Global airlaid nonwovens market to expand to $2.5 billion in 2022

Global airlaid nonwovens market to expand to $2.5 billion in 2022

The global airlaid nonwovens market is valued at $1.8 billion and consumes 6.5 billion square metres or 506,600 tonnes in 2017, and is projected to grow to $2.5 billion, and consume 8.2 billion square metres or 654,500 tonnes by 2022.

Smithers nonwovens report - The Future of Airlaid Nonwovens to 2022 - identifies the key trends for the airlaid nonwovens segment across the next five years to be:

  • Global demand will expand at a healthy 5% year-on-year
  • Production will switch to new machinery as older lines are shut down
  • Multibonded and hydrogen bonded airlaid capacity will increase market share
  • Strategic planning will be necessary to maintain material supply and demand, and profits.

"The global population is ageing, and living longer; but this aged population is no longer poor and consigned to assisted living and other healthcare institutions. Instead, they are affluent and active, and desire comfortable and discreet incontinence products useful in an active lifestyle – airlaid products are key to delivering this performance. Airlaid nonwovens deliver maximum absorbency in the thinnest, softest, lowest cost structure. This is important for products from hygiene, to medical, to puppy pads, to food pads. Airlaid nonwovens are unique in their ability to provide this."

Phillip Mango report author


 

In 2017, globally there are 56 producers with 566,600 tonnes of nameplate capacity. These will account for estimated sales of 506,600 tonnes this year – a global utilisation rate of almost 90%. While there are some supply issues in certain regions and for certain airlaid products, the global supply/demand situation is currently balanced. But airlaid demand is growing at about 5% per year, so airlaid supply will be quite tight. The airlaid producers will have to carefully manage supply and demand in order to keep profitability attractive while not discouraging new products or new markets due to supply issues. Their success in doing this will determine the future health of the airlaid industry.

Fluff pulp is the major raw material used in airlaid nonwovens, accounting for 76.9% of all raw materials in 2017. Fluff pulp provides absorbency in an airlaid nonwoven product. Two of the next three most used raw materials in airlaid nonwovens are binding agents: bicomponent fibre and standard latex binder. The other major raw material in airlaid nonwovens is superabsorbent polymer (SAP). This material is used for both absorbing and retaining liquids. These four raw materials, two absorbents and two binders, account for 98.3% of all raw materials used in airlaid nonwovens in 2017.

Multibonded airlaid is the most flexible of the airlaid processes, and can produce not only multibonded airlaid but also thermal bonded, latex bonded and in some cases hydrogen bonded airlaids. It is capable of addressing all airlaid markets as well as providing a testbed new markets and end uses. It is also the most technically complex process and has the highest capital costs. Despite this, it is projected that airlaid expansion across 2017-2022 will favour multibonded airlaid at the expense of latex and thermal bonded airlaid, especially expansion by experienced airlaid producers.

The Future of Airlaid Nonwovens to 2022 provides a strategic five-year forecast for this fast-changing sector of the nonwovens industry. The report provides quantified market data for 2012-22, along with analysis of key trends in expansion, closures of older lines, and the advance of multibonded and hydrogen bonded airlaid capacity, among other drivers.

For press enquiries or a more detailed article, please contact Julie Bostock by:
Tel: +44 (0) 1372 802 035 or by Email:  jbostock@smithers.com

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