Strapping looks simple. A band goes round the load, gets tightened, and that’s it. Then a pallet reaches the customer with loose bands and cartons on the floor, and the PET vs PP strap question suddenly matters.

Most of the time the choice is between those two plastics: PET, which is polyester, and PP, which is polypropylene. They look alike on the roll. On a loaded truck in July, they behave very differently.

The short answer

Use PET for heavy loads, long journeys and anything that must stay tight for weeks. Use PP for light cartons and short trips, where cost matters more than long-term tension.

Strength

PET is much stronger at the same width and thickness. It is stiff, it has a high break strength, and it has replaced steel strapping on many heavy loads such as bricks, blocks, timber and steel bundles.

PP is weaker per millimetre. It suits loads that would never put much stress on a strap in the first place.

Stretch and tension

This is the difference most people miss. PP stretches a lot under tension and then keeps slowly stretching, which engineers call creep. A PP strap that felt tight in the morning can be noticeably slack a few days later.

PET stretches far less and recovers well, so it holds its tension. When a load settles or compresses in transit, that held tension is what keeps the stack together.

Why heat matters in the Gulf

Temperature swings make PP lose tension faster. A container standing in a UAE yard in summer heats up all day and cools at night, and PP relaxes a little with every cycle. PET handles those swings much better.

For export loads, or anything stored outdoors before shipping, that alone usually settles the argument.

Cost

PP is cheaper per metre, and on high-volume carton lines the saving is real. But weigh the price of the strap against the price of a damaged load. One collapsed pallet of tiles can wipe out a lot of strap savings.

PET vs PP strap at a glance

Which strap for which job

Choose PET for bricks, blocks, tiles, timber, steel pipes and anything palletised for export. These loads are heavy, they settle in transit, and a strap that loosens means broken product. PET is also a safer replacement for steel strap, because it has no sharp edges and nothing to rust.

Choose PP for cartons, boxes and light bundles on local runs, especially on busy lines where cost per pack matters. Don’t over-tension PP to make up for the stretch. It relaxes anyway, and too much tension can crush carton edges.

If you palletise bagged goods, the bags matter as much as the strap. Our PP woven bags can be ordered with anti-slip printing, which helps stacked bags stay put.

Widths, tools and machines

Strap width scales with the load, and a wider, thicker strap gives more break force. Our PET strap comes in widths from 9 mm to 19 mm.

Both PET and PP work with manual tensioners and with automatic strapping machines, as long as the coil core fits the machine. Tell your supplier the machine model before ordering coils. Heavy loads also need corner protectors, so the strap doesn’t cut into the product.

Buying PET and PP strap in the UAE

We stock PET and PP strap in Dubai in standard and custom widths, colours and coil sizes, for hand tools and strapping machines. Call +971 56 158 9555 with your load type and machine model, and we will suggest the right strap.

Frequently asked questions

Is PET strap stronger than PP strap?

Yes. At the same size, PET has a much higher break strength and stretches far less, so it holds heavy loads tighter for longer.

Why do PP straps go loose?

PP stretches and keeps creeping under tension, and temperature swings speed this up. PET holds its tension much better.

Can PET strap replace steel strap?

On many loads, yes. PET reaches a high break strength, holds tension well, and has no sharp edges or rust. Some very heavy loads, such as steel coils, may still need steel.

What colour is PET strap?

PET strap is usually green, although other colours are available. PP strap is commonly white or black.