Market Forecast By Type (Clear/Transparent Mulch, Black Mulch, Coloured Mulch, Degradable Mulch, Others, By Material Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, PLA/PHA, PBS, EVA, Other Bio-Based Materials (TPS, PBAT Blends)), By Degradability (Non-Biodegradable, Biodegradable), By Application (Agricultural Farms, Horticulture), And Competitive Landscape
| Product Code: ETC12944146 | Publication Date: Apr 2025 | Updated Date: Oct 2025 | Product Type: Market Research Report | |
| Publisher: 6Wresearch | Author: Shubham Deep | No. of Pages: 74 | No. of Figures: 21 | No. of Tables: 7 |
Japan's mulch film import market in 2024 saw significant contributions from top exporting countries such as South Korea, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Malaysia. The market displayed moderate concentration, with a slight decline in the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020 to 2024. However, there was a notable growth spurt in 2024, with a growth rate of 10.08% compared to the previous year. This data suggests a dynamic and evolving landscape in the mulch film import industry in Japan, with potential opportunities for market players to explore.

Japan Mulch Film Market Report thoroughly covers the market by type, material, degradability, and application. Japan Mulch Film Market Outlook report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the ongoing Japan Mulch Film Market trends, opportunities/high growth areas, and market drivers. This would help stakeholders devise and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.
Japan Mulch Film market experienced robust growth during the past years, propelled by the country’s shift toward intensive horticulture and protected cultivation, where growers use mulch films for weed suppression, temperature and moisture control, and season extension. The country reports total agricultural output reached high in 2023, registering a YoY growth rate with vegetables and other high-value crops supporting input demand, while Japan’s food exports continued to expand in 2024, with increase in YoY, reinforcing the need for uniform, clean produce that mulching helps deliver.
Demand is anchored by Policy and waste-management regulations, steering the market toward more sustainable films. Japan’s Plastic Resource Circulation Act embeds an approach across design, use, and end-of-life, encouraging design-for-recycling PE and biodegradable options. Recent national data show material/chemical recycling including energy recovery and effective utilization rate in 2023. In parallel, MAFF’s organic push targets organic farmland by 2030 and promotes Organic Villages, favoring low-residue inputs such as certified biodegradable mulch. These factors point to continued adoption of GreenPla aligned biodegradable films and recyclable mono-material PE across open-field and protected systems, as exporters and co-ops tighten procurement around sustainability and end-of-life management.

According to 6Wresearch, Japan Mulch Film Market revenue size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during 2025-2031. Leading domestic producers such as Okura Industrial Co., Ltd., C.I. TAKIRON Corporation, and Sunplac Corporation, along with other key players like Achilles Corporation and Mikado Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd., are investing in R&D to expand portfolios of biodegradable and recyclable mulch films. These developments highlight the growing importance of sustainable film solutions in improving soil management efficiency, reducing plastic waste, and aligning Japan’s agricultural practices with long-term environmental goals.

