The Future Of Global Nonwovens To 2030

• In 2025, nonwovens consumption is 16.1 million tonnes, valued at $67.2 billion 
• By 2030, global nonwovens consumption will reach 21.5 million tonnes valued at $90.8 billion, which represents a projected annual growth rate of 6.2% in value terms.  

Projections globally for nonwovens consumption have been downgraded from previous projections based primarily on the effect of external geopolitical events: demand for most nonwovens has slowed, and more uncertainty exists for most markets than in recent history. This is reflected in the top three drivers: tariffs, plastics reduction and the global economy. Of these, plastics reduction is the only one not based on geopolitical events.  

Definition 

Nonwovens can be broken down into two major sectors: disposable and durable. Disposable nonwovens are usually used for a relatively short period of time or in a single use. Most disposable nonwovens are used in consumer products, like diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products and wipes. Durable nonwovens usually have extended use lives or can be used multiple times. Filters, automotive carpet, mattress fabrics, road underlay and weed control fabric are just a few of the durable nonwoven uses.  

Key Questions 

• What is the long-term impact of serious disruption to the well-established nonwovens supply chain? 
• Why might the EU’s Single-use Plastic Directive be the single most important regulation challenging the nonwovens industry?  
• How is the supply and demand profile for nonwovens expected to shift, and how will this impact investment and nonwoven production?  

About the author 

Phillip Mango has spent almost 40 years in the nonwovens industry. He has held various positions and areas of expertise within the industry, from applications management for the global leader in nonwoven binders to technology director for the world’s largest airlaid producer, to founder, owner and head of operations for his own nonwovens company. He entered the consulting field in 2003 and has authored more than 35 reports for Smithers.   

This report is essential to: 

• Raw material suppliers and pulp producers 
• Machinery and equipment suppliers 
• Wipes and nonwovens manufacturers  

Introduction and methodology

• Objectives
• Scope
• Methodology
• Nonwoven segmentation
• Geographical segmentation
  • North America 
  • South America 
  • Europe 
  • Asia and Asia-Pacific 
  • Rest of the World (ROW) 
• Definitions

Key drivers and trends

• Introduction
• Supply chain 
  • Disposable consumer products
  • Durable industrial products
• Key regulations
  • EU Directive on Single Use Plastics
  • Regulations on flushable wipes
  • Medical device regulations
  • Automotive emissions standards and regulations
  • PFAS and chemical regulations affecting nonwovens
• Key nonwoven producers
  • Magnera
  • Freudenberg
  • Ahlstrom
  • Kimberly-Clark 
  • Fitesa
  • Toray
  • Dupont
  • Kingsafe
  • Alkegen
  • Hollingsworth and Vose
• Drivers and trends
  • Tariffs/trade issues
  • Plastics elimination/reduction
  • Global economies
  • Supply/demand profiles
  • Global conflicts
  • Regulatory issues

Global nonwovens market by process

• Introduction
• Nonwoven processes
  • Spunlaid 
  • Drylaid
  • Airlaid
  • Wetlaid
  • Other
• Process trends in end-use markets

Global nonwovens market by material type

• Introduction
• Analysis of raw materials in nonwovens
• Polymers
  • Polypropylene polymer
  • Polyester polymer
  • Polyethylene polymer
  • Other polymers
• Fibres
  • Polyester fibre
  • Polypropylene fibre
  • Rayon/lyocell
  • Bicomponent fibre
  • Wood pulp
  • Other

Global nonwovens market by end use

• Raw material trends in end-use markets
• Summary
• Disposable and durable nonwovens
  • Disposable nonwovens
  • Durable nonwovens

Global nonwovens market by region

• Introduction
• North America
  • Nonwovens consumption in North America
  • Disposable nonwovens in North America
  • Durable nonwovens in North America
  • Nonwoven market by process in North America
  • Nonwoven market by materials in North America
  • Analysis
• South America
  • Nonwovens consumption in South America
  • Disposable nonwovens in South America
  • Durable nonwovens in South America
  • Nonwoven market by process in South America
  • Nonwoven market by materials in South America
  • Analysis
• Europe
  • Nonwovens consumption in Europe
  • Disposable nonwovens in Europe
  • Durable nonwovens in Europe
  • Nonwovens market by process in Europe
  • Nonwovens market by material in Europe
  • Analysis
• Asia
  • Nonwovens consumption in Asia
  • Disposable nonwovens in Asia
  • Durable nonwovens in Asia
  • Asian nonwoven market by process
  • Asian nonwoven market by material
• Rest of the world (ROW)
  • Analysis
  • Nonwovens consumption in ROW
  • Disposable nonwovens in ROW
  • Durable nonwovens in ROW
  • ROW nonwoven market by process
  • ROW nonwoven market by material

