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Nonwoven Fabrics Market was valued at USD 40.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 53.5 billion by 2025, growing at a cagr 5.73% from 2020 to 2025. The growth of the market is attributed to the increase in demand for nonwoven products & solutions for hygiene, medical, construction, and filtration applications. The key growth drivers of the market are the growth of the modern healthcare sector in emerging markets, the rise in the birth rate, and the increase in the geriatric population in Western countries.
COVID-19 Impact on Global Nonwoven Fabrics Market
The nonwoven fabrics market is expected to witness significant growth during the COVID-19. Nonwoven manufacturers around the globe are expanding their production capacity and investing in machinery to manufacture healthcare essentials) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the number of cases worldwide and the growing need for healthcare workers are expected to boost the demand for disposable hospital supplies and nonwoven materials during the forecast period.
* In June 2020, Lydall invested in the new fine fiber melt-blown production line to meet the rising global demand for face masks. This new production line will enable Lydall to produce high-quality fine fiber melt-blown filtration media for N95, surgical, and medical face masks significantly increase their supply and help alleviate the shortage of melt-blown materials, both in the US and internationally.
* In May 2020, Berry Global announced an expansion of its Meltex melt-blown capacity, with the addition of an asset to support the growing demand for face masks during COVID-19. The new line will focus on the manufacturing of nonwoven protection materials and filter materials for premium FFP2 (N95) and FFP3 (N99) grade filter media.
* In April 2020, Ahlstrom-Munksjo increased its nonwoven production across its entire protective materials portfolio, in response to COVID-19. The company has expanded its product offering of protective materials for all three face mask categories- civil masks, surgical masks, and respiratory masks.
Nonwoven Fabrics Market Dynamics
Driver: Increased Demand for Nonwovens in Healthcare Industry
The use of nonwoven fabrics in medical applications is increasing due to the introduction of products with reduced costs for use in cost-sensitive hospitals. Products, such as disposable & reusable surgical gowns, drapes, gloves, and instrument wraps, are widely used in hospitals. Several government initiatives to control HAIs (Hospital hospital-acquired infections) promote the use of nonwoven medical products, such as disposable patient gowns, drapes, and linens that help reduce the spread of HAIs.
Restraint: Availability issues associated with raw materials
The availability of raw materials is one of the most important factors that have a direct impact on the end-product market. In nonwoven fabrics, more than 80% of the raw material fibers are synthetic. Some of these raw material fibers, such as polyester and cotton, are available in large quantities and at affordable prices; others, such as carbon fibers, glass fibers high tenacity yarns, and aramids, are costlier and not easily available.
Opportunity: Proliferation of new technologies
Technological enhancements have led the textile industry to witness high growth in most of its product segments, especially for nonwoven fabrics. New technologies are expected to bring down production costs, thereby rendering the manufacturing of nonwoven textiles commercially feasible. The incorporation of nanofiber and high-performance material technologies are emerging as alternatives to traditional membranes, creating new opportunities for nonwoven manufacturers.
Challenge: Volatility in raw material prices
Higher costs for raw materials moderately hamper the growth of the global nonwoven fabrics market. The market is influenced by shifts in the consumers’ needs, high oil prices, and global trade patterns. Polypropylene prices might not increase or collapse over the medium term from their present levels, although the oil market is inherently volatile. This increase in oil price leads to an increase in the input cost of intermediary goods, which will result in either transferring the price to customers or lowering the margins. The fluctuations have a cascading effect on the prices of finished products.
Spunbonds are widely preferred for bulk nonwoven production
Based on technology, the spunbond segment is projected to be the largest market for nonwoven fabrics. The dominant market position of the segment can be attributed to the increase in the demand for these spunbond nonwovens across various applications in hygiene products, construction, coating substrates, agriculture, battery separators, wipes, and filtration. Spunbond is one of the most preferred technologies through which nonwoven fabrics can be produced in higher quantities.
Significant increase in hygiene products during the COVID-19 pandemic
By application, the hygiene segment is projected to be the largest segment in the nonwoven fabrics market. Nonwovens are used as an alternative to traditional textiles in hygiene products due to their excellent absorption properties, softness, smoothness, strength, comfort & fit, stretchability, and cost-effectiveness. Owing to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for nonwoven fabrics for hygiene applications is also accelerating, bringing more opportunities for manufacturers operating in nonwoven hygiene products.
APAC region to lead the global nonwoven fabrics market by 2025
The APAC region accounted for the largest market share in 2019. Factors such as improving the global economy, expanding the working population, and rising domestic demand for hygiene products are expected to boost the market for nonwoven fabrics. The market for nonwoven fabrics in APAC is growing in the automobile, agriculture, geotextiles, industrial/military, medical/healthcare, and construction industries due to the unique functional properties offered by nonwoven fabrics, such as hygiene and safety, cost-effectiveness, durability, strength, lightweight, versatility, user-friendliness, environmental-friendliness, and logistical convenience.
Nonwoven Fabrics Market Players
The nonwoven fabrics market is dominated by a few globally established players, such as Ahlstrom-Munksjo (Finland), Berry Global Inc. (US), Glatfelter Company (US), DuPont (US), Lydall Inc. (US), Fitesa (Brazil), TWE Group (Germany), Freudenberg Group (Germany), PFNonwovens (Czech Republic), among many others. See details.
Source: Online/NNA
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