Nonwoven Materials

Global Nonwoven Materials Market to Reach US$64.5 Billion by 2030

The global market for Nonwoven Materials estimated at US$46.1 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$64.5 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Sodium Polyacrylate Polyester, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 7.0% CAGR and reach US$29.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Nylon segment is estimated at 6.2% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$12.6 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 9.3% CAGR

The Nonwoven Materials market in the U.S. is estimated at US$12.6 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$13.2 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 9.3% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2.7% and 5.7% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.8% CAGR.

Global Nonwoven Materials Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Are Nonwoven Materials Becoming Indispensable Across Manufacturing Sectors?

Nonwoven materials are engineered fabrics made from fibers bonded together through mechanical, thermal, or chemical processes, bypassing traditional weaving or knitting methods. These materials offer tailored functionalities such as breathability, filtration, absorbency, and lightweight durability, making them highly sought after across sectors including healthcare, automotive, filtration, construction, hygiene, and agriculture. Their versatility and cost-effectiveness are propelling widespread adoption, especially as industries seek alternatives to traditional textiles that can be customized for single-use and technical applications.

The healthcare industry remains the largest consumer of nonwovens, driven by the rising global demand for disposable surgical drapes, face masks, gowns, and wound care products. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated investment in meltblown and spunbond nonwovens, which remain core to medical and personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing. Meanwhile, in hygiene products such as diapers, feminine hygiene, and adult incontinence solutions, the shift toward thinner, more absorbent, and biodegradable nonwovens is reshaping product design. In the automotive and construction industries, nonwoven composites are being used for insulation, noise reduction, geotextiles, and lightweight reinforcement panels, highlighting their expanding role in industrial manufacturing.

What Technological Shifts Are Reengineering the Performance of Nonwoven Fabrics?

Technological advances in polymer processing, fiber spinning, and bonding techniques are redefining the functionality and application range of nonwoven materials. Innovations in spunlace, needlepunch, and hydroentanglement methods are enabling the development of stronger, softer, and more porous nonwovens suitable for next-generation medical, filtration, and consumer applications. Meanwhile, hybrid technologies such as SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) and SMMS are gaining popularity in multilayer protective apparel and sterilization wraps, offering high barrier properties without sacrificing breathability or comfort.

Manufacturers are also adopting nanofiber electrospinning and bicomponent fiber technologies to improve filtration efficiency, softness, and elasticity. Electrospun nonwovens with fine pore structures are being deployed in air and liquid filtration, face masks, and energy storage separators. Bicomponent nonwovens, which combine two polymers in a single fiber, are enabling features like thermal bonding, skin-friendliness, and fluid management in hygiene and medical products. Additionally, smart nonwovens embedded with sensors, antimicrobial agents, or temperature-regulating additives are entering the market, especially in advanced wound care and wearable technology segments.

How Are Circular Economy and Regulatory Trends Influencing Nonwoven Adoption?

Sustainability is becoming a central focus in the nonwoven materials market. With increasing regulatory scrutiny on single-use plastics and mounting environmental concerns, manufacturers are shifting toward biodegradable, bio-based, and recyclable nonwovens. Polylactic acid (PLA), viscose, and other natural fiber-based nonwovens are being adopted in hygiene, agriculture, and packaging applications to reduce environmental footprint. Brands are also investing in closed-loop recycling systems and post-consumer nonwoven recovery processes to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates and align with zero-waste objectives.

Certifications such as OEKO-TEX®, ISO 13485, and FDA/CE compliance are also influencing procurement decisions in the medical and hygiene markets, pushing producers to meet higher thresholds for traceability, safety, and emissions. In construction and geotextile segments, green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM are encouraging the use of eco-certified nonwoven insulation, erosion control, and roofing underlayments. End-users, particularly in Europe and North America, are increasingly favoring products with life-cycle transparency and third-party sustainability validation, accelerating innovation in fiber sourcing, processing, and biodegradability.

What’s Driving the Expansive Growth of the Nonwoven Materials Market?

The growth in the nonwoven materials market is driven by several converging factors tied to industrial modernization, public health imperatives, and sustainability mandates. A primary growth driver is the sustained demand for high-performance disposable products in the medical, personal care, and hygiene sectors. As aging populations grow and healthcare awareness increases globally, the consumption of sanitary and protective nonwovens continues to rise. Additionally, the expansion of home care, wound management, and remote diagnostics is increasing the adoption of nonwovens in portable and user-friendly formats.

Another critical growth factor is the infrastructural and automotive emphasis on lightweight, thermally efficient, and noise-absorbing materials. Nonwovens offer unique advantages in these domains, supporting fuel economy, sound insulation, and thermal performance. The rise of e-commerce and on-demand packaging is also creating new opportunities for nonwoven-based protective packaging, cushioning, and biodegradable mailers. Meanwhile, regional manufacturing expansion in Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America is bolstering demand for low-cost, high-output nonwoven production capabilities.

With continued R&D in bio-based fibers, functional coatings, and high-speed fabrication processes, nonwoven materials are being redefined as performance-driven, sustainable solutions for the future of consumer and industrial products. As end-use industries embrace cleaner production methods and more advanced product engineering, the global market for nonwoven materials is set to expand across both traditional and emerging applications.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Nonwoven Materials market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Material (Sodium Polyacrylate Polyester, Nylon, Polypropylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Other Materials); Technology (Drylaid, Spunlaid, Wetlaid, Other Technologies); Application (Personal Care & Hygiene, Medical, Household, Filtration, Textile, Automotive, Building & Construction, Other Applications)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 34 Featured) -

• Ahlstrom
• Asahi Kasei Corporation
• Autotech Nonwovens Pvt. Ltd.
• Avgol Nonwovens
• Berry Global Inc.
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• Eximius Incorporation
• Fibertex Nonwovens
• Fitesa
• Freudenberg Group
• Ginni Filaments Ltd
• Glatfelter Corporation
• Johns Manville Corporation
• Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Lenzing AG
• Lydall, Inc.
• PFNonwovens
• Suominen Corporation
• Toray Industries, Inc.
• TWE Group

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