Asia-Pacific Artificial Turf Market Outlook, 2028

In Asia-Pacific, natural grass was the preferred playing surface for most sports during the historic time period. However, the emergence of high-quality artificial turf surfaces has changed this trend. Today, artificial turf is widely used in sports such as soccer, rugby, field hockey, and tennis across the region. Over the years, artificial turf technology has improved significantly, resulting in more realistic playing surfaces that closely resemble natural grass. This has helped to enhance the overall playing experience for athletes, leading to increased acceptance and adoption of artificial turf across the Asia-Pacific region. Also, the increasing focus on environmental sustainability in Asia-Pacific has also played a role in the evolution of artificial turf culture. Artificial turf is seen as a more sustainable alternative to natural grass, as it requires less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. This has led to increased adoption of artificial turf by sports clubs, schools, and other organizations in the region. The sports industry in Asia-Pacific has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by factors such as rising incomes, increased urbanization, and government investment in sports infrastructure. This growth has created a greater demand for high-quality sports surfaces, including artificial turf. The weather conditions in some parts of Asia-Pacific, such as hot and humid climates, can make it difficult to maintain natural grass sports surfaces. Artificial turf, on the other hand, is more resistant to weather conditions and can be used year-round, making it a popular option in these regions. In 2019, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that it would require all of its member associations to install artificial turf pitches for all future AFC Cup and AFC Champions League matches. The largest artificial turf soccer field in Asia is located in the Philippines and measures 120 meters by 80 meters.

According to the research report, “Asia-Pacific Artificial Turf Market Outlook, 2028” the market is projected to grow at 8.15% CAGR by 2023-28 owing to increasing constructions backed by rising investments from foreign multinationals. The expanding tourist and hospitality industries are the primary drivers of product consumption in commercial applications. The market is likely to be driven by the growing trend of landscaping, increased investment by key players, and government funding for infrastructure upgrades, primarily hockey. The expansion of residential and commercial spaces leads to higher demand for green spaces such as lawns, backyards, community parks, and patios. However, the high cost of maintenance of natural grass is a major limitation in the region due to the lower disposable income among the population. As a result, several end-users are moving to artificial turf, which minimizes the maintenance cost and is highly durable. Increasing urbanization and growing trend of home décor and renovation is a major factor driving revenue growth rate over the forecast period. Increasing environmental consciousness among consumers is another factor resulting in inclined demand for recyclable artificial turf. Hence companies are also aiming toward sustainability which is leading to market growth. For instance, on 25 June 2021, in an attempt to face the social and environmental problems that artificial grass causes, Easigrass, a well-known brand of gardening artificial grass, created the first artificial grass product that is 100% recyclable. To lessen the environmental effect, the unique backing utilized for the new 100% recyclable synthetic grass also provides many other benefits to users. The first such product to be made available in Japan will be offered by Bootroom Corporation as sustainable artificial grass that is kind to the environment. In addition to that, majority of the home owners in Asia-Pacific fill their gardens with artificial turf and dress it up with potted plants for a green environment. Few of home owners fill up the garden area with cement so as not to worry about maintenance. According to the application segmentation, contact sports are leading the market whereas leisure segment is growing at a higher CAGR by 2028.

Based on the report, the market is segmented into five major countries including China, Japan, India, Australia and South Korea. Among them, China is one of the largest markets for artificial turf in the world, with a growing number of sports facilities and public spaces opting for artificial turf over natural grass. The country's artificial turf market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by factors such as urbanization, rising incomes, and a growing interest in sports. However, Japan has been a pioneer in the development of artificial turf technology, with the first artificial turf soccer field in Asia installed in the country in 1967. Today, artificial turf is widely used in various sports in Japan, including soccer, rugby, and field hockey. The country's artificial turf market is expected to continue growing as more sports facilities and public spaces adopt this technology. On the other hand, India is a rapidly growing market for artificial turf, driven by factors such as increasing urbanization, rising incomes, and a growing interest in sports. However, the country's artificial turf industry has faced challenges in recent years due to environmental concerns over the use of plastic in the production process. Factors such as the rise in development of contact sports such as football, development of high-technology parks, rapid urbanization, popularity of artificial grass in residential and commercial landscaping, municipalities and public gardens, coupled with the strong presence of Chinese artificial grass manufacturers are the main factors contributing to the growth of the Asia Pacific artificial grass market. Developments and innovations in artificial grass market infill solutions and yarn fibres, the wide availability of fibre base materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and the growing number of investments strategized by Asia-Pacific's dominant players all act as drivers for the artificial turf market's expansion and growth. Eco Outdoor has recently been seen collaborating with the Dutch firm Royal Grass, which produces the most authentic and natural-looking grass. This product aims towards zero waste by reusing and recycling materials. The Royal Grass has no heavy metals and is filled with sand, which is perfectly safe for youngsters. The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) has recognised Royal Grass as the green label in the Asia Pacific area. It is the most established eco-labelling scheme, reflecting sustainability as one of the key qualities of Royal Grass. Sports are the most common end user of artificial turf in the region.

