EDANA disclosed its preliminary 2016 annual statistics on the opening day of INDEX17. Providing a comprehensive snapshot of the nonwovens industry across Greater Europe, the latest figures demonstrate both the industry’s momentum and durability.

Per the figures collected and compiled by EDANA, the overall production of nonwovens in Europe grew by 2.5% in volume in 2016 to reach 2,378,700 tons despite an uncertain economic climate. While growth in output in the European Union outperformed Greater Europe overall, some countries demonstrated impressive development.

Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s market analysis and economic affairs director, says: “Germany, Italy and Spain all witnessed growth, with Spain’s particularly impressive at 5%, while recent star performer Turkey remained stable, more than compensating for the minor decline recorded in some other European markets.”

Divergent trends were also observed between the various production processes of nonwovens. The production of fiber-based materials drylaid and short-fiber airlaid technologies for example recorded an increase of 2.2% and 2.9% respectively, while wetlaid remained relatively stable. Spunmelt nonwovens recorded a growth rate of 3.3%, reaching a production total of one million tons for the very first time. The highest growth rate was observed in material produced via the air-through bonding process, with a 13.1% increase.

Although the primary main end-use for nonwovens continues to be the hygiene market, with a 30.7% share of deliveries (by weight), significant growth areas for nonwovens were recorded in other sectors; agriculture and garments (both recording double digit growth), air filtration (+3.2%), construction (+4.5%) and food and beverage (+4.2%). Countering this, a minor decline of -1% was recorded in the automotive industry. Medical and personal care wipes sectors both remained stable with a very slight fall of 0.4%.

Prigneaux adds: “The whole EDANA team would like to thank participating companies for their valued input to our annual survey, and for delivering their information on time. This data, combined with continuous monitoring of the industry, ensures EDANA statistics are a valuable planning and benchmarking tool for all our member companies.”

Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA, comments: “For over 40 years, the annual EDANA statistics – the most comprehensive report of its kind –  have proved an invaluable source of business intelligence for our member companies, offering unparalleled insight into the industry thanks to exhaustive research and direct input from producers.

“EDANA’s leadership in nonwoven statistics gives us both an advantage and a responsibility to provide quality global industry data, and we are pleased to work with INDA in authoring and publishing the Worldwide Outlook 2014-2020, which provides current and forecast statistics, supplemented with data from ANFA (representing companies form China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian nations). This global report is for sale from both EDANA and INDA.”

A detailed breakdown of the annual statistics is available exclusively to EDANA member companies – one of the most valued benefits of membership. All member companies also have access to the main 2016 figures through the EDANA Statistics App (available on both IOS and Android and at http://edanastatapp.org) and will shortly receive their complimentary copy of the report “2016 European Nonwovens Production and Deliveries.”