According to figures collected and compiled by EDANA, the overall production of nonwovens in Europe grew by around 1.3% in 2018 to reach 2,760,000 tons. Over the last decade, the annual average growth rate has been nearly 4%.

Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s market analysis and economic affairs director, advises: “Despite a slowdown in some important market segments and increasing competition from abroad, the European nonwovens industry showed again its strength, resilience and ability to innovate.”

Obviously, diverging trends can be observed in different European countries and between the various production processes of nonwovens. Overall spunmelt output was almost flat (+ 0.9% over 2017) while drylaid technologies recorded an increase of 2.1%. The highest apparent growth within drylaid production (in tons) was observed in air-through and hydroentanglement bonding processes, with respectively + 7.6% and + 4.7%.

The hygiene market, still the main end-use for nonwovens by volume, grew by 1.7% in 2018, following a growth of 2.7% in 2017. The main driver of this increase was the development observed in the incontinence market.

The most meaningful developments in tonnage for nonwovens in 2018 were in sales of roll goods for personal care wipes (+2.9%), floor covering (-1.2%), civil engineering (-0.3%), automotive interior (-0.5%), electronics (+2.8%) and food & beverage applications (+5.7%). However, these figures do not take into account specific grammage evolutions, which are available to EDANA members thanks to figures in surface area.

Prigneaux adds: “We would like to thank participating companies. Their efforts in providing us with their input year after year and an improved coverage of the industry result in a valuable business tool to our member companies throughout the supply chain.”

“In line with EDANA’s on-going commitment to improve the knowledge and understanding of global nonwovens developments and trade flows, for the benefits of its members and the industry at large, we invited our partners from other nonwovens associations across Asia and America to share experiences and methodologies later this year in the first ever global workshop intended to harmonise nonwoven production and sales statistics, and our positions on trade,” says Pierre Wiertz, general manager, EDANA.

As part of one of their most valued membership benefits, all EDANA members have access to their complimentary copy of the report “2018 European Nonwovens Production and Deliveries.” 2018 statistics will be also available through the EDANA Statistics App and at http://edanastatapp.org.