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Nonwoven fabrics continue to be one of the fastest
growing segments in the textile world. In 2005, worldwide consumption of nonwoven
fabrics reached almost 5 billion metric tons (excluding wood pulp, microporous
films, glass fiber and stuffing/wadding/batting), valued at nearly $19 billion.
For much of the past decade, solid growth in nonwovens has occurred in the
industrialized nations while double-digit growth has occurred throughout most
of the developing regions (predominantly Asia). Developing countries consumed
42% of all nonwoven goods produced worldwide in 2005, up from 26% in 1997.
The share of nonwoven demand by major country or region is shown in the following
pie chart:
The use of nonwovens in developing countries should increase 10–12%
annually from 2005 to 2010. Demand for nonwoven roll goods in many of these
countries currently exceeds local capacity by 50% or more. Double-digit growth
in demand for nonwoven goods (particularly in China) is driving expansion by
local manufacturers, while drawing larger numbers of foreign investors into
the market. However, these countries will remain net importers of nonwoven
roll goods for the foreseeable future.
In North America, Western Europe and Japan, growth in demand for nonwovens
is expected to vary from 2% per year in Japan to nearly 7% per year in Western
Europe over the next five years.
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