INDA & EDANA to release worldwide outlook on nonwovens industry
30 Aug '08
4 min read
- For the decade from 1997 through 2007, nonwoven tonnage increased at an average annual growth rate of 7.9% per year, rising from 2.69 million tonnes in 1997 to 5.75 million tonnes in 2007. - INDA and EDANA forecast 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 meter volume is forecast to grow at a faster pace — about a percentage point per year higher than tonnage. Newer nonwoven technologies are capable of producing nonwovens at lower weights while meeting the specified requirements. - Thus, there is a continuing trend toward lighter weights of nonwoven materials, which reduces the overall tonnage required. - Looking at the historical growth of the four basic nonwoven technologies in tons for the 10-year span from 1997 through 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 is driven to a large part by the technology's expansion in China and now into India.