Japanese nonwoven fabric manufacturers produce nonwoven fabrics in countries such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and the U.S. Table 1 shows nonwoven fabric production volumes overseas and in Japan.

Domestic production in Japan peaked at 343,013 tons in 2017 and has been declining ever since, falling to 269,268 tons in 2023. Although there was a slight increase to 270,285 tons in 2024, the figure dropped back down to 256,991 tons in 2025, representing a 4.9% decrease. At the same time, however, overseas production by Japanese nonwoven fabric manufacturers increased to 333,041 tons in 2021, but began to decline in 2022, falling by 1.2% to 268,108 tons in 2024. Total production—comprising both domestic and overseas output—has been declining since peaking at 657,910 tons in 2018, and stood at 538,393 tons in 2024. Japan’s nonwoven fabric production has been declining both domestically and overseas, and there are currently no signs of a recovery.

In 2024,overseas production by manufacturing method was as follows: spunbonded/meltblown at 190,348 tons (down 0.4% year-on-year), needlepunched at 26,546 tons (down 12.2% year-on-year), thermal bonded at 24,159 tons (down 7.2% year-on-year), spunlace at 17,936 tons (up 20.0% year-on-year), chemical bonded at 2,119 tons (up 3.7% year-on-year) and others at 7000 tons (unchanged year-on-year). By production method, spunlace has seen a significant increase, while chemical bonded has increased slightly. Production of spunbonded/meltblown—the most widely produced types—remained largely unchanged.

In 2024, overseas production by application was as follows: 199,021 tons for medical and hygiene products (down 1.3% year-on-year), 24,285 tons for automotive applications (down 8.9% year-on-year), 17,005 tons for consumer goods (up 4.5% year-on-year), 15,125 tons for industrial applications (up 9.4% year-on-year), civil engineering and construction at 7,560 tons (up 0.1% year-on-year), apparel at 2,826 tons (up 10.8% year-on-year), and agriculture and horticulture at 2,275 tons (down 16.0% year-on-year).Production of nonwoven fabrics for medical and hygiene products—which are in high demand—has declined, and production for the automotives sector has also decreased.

The value of overseas production by Japanese nonwoven fabric manufacturers increased from ¥133.7 billion in 2021 to ¥143.9 billion in 2022, due to the yen’s depreciation. The figure fell to ¥141.1 billion in 2023 and is estimated to have dropped to around ¥140 billion in 2024.

Producers Pull Back

In recent years, a number of Japanese nonwovens producers have reduced location product, instead looking overseas to expand growth. Most recently, Mitsui Chemicals Asahi Life Materials announced earlier this year it would close two production lines in Japan as part of a restructuring effort made in response to shrinking demand for diapers in Japan. Following these closures, the company will import materials for the domestic market from its two subsidiaries in Thailand, where it makes a reported 77,000 tons of polypropylene spunbond nonwovens per year. 

Meanwhile, other Japanese nonwovens manufacturers including Unitika, JNC Fibers and Toyobo have moved away from nonwovens through line divestment in recent months.