2019 EDANA nonwoven statistics released

EDANA, the  International  Association  Serving  the Nonwovens and Related Industries today releasedEuropean annual statistics for 2019.

As a result of the recent economic conditions and, in particular, the downturn in several end-use sectors, figures  for  Greater  Europe  (Western,  Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  Turkey,  Belarus, Ukraine and Russia) show that the overall production of nonwovens has been flat in both weight (+0.3%) and in surface area (+0.5%) compared with 2018.

According to figures collected and compiled by the EDANA secretariat, production of nonwovens in  Europe  reached  2,782,917  tonnes.  This  compares  with  2,774,194  tonnes  in  2018  when  the annual growth was 1.5%. Despite these two low growth years, the European production recorded an average growth rate of 4.4% over the last decade. 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 and market segments of nonwovens. Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs Director, stated “In terms of apparent  growth rates, airlaid  nonwovens  has  been in  line  with  the long-term  trendthis  year, but it is actually the hydroentanglement process that has recorded the highest growth rate,at slightly more than 5.5%.  However,  other  bonding  processes  within  the drylaid  technologies (thermally, air-through, chemically bonded and needled punched),as well aswetlaidnonwovens witnessed  either  flat  or  negative  growth  rates  in  2019.  Spunmelt  nonwovens  production, compared to its performance of 2018, recorded a growthof 0.6%.”

The  main  end-use  for  nonwovens  remains  the  hygiene  market  with  a 29%  share  of  deliveries, amounting  to 792,620  tonnes, a  growthof1.5%  in  2019.  The  most  significant increasesin percentage in 2019 were in table linen(+12.3%) and electronic materials(+6.8%).  In contrast, several  important  sectors  in  terms  of  volumes  sold  showed  limited  (and  sometimes  negative) growthrates:e.g. personal care wipes (+1.6%), building/roofing (-0.3%), civil engineering (-1.5%) and automotive   interiors(-2.5%). Additionally, major   declines   were   noticed   in medical applications, garments, interlinings and wall covering.

“Without the help of participating companies”,Jacques Prigneaux noted,“these figures couldn’t be compiled,and we would like to thank them again for their efforts in sending their input to us, especiallyduring the tumultuous period of the first quarter 2020. “"Thanks to a convergence of efforts ofthe participating companies, toan improved ISO definition of nonwovens and to thecontinuous monitoring of EDANA staff, these statistics are more and more relevant  for  planning  and  benchmarking  purposes  within  member  companies"  said Jacques.

Only EDANA members receive the full report, as part of one of their most valued membership benefits and will soon get their complimentary copy of the report “2019 European Nonwovens Production  and  Deliveries”.  Nonwoven  producers  who  are member  companiesof  EDANAwill receive  detailed  data,  in  recognition  of  their  participation.The2019  statistics  will  be  also available through the EDANA Statistics App and at http://edanastatapp.org.

“As the world continues to discover the important role of nonwovens in protecting healthcare staff and patients through medical devices and personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks,  respirators,  gowns,  drapes  and  coverallsduring  the  Covid-19  pandemic,  our  ongoing commitment  is  to  work  with  partner  associations  throughout  the  world,alsoto  harmonise nonwoven production  and  sales statistics, and  our  positions  on  tradeclassification  rules” announced Pierre Wiertz, general manager, EDANA. “This, together with the now improved ISO nonwovens definition, should give the whole industry the visibility it deserves.”