According to figures released by the international association serving the nonwovens and related products industries, EDANA, production of nonwovens in Europe grew by just over 5% in 2005 to reach 1,403,000 tonnes.  This compares with 1,336,000 tonnes in 2004 when annual growth was 3.7%.

Based on a comparison of the same sample of companies in 2004 and 2005, the average price of nonwovens has, for the first time in many years, increased by about 2% from €3.220 to €3.285 per kg.  As a result the total turnover of the European nonwovens industry is estimated at around €4,610 million.

Diverging trends are affecting the various bonding processes of drylaid nonwovens. Growth in the hydroentanglement process has been moderate this year at just 3.5% and it is actually the needling process that has recorded the highest apparent growth at 4.7%. Polymer-based (spunmelt) nonwovens, on the other hand, witnessed an impressive growth with a 7.5% increase in 2005.
 

General manager Pierre Wiertz revealed, “The most dramatic apparent growth areas for nonwovens in 2005 were protective clothing (29.6%) and medical/surgical (25.1%), closely followed by agriculture (22.4%).”

Polypropylene, either in fibre or granule form, continues to be the most prevalent polymer used in the European nonwovens industry accounting for 692,800 tonnes, 46.4% of the total fibre and polymer chip consumption butpolyester, both in fibre and chip form, has retained the highest growth.

The positive EU balance of exports and imports of nonwovens roll goods has continued to decrease. In 2005 the 25 EU Member States exported 203,140 tonnes of nonwovens (compared with 247 000 tonnes in 2004) at a value of almost €870 million, which represents a 10% decrease compared with the previous year.