Two million tons and growing…

The production of nonwovens in Greater Europe topped 2 million tons for the first time in 2013, according to the latest figures from industry body EDANA. 

Production grew by around 1.9% to reach 2,037,400 tons compared to 1,998,900 tons in 2012, when the annual growth was 1.5%. Despite these two low growth years, the average growth rate since 2009 has been nearly 5.2%.

A more in-depth analysis will be necessary to draw any definitive conclusion, the organisation says, since diverging trends have been observed in different European countries and between the various production processes of nonwovens.

“Growth in wetlaid nonwovens has been substantial this year, but it is actually the hydroentanglement process that has recorded the highest apparent growth of more 5.7%,” says EDANA’s market analysis and economic affairs director Jacques Prigneaux.  “However, other bonding processes within the drylaid technologies – thermally, chemically bonded and needledpunched – and also spunmelt nonwovens witnessed low growth rates in 2013. Airlaid production, compared to its performance of 2012, recorded a higher growth, at 3%.”

The main end-use for nonwovens remains the hygiene market with a 32% share of deliveries, amounting to 645,700 tons, which has grown by 1.9% in 2013. The most significant growth areas for nonwovens in 2013 were in medical (+14%) and all types of filtration applications (+11.5 %), followed by all wipes together (+7.4%), in which the specific evolution of personal care wipes (+12.4%) must be underlined.

By contrast, major declines were noticed in interlinings, coating substrates and artificial leather markets. In addition , several important durable sectors in terms of volumes sold, such as in construction markets or agriculture, showed limited (and sometimes negative) growth.

Nevertheless, sales to the automotive interiors market continued to increase (+4.1% in 2013). This trend confirms the importance of the automotive sector for the European nonwovens industry, which will be highlighted during INDEX 14, with a special workshop to be held from 1.30pm on Tuesday 8th April).

“Thanks to a convergence of efforts of the participating companies and of the EDANA staff in the last few years, these statistics are available earlier than ever, making them ever more relevant for planning and benchmarking purposes within member companies,” said Prigneaux.