TABLES

• E.1 Market transition table 
• 2.1 Top 10 nonwoven producers, 2025
• 2.2 Key drivers/trends, 2024
• 3.1 Global nonwovens market by process, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 3.2 Global nonwovens market by process, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 3.3 Global nonwovens market by process, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 3.4 Spunlaid nonwovens global market, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 3.5 Drylaid nonwovens global market, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 3.6 Drylaid nonwovens global market by sub-segment, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 3.7 Airlaid nonwovens global market, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 3.8 Wetlaid nonwovens global market, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 3.9 Global consumption of other nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m2, $ million)
• 4.1 Global nonwovens market by material type, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 4.2 Global nonwovens market by material type, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 4.3 Global nonwovens market by polymer type, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.4 Polypropylene polymer for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.5 Polyester polymer for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.6 Polyethylene polymer for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.7 Other polymers for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.8 Global nonwovens market by fibre type, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.9 Polyester fibre for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.10 Polypropylene fibre for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.11 Rayon/lyocell fibre for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.12 Bicomponent fibre for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.13 Wood pulp for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.14 Other fibres for global nonwovens market, 2020–30, by volume and value (‘000 tonnes and $ million)
• 4.15 Material type by nonwovens process, 2025 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.1 Global consumption of nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m2, $ million)
• 5.2 Global consumption of nonwovens by sector, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.3 Global consumption of nonwovens by sector, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 5.4 Global consumption of nonwovens by sector, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 5.5 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.6 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 5.7 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 5.8 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.9 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 5.10 Global consumption of disposable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 5.11 Global consumption of nonwovens for hygiene end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.12 Global consumption of nonwovens for medical end uses, 2020–30, (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.13 Global consumption of nonwovens for wipes, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.14 Global consumption of nonwovens for personal care wipes, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.15 Global consumption of nonwovens for home care wipes, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.16 Global consumption of nonwovens for industrial wipes, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.17 Global consumption of nonwovens for other disposable applications, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.18 Global consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.19 Global consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 5.20 Global consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 5.21 Global consumption of durable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.22 Global consumption of durable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 5.23 Global consumption of durable nonwovens by application, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 5.24 Global consumption of nonwovens for garment end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.25 Global consumption of nonwovens for interlining end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.26 Global consumption of nonwovens for shoe/leather end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.27 Global consumption of nonwovens for coating substrates, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.28 Global consumption of nonwovens for upholstery/bedding end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.29 Global consumption of nonwovens for floor covering end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.30 Global consumption of nonwovens for filters, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.31 Global consumption of nonwovens for liquid filter media, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.32 Global consumption of nonwovens for air/gas filter media, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.33 Global consumption of nonwovens for building/roofing end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.34 Global consumption of nonwovens for geotextiles/civil engineering end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.35 Global consumption of nonwovens for automotive end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.36 Global consumption of nonwovens for agricultural end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 5.37 Global consumption of nonwovens for other durable end uses, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 6.1 Global consumption of nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 6.2 Global consumption of nonwovens by region, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.3 Global consumption of nonwovens by region, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.4 Global consumption of nonwovens by region, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.5 North American nonwovens consumption, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m2, $ million)
• 6.6 North American consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.7 North American consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.8 North American consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.9 North American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.10 North American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.11 North American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.13 North American nonwovens market by materials, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.16 South American consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.17 South American consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.18 South American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.19 South American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.20 South American consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.23 European consumption of nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes, million m², $ million)
• 6.25 Western European nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.26 Western European nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.28 Eastern European nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.29 Eastern European nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.30 European consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.31 European consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.32 European consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.33 European consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.34 European consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.35 European consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.39 Asian nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.40 Asian nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.41 Asian nonwovens consumption by country/region, 2020–30 ($ million) 
• 6.42 Asian consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.43 Asian consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.44 Asian consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.45 Asian consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.46 Asian consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.47 Asian consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.52 ROW consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.53 ROW consumption of disposable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)
• 6.54 ROW consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (‘000 tonnes)
• 6.55 ROW consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 (million m2)
• 6.56 ROW consumption of durable nonwovens, 2020–30 ($ million)

FIGURES

• E.1 Global nonwovens consumption by process, 2025 (by tonnes)
• E.2 Market share of raw materials for nonwovens, 2025 (tonnes)
• E.3 Global nonwovens consumption by end use, 2025 and 2030 (‘000 tonnes)
• E.4 Global nonwovens sales by end use, 2025 and 2030 ($ million)
• E.5 Global nonwoven market by region, 2025, by volume (%)    
• E.6 Global nonwoven market by region, 2030, by volume (%)
• 2.1 Supply chain for disposable consumer nonwoven 
• 3.1 Global nonwovens consumption by process, 2025 (by tonnes)
• 3.2 Global nonwovens consumption by process, 2030 (by tonnes)
• 3.3 Typical card-card (CC) spunlace line
• 3.4 Typical multibond airlaid line
• 4.1 Market share of raw materials for nonwovens, 2025 (tonnes)
• 4.2 Market share of raw materials for nonwovens, 2030 (tonnes)
• 5.1 Global nonwovens consumption by end use, 2025 and 2030 (‘000 tonnes)
• 5.2 Global nonwovens sales by end use, 2025 and 2030 ($ million)
• 6.1 Global nonwoven market by region, 2025, by volume (%)
• 6.2 Global nonwoven market by region, 2030, by volume (%)