According to figures compiled by EDANA, the overall European production of nonwovens grew by around 4.7 per cent year over year to reach 2,165,000 tons in 2014.

“Despite two lower growth years in 2012 and 2013, the annual average growth rate has been nearly 5.3 per cent since 2009,” EDANA said in a press release.

“Obviously, diverging trends can be observed in different European countries and between the various production processes of nonwovens,” it added.

Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s market analysis and economic affairs director said, “Spunmelt nonwovens recorded its highest growth rate since 2011 with a growth of 3.3 per cent.”

“Nevertheless, following two years at around 3 per cent, the production of fibre-based materials, including drylaid, wetlaid and airlaid technologies, recorded an even higher increase of 5.9 per cent,” he noted.

The highest apparent growth in tons was observed in hydroentanglement and needle punched bonding processes within the drylaid production, with 9.3 per cent and 9.1 per cent, respectively.

The hygiene market, which is still the main nonwoven end-use in volumes, has grown by 6.1 per cent in 2014, following a limited growth of 1.8 per cent in 2013.

According to EDANA, the main driver of this increase was the development observed in the incontinence market.

The most significant growth areas for nonwovens in 2014 were in personal care wipes which rose by 12.1 per cent, floor covering 12.3 per cent, civil engineering 11.9 per cent and auto interiors 13.1 per cent.

EDANA informed that positive evolution in nonwovens materials used in electronic and food & beverage applications were also commendable.

The only major declines were noticed in garments and interlinings. However, these figures do not take into account specific grammage evolutions. (AR)