Growing Demand of Nonwovens in Textile Industry Is Influencing the Growth of Nonwovens Market

Nonwovens Market size is forecast to reach US$55.1 billion by 2026, after growing at a CAGR of 3.8% during 2021-2026. Nonwovens are widely utilized in the production of both single-use (or disposable) and long-lasting clothing, with protective clothing, garment linings, interlinings, waddings, shoe linings, and synthetic leather materials being significant market segments. Nonwovens are mostly synthetic polymer-based fibres that are utilized for technical textiles because to their strength and flexibility. Rising government investments is resulting in the growth of the textile industry, which is increasing the usage of nonwoven fabrics and henceforth driving the growth of the nonwoven market. For instance, a National Technical Textiles Mission is planned in the Union Budget 2020-21 for the period 2020-21 to 2023-24, with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,480 crores (US$211.8 million), thus supporting nonwovens market growth.

Spunbond nonwovens are commonly utilized in medical and healthcare applications to provide adequate resistance to biological agents. Many traditional materials in the medical and healthcare industries have been replaced by them. They are widely utilized in medical and healthcare applications due to their superior qualities, which include breathability, fluid resistance, sterilizability, and bacterial impermeability. And owing to the due burgeoning demand for baby diapers, wipes, feminine care products, and adult incontinence products is driving the nonwovens market growth. The demand for baby diapers, wipes, feminine care products, and adult incontinence products is increasing owing to the high birth rate, increasing awareness about menstrual hygiene, and increasing aging population.

Due to the growth of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for nonwoven textiles for hygiene applications is increasing, providing greater opportunity for nonwoven hygiene product makers. The nonwoven wipes industry continued to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, giving measures for slowing and decreasing the virus's impact. Due to the recommendations from WHO and the healthcare community, the necessity to use sanitizes, gloves, masks and wipes have become the norm globally. The nonwoven wipes industry has hence experienced a huge surge in demand that has challenged all stages of the supply chain. Disinfecting wipes have been in high demand, and demand for antibacterial wipes and healthcare wipes has also expanded dramatically. It is estimated that for some wipe segments this elevated demand will remain in place for the next few years, and overall global nonwoven wipes demand through 2025 will exceed previous projections.

Asia-Pacific holds a major share of the nonwovens market. The market for nonwoven textiles is predicted to grow as the global economy improves, the workforce grows, and domestic demand for hygiene goods rises. Because of 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, the market for nonwovens in APAC is growing in the medical/healthcare, automobile, geotextiles, textile, and construction industries. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), automobile industry is the major contributor of India’s manufacturing GDP. India is the 7th largest producer of automobiles and it is estimated to become the 3rd largest automobile market in the world by 2024. Deployment of nonwovens in the production of automobile carpets, seating fabrics, side, roof, floor and door panels, safety belts, tires, airbags, air filters, fuel filters, insulation materials and others propel its market growth in this region.

Due to its hydrophobic, high temperature resistant, lightweight & durable, air permeability, good tensile strength, and zero toxicity, the demand of nonwovens tends to increase. The hydrophobic feature of nonwoven fabrics implies its waterproof property, it doesn't mean that it has pure water repellent, but it actually helps to maintain the quality of fabrics even if the water gets inside. It also has high temperature resistant property, which means the melting point of PET/polyester spunbond fabric is around 260℃ which is dimensional stability in the high temperature conditions. It is widely and largely to be used for various nonwoven bags printing. It also calls it low shirking nonwoven fabric polyester and is often used in heat transfer printing. Due to its high properties, the demand of nonwovens tends to increase in textile industry, which leads to increase the growth of the market.

Over the last few years, nonwovens have been one of the fastest growing segments of the industry. Asia is the biggest consumer of nonwovens and it will keep on growing with a healthy growth rate in coming years. China and India are the major markets within Asia and they together represent more than two-third of the total nonwovens’ consumption in Asia. It's an excellent time to be involved in nonwoven product manufacturing. Like never before, innovation and investment are critical as the market continues to expand. The future is brilliant for nonwovens.

The core strategy of the key players operating in the nonwoven market is focused on research and development. Research and Development departments are continually improving existing product performance, optimizing manufacturing efficiencies, and developing the next generation of nonwoven fabric solutions for new applications. Exploring new technology platforms and production techniques and applying them in the product development process gives the players of Nonwovens the opportunity to create improved product solutions that enable customers to stay at the forefront of their industries. In 2019, Freudenberg Nonwovens invested €480.9 million (US$538.4 million) in research and development, from €444.3 million (US$524.7 million) previous year. The objective of all innovation activities of Freudenberg is to constantly expand and renew the portfolio of products. In addition, Fiberweb India Ltd invested $2030.6 million in research and development last year. In addition, various research institutes and organizations such as (INDA) Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and so on, are also continuously carrying research and developments to build next-generation nonwoven applications. Therefore, the continuous investment by the players and organizations in research and development to expand the scope of application of nonwoven fabrics is creating opportunities for nonwoven Market.

The major companies in the nonwovens market include Freundenberg Group, Johns Manville, Shandong Taipeng Environmental Protection Material Co. Ltd., Avintiv Inc., Kavlon Filter Products Co., Unitika Ltd., Kolon Industries Ltd., Toyobo Co. Ltd., Toray Industries Inc., and Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj. The key focus of the companies has shifted towards expansion.