Factors such as crop protection product toxicity, environmental friendliness, innovative production practices, new product offerings, increased availability, and the emergence of new pests have all contributed to the use of pesticides becoming a common practice in countries such as India, China, and other less developed countries in the region. Rising technology and advancements in agriculture chemistry have made pest management easier for farmers, and rising awareness about pesticides has not only increased the use of pesticides. Still, it has also increased the use of pesticides for crop protection, such as turf and ornamental, which drives the market in the region. The turf and ornamental crop protection market is surging owing to frequent acquisitions and launchings by the market players. Strategic alliances by the players, such as acquisitions, mergers, expansions, and new product launches, may enhance the company’s growth. For instance, In March 2022, BASF SE launched the open innovation platform AgroStart to inspire new digital solutions for agriculture. The Asia-Pacific artificial turf market has witnessed a rapid growth rate due to of the increase in sports stadiums, increase in inflow of investment in infrastructure, and rapid urbanization. Moreover, the issue of water scarcity and improvement in lifestyle has supplemented the growth of the Asia-Pacific artificial turf market. Artificial grass turf offers various benefits such as green lawns all year, regardless of the weather, and with no yard work. Artificial grass turf is the perfect replacement for natural grass for a consumer who travels a lot cannot always make sure that their grass will survive their absence. In addition, it gives more playing time with less maintenance for sports fields and no need for expensive sprinkler systems. Artificial grass turf is environmentally responsible, especially in drought-plagued regions. Based on the fiber base material, polyethylene (PE) segment is dominating the market in 2022.

Based on the report, the market is segmented into three major infill materials including petroleum, sand and rubber. Among them, petroleum- based in fill segment is dominating the market with 50% market share in 2022. Rubber infill is another popular choice for artificial turf in Asia-Pacific, especially in sports such as field hockey, tennis, and athletics. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore use rubber infill in a significant number of sports facilities. Sand is also one of the most commonly used infill materials for artificial turf in Asia-Pacific, particularly in sports such as soccer and rugby. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea use sand infill in a significant number of sports fields. However, plant based infill segment is growing at a higher CAGR by 2028. Organic infill materials such as cork, coconut fibers, and rice husks are gaining popularity in Asia-Pacific due to their environmentally friendly properties. These infill materials are widely used in countries like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. On the other hand, hybrid infill, which combines different types of infill materials such as sand, rubber, and organic materials, is also gaining popularity in Asia-Pacific. This infill type is known for its durability and performance and is commonly used in sports such as soccer, rugby, and cricket. Countries like India and Malaysia have started using hybrid infill in a significant number of sports facilities. Further, based on distribution channel, direct sales segment is expected to lead the market by the end of the forecast period.

Major Companies present in the market:

DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Tarkett Inc., Victoria PLC, Controlled Products, LLC, Act Global, Sport Group, Mondo S.p.A., Tiger lily, IntegriTurf, LLC, TenCate Grass, CoCreation Grass Co., Ltd, Shandong Biyuan Artificial turf co., Ltd, Shaw Industries Group Inc., Limonta Sport

Considered in this report

• Geography: Asia-Pacific
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

• Asia-Pacific Artificial Turf market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise Artificial Turf market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report:

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea

By Fiber Base Material

• Polyethylene
• Nylon
• Polypropylene

By End Users

• Sports
• Residential
• Commercial

By Infill Material

• Petroleum Based
• Sand Based
• Plant Based

By Distribution Channel

• Direct Sales / B2B
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Others

By Application

• Contact Sports
• Non-Contact Sports
• Leisure
• Landscaping

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; the author has started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Artificial Lawn industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.