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Supply remains tight for these materials despite new lines coming onstream
October 28, 2022
By: Tara Olivo
Associate Editor at Nonwovens Industry
The airlaid nonwovens market is poised for growth. Among the factors driving the market forward are global growth in the wipes sector, the increasing use of period care products in developing countries and the rapid rise in the aging population in developed countries—leading to more users of adult incontinence products. Additionally, airlaid producers are looking outside of these traditional markets for growth. Global consumption of airlaid is expected to rise from 574,750 tons in 2022 to 768,800 tons in 2027, according to The Future of Airlaid Nonwovens to 2027, a new report from Smithers. Across the same period, sales value will increase from $2.1 billion to $2.9 billion, at constant prices; equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 7.7%. Accelerating demand for more sustainable wipes, feminine hygiene goods and food industry products will be central to driving new consumption of airlaid nonwovens over the next five years, the report says. In recent years, airlaid supply has been described as tight. After the market went through a period of expansion that led to excessive overcapacity in the early 2000s, recent investment has been modest, including new lines from Glatfelter in Arkansas (2018), Magic in Italy (2021), and a new line announced at Domtar’s Jesup, GA-based Engineered Absorbent Materials (EAM) facility that’s expected to come onstream in the first quarter of 2023. According to Phil Mango, nonwovens consultant for Smithers, the airlaid market in 2022 is relatively tight in demand/supply. Globally, this is around 92%; both North America and Europe are in the mid 90% range with Asia in the mid 80% range. “Glatfelter has a dominant position now, with about 30% of global capacity and a higher percentage of global production,” Mango says. The next five largest producers do not equal Glatfelter’s market share, and that includes EAM/Domtar’s new line, he adds. “Growth in airlaid has been moderate for several years as its major markets are mature (hygiene, wipes) and capacity has been tight.” Although, there have recently been some new, non-traditional markets which he says have boosted airlaid growth by a percentage point or so, including packaging, insulation and molded consumer products. Geographically, while there is still very large potential growth in Asian hygiene markets, especially India and China, Mango says the currently expected economic slow down/recession globally as well as already slowing growth in China makes airlaid growth based on this market less likely short term. Among traditional markets, adult incontinence and food pads will grow at above average rates through 2027, and the newer, non-traditional markets like insulation, packaging and molded consumer products will provide a boost.
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