Nonwoven Fabrics Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2025-2034)

The global nonwoven fabrics market was valued at USD 48.30 Billion in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.40% during the forecast period of 2025-2034. Seat liners, acoustic insulation and air filters are some of the nonwoven fabrics that are increasingly getting traction in the automotive space. These materials are light in weight, durable, and cost-effective solutions and can enhance the performance and comfort of the vehicles further increasing their growth in this niche. In turn, all these factors have resulted in the market attaining a valuation of USD 81.72 Billion by 2034.

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Overview

Major factors propelling high demand in the nonwoven fabrics market are growing hygiene awareness, rising disposable income, and innovations in manufacturing technologies. The market is being shaped by trends such as the transition towards environmentally friendly materials, as well as lightweight and economical solutions. Industry leaders emphasize innovation, sustainability, and diversification of their product offerings to meet diverse applications. Concern over losing competitive edge in the dynamic market has led companies to invest in R&D to produce customized, high-performance, multi-functional fabrics specialized for specific industries.

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Growth

Technological innovations in manufacturing nonwoven fabric, like advanced bonding and finishing, are increasing product capabilities, propelling demand from end-use sectors such as filtration, personal care, and automotive, accelerating the nonwoven fabrics market expansion. Furthermore, these fabrics are heavily demanded in the medical industry. These applications include surgical gowns, drapes, pressure wound dressings, and face masks. They are perfect for the medical industry and provide comfortable barrier protection, breathability, and fluid resistance. As infection control and hygiene are more in focus, the demand for quality, disposable nonwoven materials are increasing.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

The major trends in the nonwoven fabrics market include sustainability, technological advancements, growing applications in healthcare, and growing demand in hygiene products, innovations in the materials and manufacturing process have also enhanced performance and eco-friendliness.

March 2025

Procter & Gamble introduced Always Pocket Flexfoam, a full-sized Flexfoam pad that comes in a small pack for all on-the-go needs and has up to zero leakage, zero feel, and zero bunching.

December 2024

The Circuline Innovation Lab, a ground-breaking project that aims to revolutionize sustainable material design and production, was announced by Supreme Nonwoven, a global supplier of nonwoven material innovations.

September 2024

A novel material solution for improved EV battery safety was introduced by the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei. For protection against thermal runaway, LASTANTM, a highly flexible and flame-retardant nonwoven fabric, is an excellent substitute for traditional materials. It can be used in the EV battery pack's top covers, busbar protective sleeves, and other places.

September 2024

In order to promote sustainable solutions in the non-woven industry, Welspun and Avgol Industries formed a strategic alliance. By tackling important end-of-life issues, this collaboration seeks to provide cutting-edge composite materials for wiping applications.

Rising Adoption of Sustainable & Eco-friendly Materials

Sustainable materials are largely trending in the nonwoven fabrics market as environmental concerns are rapidly growing. Companies have embraced biodegradable, recyclable and renewable fibers, such as bamboo, cotton and PLA (polylactic acid). One example is Kimberly-Clark, which is aiming to develop physical formulations of hygiene products using nonwoven fabrics produced from renewable sources and cater to consumers who are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions.

Advancements in Technology

Innovative fabric production methods as spun bond, melt blown and hydroentangling technologies increase the performance and functionality of materials. These advanced technologies have reshaped the nonwoven fabrics market dynamics. For example, melt blown process is used to manufacture high-efficiency filters and medical face masks. These innovations have led to greater finish and more durable products, thus driving growth in the healthcare and automotive industries.

Growing Applications in the Medical Sector

Rising awareness of hygiene and infection control measures has resulted in a steep increase in demand for nonwoven fabrics in healthcare products, including surgical masks, gowns, and wound care products. Nonwoven fabrics offer essential benefits of breathability, absorbency, and comfort. Companies such as Ahlstrom-Munksjö are taking advantage of this trend, broadening their product portfolio to accommodate the expanding healthcare market through high-performance, medical-grade nonwoven fabrics.

Surge of Hygiene and Disposable Products

Nonwoven fabrics are increasingly being used in hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products as a result of the growing global population and increasing disposable income. This is a major trend in the nonwoven fabrics market propelling growth. In turn, manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble have innovated soft and breathable nonwoven fabrics for comfort and dryness to address this increasing market for personal care and hygiene products around the globe.

Opportunities in nonwoven Fabrics Market

Companies to accelerate and expand their shares in the nonwoven fabrics market have increasingly leveraged growth opportunities in emerging regions including Asia, Latin America and Africa where large urban growth, disposable income, and healthcare lead to increased demand for hygiene products and medicinal products. These areas are emerging markets that offer long-term growth potential. Nonwoven fabric innovations for automotive, agriculture, construction, and other new industries will be an increasingly valuable opportunity for companies. The most evident impact can be the innovation of nonwoven materials for automotive interiors or agricultural weed control, offering new streams of revenue and delivering profitable next-generation solutions across a variety of targeted sectors.

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Trends

Global demand for nonwoven fabrics is being driven by increasing emphasis on hygiene around the world, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as rising global demand for face masks, diapers, sanitary napkins, and other hygiene products. The rising awareness regarding hygiene is contributing to the demand for these fabrics as they offer ideal comfort, absorbency, and breathability.  Moreover, nonwovens are finding greater use in automotive applications such as seat linings, insulation and filters. In construction, they are used in geotextiles and roofing as well. The growth of these industries, along with the functional advantages of nonwoven fabrics, are expected to drive market growth in the coming years.

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Restraints

• Soaring prices of essential raw materials such as polypropylene, polyester, and wood pulp can cause production costs to rise, affecting net margins for nonwoven fabric manufacturers. This poses a serious challenge to the nonwoven fabrics market growth.
• Nonwoven fabrics provide a range of advantages, but the disposal of materials that do not biodegrade will have an impact on the surrounding environment. There is also an added pressure on companies to innovate with environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions that also meet performance needs.

