical characteristics. When designing infrastructure with geotextiles, these modifications need to be considered. However, field testing or laboratory testing is required to evaluate the damages sustained during installation. Furthermore, exposure to ultraviolet rays and low temperatures can damage geogrids, potentially impacting the overall market demand during installation. The temperature at the installation site affects the degree of damage, hindering the geogrids market’s expansion even more. Field or laboratory testing can be employed to assess the damage sustained during installation.
Key players
The geosynthetics industry in India is home to both local and foreign businesses. Joint ventures have been the primary mode for foreign competitors to penetrate the Indian market. Currently, some of the leading companies in India are Strata Geosystems (India) Private Limited, Techfab India, Terram Geosynthetics Private Limited, GeosIndex, Enviro Geosynthetics Private Limited, Gayatri Polymers, and Geosynthetics Limited. Key importers importers include Garware Wall Ropes Limited, Maccaferri India, and Huesker (via Archana Structural Engineering India Private Limited while major exporters include Ambica Polymer, SKAPs Industries and TechFab India.
New players, such as Manas Geo Tech Private Limited and Supreme Nonwoven Industries Private Limited, have started supplying wide-width non-wovens made of polyester to users in the infrastructure sectors. International companies like TenCate and Fibertex Nonwovens are also establishing a presence in the Indian geosynthetics market.
Long-term advantages and market outlook
The use of geosynthetics offers various advantages. For instance, it helps reduce the cost of construction materials and installation work. They resist corrosion and are robust and long-lasting. Geosynthetics are regarded as an all-purpose, environmentally benign material suitable for various applications in construction, facilitating expedited work. They reduce the chance of human errors and have easy design methodologies. Moreover, they require less frequent maintenance and guarantee consistency across various soil types.
Innovative materials like geosynthetics have become essential to India’s infrastructure development as a result of growing awareness and a demand for more durable and sustainable solutions. According to media reports, the Indian geosynthetics market is projected to reach around $1,900 million by 2033 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 8.4 per cent in the next 10 years. This indicates a rise in the utilisation of geosynthetics in India.
Moreover, the use of geotechnical engineering and materials has increased significantly in the country over the past few years. Through regulations, the government has also been encouraging the infrastructure and construction sectors to use sustainable materials for structural resilience, such as geosynthetics, geogrids and geo composites.
To conclude, geosynthetics have played a significant role in the development of infrastructure around the world. India needs to develop its skills and capacities to maximise its enormous untapped potential. Geosynthetics offer higher quality, quicker adoption and lower life-cycle costs for all infrastructure construction projects. Moreover, the technical textiles sector in the country has tremendous growth potential. As the government aims to develop world-class infrastructure and execute numerous policies and programmes, technical textiles are expected to gain increased popularity in the future.
Naina Gulati