Degradable mulch films are expected to record the highest growth in Japan mulch film market by 2031. As Japanese growers face increasing labour constraints, soil-residue scrutiny, and circular-economy policy pressure, degradable mulch films offer a compelling value proposition as they ease end-of-life burden, align with GreenPla standards and sustainability goals, and reduce manual labour.
PLA/PHA-based mulch films are expected to witness the fastest growth in Japan by 2031, driven by their superior biodegradation in temperate soils, mechanical strength, and compatibility with precision farming equipment. These bio-based materials could also be locally sourced from regional feedstocks like cassava or sugarcane, reducing import dependency and aligning with Japan’s carbon-neutral and circular agriculture goals, making them the preferred material for sustainable farming.
Biodegradable mulch films are expected to have the highest growth rate in Japan mulch film market by 2031, supported by the Plastic Resource Circulation Act’s requirements, MAFF’s Organic Village expansion, and JA co-ops’ preference for low-residue, inputs in high-value horticulture. By eliminating retrieval and disposal steps through soil biodegradation and aligning with GreenPla standards, these films directly reduce end-of-life costs, fit labour-constrained farms, and are increasingly adopted in protected cultivation and export-oriented programs that demand cleaner fields.
Horticulture is projected to have the highest growth in Japan’s mulch film market, driven by the expansion and modernization of protected cultivation (vinyl/glass houses, high tunnels) and a crop mix shift toward berries, leafy greens, and ornamentals that demand cleaner, uniform produce. Retailer and processor quality, appearance, residue control plus multi-crop, short cycle rotations in horticulture require frequent film replacement and specialized types, accelerating mulch film volume and value growth in horticulture application.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments:
| 1. Executive Summary |
| 2. Introduction |
| 2.1. Report Description |
| 2.2. Key Highlights of the Report |
| 2.3. Market Scope & Segmentation |
| 2.4. Research Methodology |
| 2.5. Assumptions |
| 3. Global Mulch Film Market Overview |
| 3.1. Global Mulch Film Market Revenues, 2021 - 2031F |
| 4. Japan Mulch Film Market Overview |
| 4.1. Japan Mulch Film Market - Macroeconomic Indicators |
| 4.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, 2021 - 2031F |
| 4.3. Japan Mulch Film Market - Industry Life Cycle |
| 4.4. Japan Mulch Film Market - Porter's Five Forces |
| 5. Japan Mulch Film Market Dynamics |
| 5.1. Impact Analysis |
| 5.2. Market Drivers |
| 5.3. Market Restraints |
| 6. Japan Mulch Film Market Trends and Evolution |
| 7. Japan Mulch Film Market Overview, By Type |
| 7.1 Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Type , 2024 & 2031F |
| 7.1.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Clear/Transparent Mulch, 2021-2031F |
| 7.1.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Black Mulch, 2021-2031F |
| 7.1.3. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Coloured Mulch, 2021-2031F |
| 7.1.4. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Degradable Mulch, 2021-2031F |
| 7.1.5. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Others, 2021-2031F |
| 8. Japan Mulch Film Market Overview, By Material |
| 8.1 Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Material, 2024 & 2031F |
| 8.1.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Polyethylene, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Polypropylene, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.3. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Polyvinyl Chloride, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.4. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By PLA/PHA, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.5. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By PBS, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.6. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By EVA, 2021-2031F |
| 8.1.7. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Other Bio-Based Materials, 2021-2031F |
| 9. Japan Mulch Film Market Overview, By Degradability |
| 9.1 Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Degradability, 2024 & 2031F |
| 9.1.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Non-Biodegradable, 2021-2031F |
| 9.1.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Biodegradable, 2021-2031F |
| 10. Japan Mulch Film Market Overview, By Application |
| 10.1 Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Application, 2024 & 2031F |
| 10.1.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Agricultural Farms, 2021-2031F |
| 10.1.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Horticulture, 2021-2031F |
| 11. Japan Mulch Film Market Key Performance Indicators |
| 12. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment |
| 12.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Type, 2031F |
| 12.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Material, 2031F |
| 12.3. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Degradability, 2031F |
| 12.4. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Application 2031F |
| 13. Japan Mulch Film Market Competitive Landscape |
| 13.1. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Ranking, By Top 3 Companies, CY2024 |
| 13.2. Japan Mulch Film Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Technical & Operating Parameters |
| 14. Company Profiles |
| 14.1. Okura Industrial Co., Ltd. |
| 14.2. Sunplac Corporation |
| 14.3. Shoko Co., Ltd. |
| 14.4. C.I. TAKIRON Corporation |
| 14.5. Omiya Co., Ltd. |
| 14.6. Nikka Kasei Co., Ltd. |
| 14.7. Achilles Corporation |
| 14.8. Konno Co., Ltd. |
| 14.9. Mikado Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
| 14.10. Tokan Kosan Co., Ltd. |
| 15. Key Strategic Recommendations |
| 16. Disclaimer |
| List of figures |
| 1. Global Mulch Film Market Revenues, 2021-2031F ($ Billion) |
| 2. Japan Real GDP Growth, YOY Change, 2021-2026F & 2030F, (in %) |
| 3. Japan Current Account Balance, 2021-2026F, (US$ Billion) |
| 4. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, 2021-2031F ($ Million) |
| 5. Total area of greenhouse cultivation for each product in 2022 (Hectares) |
| 6. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Type, 2024 & 2031F |
| 7. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Material, 2024 & 2031F |
| 8. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Degradability, 2024 & 2031F |
| 9. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Share, By Application, 2024 & 2031F |
| 10. Japan’s Agricultural Production Value in 2023, (in %) |
| 11. Japan Agricultural Products Exports 2020-2023 (US$ Billion) |
| 12. Japan Agricultural Total Output 2022 & 2023 (US$ Billion) |
| 13. Japan Fruit Production Value by product, 2023 ($ Million) |
| 14. Japan’s Agricultural, fishery and forestry products and food exports, 2020 & 2023 (in $ Billions) |
| 15. Japan’s Food Industry Overview, By Channels ($ Billion) |
| 16. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Type, 2031F |
| 17. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Material, 2031F |
| 18. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Degradability, 2031F |
| 19. Japan Mulch Film Market Opportunity Assessment, By Application, 2031F |
| 20. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenue Ranking, By Top 3 Companies, CY2024 |
| 21. Breakdown of Japan’s Plastic Waste Treatment, 2024 |
| List of table |
| 1. Japan Key Figures, 2024-2025E & 2030F |
| 2. Japan Vegetable Production in 2022 (Tonnes) |
| 3. Proportion of greenhouse cultivation by product in 2023 |
| 4. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Type, 2021-2031F, ($ Million) |
| 5. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Material, 2021-2031F, ($ Million) |
| 6. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Degradability, 2021-2031F, ($ Million) |
| 7. Japan Mulch Film Market Revenues, By Application, 2021-2031F, ($ Million) |