Nonwoven Fabrics Industry Segmentation

“Nonwoven Fabrics Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Polymer Type

• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Wood Pulp
• Rayon
• Others

Market Breakup by Property

• Disposable
• Non-Disposable

Market Breakup by Technology

• Spunbond
• Wet Laid
• Dry Laid
• Air Laid

Market Breakup by Application

• Hygiene
• Medical
• Consumer Products
• Filtration
• Automotive
• Building and Construction
• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Share

Market Insights by Polymer Type

Polypropylene (PP), a versatile polymer, is gaining momentum in the overall nonwoven fabrics market dynamics due to its high strengths, performance, and cost-effectiveness. These are widely used in hygiene and medical products. Polyethylene (PE) is highly in demand, demonstrating moisture resistance and flexibility, it is widely used in disposable products. On the other hand, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is being increasingly used due to its strength and recyclability, and this in turn is leading them to automotive and filtration applications.

Analysis by Property

Disposable nonwoven fabrics are gaining traction owing to their convenience, hygiene, and cost-effectiveness in the medical, hygiene, and personal care sectors, thereby boosting the nonwoven fabrics market growth. The demand for this type of product has risen more recently due to heightened focus on health and cleanliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, reusable nonwovens are increasingly being used in applications where long-term performance is important, including automotive interiors, filtration systems, and construction due to their long-term performance and sustainability.

Analysis by Technology

The nonwoven fabrics market is witnessing the heavy adoption of spunbond technology, as it allows for the production of lightweight and durable fabrics which find applications in hygiene products, medical, automotive industries. Demand for wet laid technology is on the rise because it represents an efficient means of producing quality, absorbent fabrics for wipes, filtration and other applications. Dry process technology is suitable for textiles, applications requiring high strength and softness. The cost-effectiveness and ability to handle a wide range of materials are boosting the growth in air laid technology market among the insulation and absorbent applications.

Market Insights by Application

The hygiene products segment in the nonwoven fabrics market has observed explosive growth owing to a rise in demand for diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products. Applications in medicine have been exploding, driven by the need for surgical gowns, masks, similar, and wound care. Convenience and hygiene also are driving higher demand for consumer products such as wipes and cleaning cloths. Nonwovens have efficient trapping particles, which makes them suitable for filtration applications. They are also used in the automotive sector for insulation and upholstery; while building and construction is experiencing growth in geotextiles, roofing, and soundproofing materials. That growth is also rippling through other applications such as agriculture and packaging.

Nonwoven Fabrics Market Regional Analysis

North America Nonwoven Fabrics Market Trends

The healthcare industry is a key driver of nonwoven fabric demand in North America, as these materials are frequently utilized in a variety of medical applications, including surgical gowns, drapes, masks, and other healthcare-related products. The automotive industry also relies on nonwoven fabrics for car interiors, acoustics, and filtration systems. With a strong manufacturing base and a growing consciousness for sustainable materials, the region is witnessing an increase in demand for nonwoven fabrics, notably in medical and protective applications.

Europe Nonwoven Fabrics Market Insights

The demand for nonwoven in Europe is increasing due to the rise in focus on sustainable products along with stringent waste management regulations. The automotive and construction industries play a large part contributing to the overall market growth. There is also growing demand for nonwoven fabrics in hygiene and medical products across Europe.

Asia Pacific Nonwoven Fabrics Market Drivers

Rapid industrialization and increasing disposable income coupled with a large consumer base in India and China provide significant opportunities for the growth of nonwoven fabrics market in Asia Pacific. The demand for nonwoven fabrics in the region is mainly driven by the automotive, hygiene and medical segments, and the growing use of nonwoven geotextiles.

Latin America Nonwoven Fabrics Market Outlook

The Latin America nonwoven fabrics market is witnessing steady growth as a result of growing demand for hygiene products and healthcare material. Market growth is also aided by the construction and automotive sectors. The demand for nonwoven fabrics in various applications is growing in the region due to better economic conditions and increased urbanization.

Middle East and Africa Nonwoven Fabrics Market Dynamics

The nonwoven fabrics market in the Middle East and Africa region is anticipated to grow partly due to the booming healthcare and hygiene sectors in the region. Construction and automobile industries have been major market drivers. Moreover, growing emphasis on sustainable and lightweight materials is also anticipated to increase the penetration of non-woven fabrics for multiple industrial applications in the region.

Competitive Landscape

The nonwoven fabrics market players are majorly focusing on innovation, sustainability and product diversification. The goal of the nonwoven fabrics market companies is to create sustainable materials, improve quality across all areas such as hygiene, medical, automotive, catering to the increasing necessity for high-quality, low-cost nonwoven materials in emerging regions.

Berry Global Inc.

Berry Global Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, United States. It is among the leading makers of nonwoven fabrics used in hygiene, medical and industrial products. The company is dedicated to sustainable practices and product innovation to meet the demands of the international market.

Freudenberg Group

Freudenberg Group is a global technology company and has provided solutions since its founding in 1849 in Germany. The company makes high-tech materials and parts used in the automotive and medical industries, and in filtration, with an emphasis on sustainability and novel manufacturing processes.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Based in Wilmington, Delaware, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., which was founded in 1802, is a major player in the nonwoven fabrics industry. The company offers high-performance materials in the medical, hygiene and filtration sectors.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a global health and hygiene company. Thus, their solution is an innovative and sustainable manufacturing process for nonwoven fabrics applicable in the personal care, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

Other key players in the market include Fitesa S.A, Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj, Glatfelter Corp., Berkshire Hathaway Inc, TWE GmbH & Co., and Suominen Corporation, among others.