02.05.16
That's a lot of diapers! Global demand for nonwovens is forecast to rise 5.4% a year to 11.1 million metric tons in 2019. Demand will be driven by an increase in baby diapers, adult incontinence products, filters, wipes, disposable medical gowns and various automotive components, according to a new study by Freedonia Group, Cleveland. Additionally, higher penetration rates of many of these end products, such as baby diapers in developing countries and adult incontinence products in developed countries, will promote rising nonwovens requirements.
However, demand varies significantly by region, with nonwovens in the developed areas of the world projected to grow well below the global average. For instance, through 2014 the US and Western Europe will advance less than 3% while Japan will grow less than 2%. These countries have well-developed manufacturing sectors, populations with high personal incomes, and well-established, mature nonwovens markets. Still, nonwovens manufacturers will have opportunities for expanded use in a number of applications, such as motor vehicles and wallpaper substrates, at the expense of alternative materials, according to Freedonia.
In the developing world, nonwovens demand is expected to grow at more than twice the rate of that in the more established regions through 2019.
“Advances will benefit from rapidly developing manufacturing sectors, particularly production of mattresses, motor vehicles, geotextiles, and other key nondisposable nonwovens,” said Analyst Pamela Safarek.
Despite having relatively low intensity of use per capita, the Asia/Pacific region was the largest regional market for nonwovens in 2014, with 48% of the global total. Growth will be driven in large part by China, which will account for nearly half of all global gains through 2019, spurred by rising manufacturing capacity for products that consume significant amounts of nonwovens. India will see faster gains as it continues to rapidly develop its manufacturing and construction sectors. Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Africa/Mideast region each accounted for less than 10% of the global nonwovens market in 2014. These regions will post gains above the global average, based on favorable growth in domestic sales. However, due to the current market size, these three regions combined will account for less than 25% of global gains through 2019, according to Freedonia.
However, demand varies significantly by region, with nonwovens in the developed areas of the world projected to grow well below the global average. For instance, through 2014 the US and Western Europe will advance less than 3% while Japan will grow less than 2%. These countries have well-developed manufacturing sectors, populations with high personal incomes, and well-established, mature nonwovens markets. Still, nonwovens manufacturers will have opportunities for expanded use in a number of applications, such as motor vehicles and wallpaper substrates, at the expense of alternative materials, according to Freedonia.
In the developing world, nonwovens demand is expected to grow at more than twice the rate of that in the more established regions through 2019.
“Advances will benefit from rapidly developing manufacturing sectors, particularly production of mattresses, motor vehicles, geotextiles, and other key nondisposable nonwovens,” said Analyst Pamela Safarek.
Despite having relatively low intensity of use per capita, the Asia/Pacific region was the largest regional market for nonwovens in 2014, with 48% of the global total. Growth will be driven in large part by China, which will account for nearly half of all global gains through 2019, spurred by rising manufacturing capacity for products that consume significant amounts of nonwovens. India will see faster gains as it continues to rapidly develop its manufacturing and construction sectors. Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Africa/Mideast region each accounted for less than 10% of the global nonwovens market in 2014. These regions will post gains above the global average, based on favorable growth in domestic sales. However, due to the current market size, these three regions combined will account for less than 25% of global gains through 2019, according to Freedonia.
