A global outlook on nonwovens

By Barb Ernster

EDANA, an international association serving the nonwovens and related industries with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, reports that several market segments in the nonwovens industry recorded their best output ever in 2011, in both tonnage and square meters, including baby diapers, medical, personal care wipes, civil engineering, automotive and agriculture. Greater Europe represents approximately 25 percent of the total production of nonwovens, which reached nearly 1.9 million tons in 2011.

Last year, imports from China into the European Union (EU) increased by 24 percent, making China the most important supplier to the EU. But for each subcategory of nonwovens, the EU remained a net exporter of products. EDANA cooperated with INDA on a Global Nonwovens Outlook 2012–2017 report, which is now available to the industry.

Barb Ernster is a freelance writer based in Fridley, Minn.