INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry, announces publication of the seventh edition of the annual North American Nonwovens Supply Report for its members.

The report — and the quarterly INDA Market Pulse and monthly Price Trends Summary — are provided to the approximately 365 INDA member companies and associates as part of their membership. The data gathered for this annual report serves as the foundation for the biannual North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook, which will be available for purchase this fall.

 

Findings from this year’s Supply Report include:

In 2019, North American nonwoven capacity increased to 5.479 million metric tons, a net increase of only 0.9 percent (51,000 metric tons) over 2018. This growth figure accounts for not only the addition of new lines, but also machine productivity increases and line closures to arrive at a net increase growth figure. In the last three years, 64 lines have come online and 23 lines have been shut-down. The majority of the new lines are making engineered materials for the transportation, home/office furnishings, and filtration markets.

 

North American imports and exports, in tonnage, decreased 3.0 percent and 18.6 percent respectively year-over-year, led by declines in trade with China. However, the trends of downward exports and upward imports continued, as over the last five years’ exports have declined 7.7 percent annually and imports have increased 7.8 percent annually. Even with the significant shifts in North American trade dynamics, nonwovens tend to stay where they are produced, with the net trade balance (imports less exports) accounting for less than five percent of the region’s capacity.

 

“It is INDA’s objective to provide valuable data and actionable industry information to enhance decision making. As always, the increasing participation of nonwoven producers — both members and nonmembers — providing their insights and results makes our success possible. In the 2017 report we introduced production by end-use market, this year we are pleased to present production by raw material usage,” said Brad Kalil, director of Market Intelligence & Economic Insights, INDA.

 

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry