According to figures collected and compiled by the EDANA secretariat, production of nonwovens in Europe grew by around 1.9% in 2013 to reach 2,037,400 tonnes. This compares with 1,998,900 tonnes 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%.

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

Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs Director, stated “Growth in the 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%. However, other bonding processes within the Drylaid technologies (thermally, chemically bonded and needled punched), 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 tonnes, which has grown by 1.9% in 2013. The most significant growth areas for nonwovens in 2013 were in medical (+14.0%) 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.