Production of nonwoven roll goods in 2007 reached 5.75 million tonnes – equivalent to about 144 billion sq.m. or US$20.9 billion in end-use sales – according to INDA and EDANA.
A comprehensive new report from the two industry bodies forecasts that worldwide nonwovens will continue to grow at a rate of about 7.9% per year during the five year period of 2007-2012 and reach 8.41 million tonnes by 2012.
Square metre volume will grow at a faster pace of about a percentage point per year higher than tonnage since newer technologies are capable of producing nonwovens at lower weights while meeting specified requirements. As a result, there is a continuing trend towards lighter weights of nonwovens which reduces the overall tonnage required.
Looking at the historical growth of the four basic nonwoven technologies in tonnes for the ten-year span from 1997 through to 2007, the report concludes that market share for carded technologies in terms of combined volume continues to rise, boosted primarily by spunlaced and needlepunched technologies. Spunlaid volume is increasing at a faster pace and actually surpassed carded within the past year. Spunlaid nonwovens growth has been driven to largely by the technology’s expansion in China and now into India.
The third edition of Worldwide Outlook for the Nonwovens Industry – 2007-2012 reports on and analyzes worldwide industry statistics, including the size of regional markets and projections for growth in all major nonwovens markets and technologies.
“This report will provide a benchmark for the state of our industry wherever nonwovens are made or sold and will serve as the key reference source for any company involved in the business of nonwovens,” said Rory Holmes, president of INDA.
