News, Markets & Analysis for the Nonwovens Industry Subscribe



Tools

Chinese Market Creates New Opportunities For Global Nonwovens Industry



nonwovens output—doubled in size since 2001—continues to rise



By Karen McIntyre
Editor




Click here to read the full article.
The market for nonwovens in China continues to grow thanks to both foreign investment and domestic initiatives. In 2007, industry estimates put the size of the Chinese nonwovens market at over 1.15 million tons, significantly higher than the 417,000 tons reported in 2001. This remarkable growth has increased China’s share in the global nonwovens market. The country now makes about 20% of the world’s nonwovens compared to just 3.7% in 1989, according to statistics recently released by INDA in North America and EDANA in Europe. This share is expected to rise to 25% by 2015.

Currently, nearly half of nonwovens made in China are created through a spunbonded/meltblown process but other core technologies include needlepunch, representing 290,000 tons, chemical bonding, comprising 84,000 tons, and spunlaced, representing 92,000 tons.

According to Asian-based trade organizations representing the nonwovens industry, there are currently more than 2000 nonwovens production lines working in China but many of these are  in need of upgrades. Therefore, these lines have not been able to satisfy demand for nonwovens within China and the region is still largely dependent on imports. However, as more Western companies bring on new lines within China and local companies improve their technology base, this situation is expected to reverse itself moving forward.